Charles was educated in the public schools of Waterbury and at Rev. Daniel Parker's school at Ellsworth in Sharon CT At age 19 (1814) he had serious lung trouble, but recovered. He studied medicine with Dr. Edward Field, and was called 'Dr.' afterwards.
In 1814 he was employed by Burton and Leavenworth and sold clocks in the south. Next he sold law and medicine books in Richmond VA. Next for 1 year he was in Philadelphia selling buttons. Then he bought the store and sold things. He also owned a shoe and harness manufacturing company, pearl button factory and sawmill.
In 1838 his health failed and he gave up the businesses and did large-scale farming, built and sold houses and land. He knew all about early land boundaries in Waterbury. He 'kept in touch with the times and progress, was of pleasant manner, and possessed a conversational gift of high order'. He was a congregationalist.