Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Charles S. King was a stage carpenter, master mechanic and scenic artist at Sosman & Landis in the 1870s and 1880s.
There were quite a few individuals named Charles S. King in the nineteenth century, and this was an especially difficult search; a quest one that has lasted for a few years now. Charles S. King was the name given to farmers, railroad engineers, politicians, and even authors. Much of the information that I have tracked down about this evasive individual was based on newspaper reports relating to theatre construction between 1881 and 1889. That being said, in every historical search there are basic unknowns, complicating even the simplest study. These complications are compounded by individuals who start their lives as orphans or illegitimate children. Factoring in possibilities of bigamy, legal name changes, natural disasters, or illnesses that wipe out entire families, creates additional layers of difficulty. And then there is basic human error, the entering of incorrect information and the misspelling of names. In so many ways, I am surprised that I can track down even one Sosman & Landis employee, let alone dozens of them. However, scenic artists and stage mechanics at the firm were primarily a group of white men who worked on projects that made the newspapers, so there is usually a pretty identifiable paper trail. The legions of seamstresses and other assistants at Sosman & Landis will remain unnamed and lost to theatre history.
From newspaper accounts we know that King began his career in 1859, fought in the Civil War, and began working for Sosman and Landis in approximately 1874. This would mean that he started working for Sosman while he was in itinerant artist, before the Sosman & Landis scenic studio was officially established in Chicago in 1879. Sosman and Landis were first mentioned together in newspaper articles dating from 1876, suggesting their initial meeting was between 1874 and 1875. King’s work for Sosman at this time is not a far-fetched idea, as Sosman and King were living relatively close to one other after each served in the Civil War. By 1887, King was credited with installing stages in 200 theaters for the firm. Likewise, Sosman was credited with painting scenery for hundreds of theaters too.
By 1890, King disappears from newspaper articles entirely.
To date, I have only located seven stages that credit King with the construction. They include the Grand Opera House and Academy of Music in Minneapolis Minnesota (1881), Roth’s Opera House in Unionville, Missouri (1882), Ragsdale Opera House in Newton, Kansas (1885), Myar’s Opera House in El Paso, Kansas (1886), Crawford Grand Opera House in Wichita, Kansas (1888), and the Crump Theatre in Columbus, Indiana (1889).
The first newspaper article that mentions King’s work is from Minnesota. On January 27, 1881, the “Star Tribune” reported, “Mr. C. S. King, the stage carpenter at the Grand Opera House, was initiated into some of the mysteries of stage mechanism as exemplified in our new temple of amusement. Mr. King who was summoned here from Chicago, is regarded as one of the best stage-carpenters in the country, having had wide experience and possessing perfect knowledge of his progression. He says that our opera house will have the finest stage, the easiest worked, and will be the best-appointed theatre west of Chicago, or of many large eastern cities.” “One of the best stage-carpenters” and “wide experience” is relative. The opening of most new theaters at this time added experience and credentials to those working on the project, much of it unsubstantiated. However, the article definitely places King in Chicago.
In 1880, C. S. King was listed in the Federal Census as a stage mechanic living at 264 Clinton Street. Six years later, the main Sosman & Landis studio was constructed at 236-238 Clinton Street.
The 1880 Census also lists that King was living with a wife and two children. His wife was simply listed as “A,” a 35-years-old mother of two. The children were Jennie (11 yrs.) and Charles (8 yrs.). This does not mean that the children were biologically King’s; keep in mind that when Joseph S. Sosman married his wife, he adopted her two sons from a previous marriage. It may have been a second marriage for King’s wife, but I doubt it, as I was able to track down the marriage of Anne and Charles. The 1880 census is the only record that I have located to date pertaining to King’s wife or children. I really think that the three died by 1890. In 1881 the family is not listed in the directory. By 1882 the Chicago Directory lists King as a stage carpenter, living at 320 W. Van Buren.
King installed Sosman & Landis scenery into Roth’s Opera House in Unionville, Missouri. On Oct. 12, 1882, the Unionville Republican reported, “During the past week, Mr. C. S. King, of Chicago, one of the most experienced stage carpenters in that city, has been busy arranging the stage fittings and mounting the scenery, and by the first of next week everything will be in readiness for the opening” (p. 3).
Fire, illness, and separation all come to mind. King is only listed that one year and then remains absent from Chicago Directories until 1889. This absence possibly suggests his continuous travel for theater work.
King is listed in the 1889 Chicago Directory as a stage machinist, living at 1262 W. Harrison. There is always the possibility that King’s family traveled with him as he went from one project to another in the 1880s. Thomas G. Moses brought his family along on several Sosman & Landis projects during this same time. If a family were renting their home, it would make more sense for them to travel together, especially if the work in any one location was substantial and lasted for more than a few weeks; such was the case with installing stages in a region.
By 1884, I believe that King was representing Sosman & Landis at firm’s regional branch in Kansas City where he also worked with Lemuel L. Graham from 1884-1886. Graham, left Sosman & Landis to establish his own studio in 1884, becoming an affiliate with Sosman & Landis. Graham also ran their regional branch in addition to running Graham & Davis. By 1885, King was working in Newton, Kansas, a town due north of Wichita. On Dec, 11, 1885, the “Newton Democrat” announced the opening of the Ragsdale Opera House (page 5). The article reported, “The stage is as large as any in the state, its depth being 30 and its width 50. The scenery was put in by Sosman & Landis of Chicago, under the direction of C. S. King of their employ.”
King was credited with not only building stages and installing scenery, but also painting the stage settings. Such was the case with the Myar’s Opera House project in 1886 when King traveled to El Paso, Texas. On July 5, 1886, the “El Paso Herald-Post” reported, “C. S. King, professional stage machinist came from Chicago to build and paint the scenery, rigging and traps for the stage. He had worked in more than 200 theaters across the nation and termed the Myar Opera House the finest he had seen in Texas.” King returned to Kansas in 1887 to work on other Sosman & Landis projects.
On January 21, 1888, King was mention in the “Wichita Daily Eagle” (page 5). The article described the Crawford Grand Opera House reporting, “Mr. C. S. King, an experienced stage carpenter from Chicago, is now engaged preparing the stage for scenery. He says that the scenery is very fine, the best, in fact, that could be secured and is being done by a young scenic artist of decided ability. There will be in all fifteen full sets but these may be used so as to equal to twice that number.”
The last article associating King with Sosman & Landis is from 1889 in Columbus, Illinois. It provides an abundance of information, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for me to follow.
On October 30, 1889. “The Republican” newspaper in Columbus, Indiana, included an article about King entitled, “An Old Stager” (page 4). The article reported,
“From time to time ‘The Republican’ has kept the public informed of the progress of Crump’s theatre from the architect’s preliminary plans to the finishing touches of the painter and draper, until it seems that the reader would tire of seeing further mention made of it. But when one considers that this beautiful structure is to mark a new era in the character and tone of amusements for Columbus audiences, and that the legitimate drama and opera which it invites will have the same elevating effect upon society here as elsewhere, some allowances will be made for extended notices. From Mr. Crump, on down to the mechanic, each have received favorable commendation, and as this is to be the opening night, when the building and everything is to be pronounced finished, ‘The Republican’ desires to mention the name of Mr. C. S. King, the stage machinist, who is the last to lay down his tools, take off the overalls and don his dress suit. Mr. King began the business of stage carpenter and stage machinist in 1859, which he has followed ever since except an interval of three years, which he served in the Union Army during the late war, and another brief period that he was manager of a large company on the road. For the last fifteen years Mr. King has been in the employ of Messrs. Sosman & Landis, or Chicago, which of itself is sufficient recommendation of his abilities, and has fitted up some of the finest opera houses in the country as well as in Canada and Mexico. Mr. King Came to Columbus Sept. 11, and commenced on the bare floor of the new theatre to construct the various stage machinery, mount scenery, and everything connected with stage settings, all without drawings or specifications, except those stored in his head from long experience. How well he succeeded in his work is there to speak for itself, and is pronounced by the profession to be the most modern, convenient and elaborate. Mr. King has taken special pride in fitting up his house, and has freely given many valuable suggestions to Mr. Crump, who has shown his appreciation by carrying out the plans in detail, thus securing the best results possible. Mr. King is delighted with the completeness of the theatre and pronounces it a veritable little parlor, unsurpassed by any house in Indiana. “The Republican” joins with Mr. Crump and the Citizens of Columbus in extending thanks to Mr. King, the veteran stage machinist.”
To track down information about King’s personal life, I started with his Civil War records, searching veteran death records for past occupations that would match either carpenmter, stage carpenter or stage mechanic. I located one particular “Charles S. King” that fit the bill; a veteran who also served three years in the Union Army. Serving three years during the war was not common, as most men served a year. Furthermore, this particular C. S. King was the right age, with the right occupation – carpenter from Chicago. He passed away at a Veteran’s home after a series of strokes and final paralysis in 1894. It was his paperwork from the Veteran’s Home that helped fill in the gaps. At the time of his admittance, King was working in Cincinnati, Ohio. This also fits within the Sosman & Landis timeline, as the firm established a regional office and theatrical management firm in Cincinnati during the early 1890s. King would have been the natural choice to work with a newly formed regional office, having already done so in Kansas City. Veteran Home records also indicate that King’s wife predeceased him. His next of kin was a sister in Columbus, Ohio. In short, King died alone. This factor, combined with the predecease of his wife, also explains his immediate disappearance from public records and association with Sosman & Landis.
So, I started to track down the life of this particular Civil War Veteran. Here is the story of the man named Charles S. King who I believe worked for Sosman & Landis. If years from now I realize this is the wrong King, at least I have told the story of a courageous man who served our country during the Civil War. For that alone, he deserves to be remembered.
Charles S. King was born in Sacketts Harbor, Jefferson County, New York in 1839. As a young man, he found work in retail as a clerk before traveling west and settling in Macoupin County, Illinois. For geographical context, Macoupin County is located in southern Illinois and situated halfway between Springfield, Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri. The county was named for Macoupin Creek, which flows through the county and is purportedly derived from the Native American word for water lilies that grew along the creek. The county seat of Macoupin County is Carlinville, and this was where King first enlisted in the Union Army. He had previously secured work as a carpenter in Chicago and was also listed in the 1861 directory, boarding as 138 Jackson Street. My gut instinct says that he returned home to enlist and serve with close family and friends.
The Civil War officially commenced on April 12, 1861, and King enlisted on August 24, 1861. He mustered out as a Private on Oct 22, 1861, part of Co. C, 32nd Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Military records describe his physical appearance as 5’-8 ¼ with brown hair and hazel eyes. King was first discharged on July 1, 1862, by reason of enlistment in the marine brigade. He mustered out again on that same day. As noted in his records at the Veteran’s Home, King served a third time, enlisting from Chicago in 1863. He joined the US Navy and mustered out on October 17, 1863. At the time King enlisted in Chicago, he indicated a prior military service. This is the second connection with King to Chicago.
After the war, King returned to Carlinville, Illinois, and married Julie “Ann” Defenbaugh. This also corresponds to the 1880 Chicago Census with his wife listed as “A.” Tracking down information about Ann Defenbaugh was also tricky. First of all, she went by her middle name. Her first name was listed as July, Julie, and Julia; again, likely human error for the variations. Unfortunately, Ann’s last name of Defenbaugh was frequently mispelled, ranging from Definbaugh to Diffinbaugh. Regardless, Ann was the daughter of George Defenbaugh and Minerva Closson Defenbaugh. She was one of many children born to the couple, with her siblings being: David, Solomon, Margaret, Perthia, Amos, Harriet, John Calvin, J. Amos and Bertha. The Defenbaugh family moved from Virginia to Illinois in the 1860s, settling in Macoupin County near Palmyra.
The wedding of Anne and Charles was held on November 30, 1865, filed in Macoupin County. Their daughter was born shortly after their union.
The 1870 Federal Census listed the Kings as boarding with the Gibbs family in another Macoupin County town, Plainville.
Interesting sidenote and observation: Thomas Gibbs Moses from Sterling, Illinois.
In 1870, Charles was working at the Post Office in Plainville, also a small town in Macoupin County. The couple moved shortly after this, as by 1874, C. S. King was living in Chicago and working as a carpenter. This supports the idea that he worked for Sosman in 1874, as Sosman was also working in Chicago at this time. Sosman left Macomb, Illinois to work as a scenic artist. His friend and mentor, T. B. Harrison was a Chicago scenic artist. C. S. King was listed in the Chicago Directory in 1874, 1878, 1882 and 1889. As with most women at the time, his wife was not listed.
Between 1880 and King’s own passing in 1894, his wife passed away. I have not located any records for either of their children as young adults. Often, I can find additional information about the parents on later marriage certificates and in the obituaries of their children. The absence of his wife and any adult children meant that there was no one to take care of King when his health deteriorated in 1890, likely the main reason he was admitted to the Disabled Veteran’s home for the first time in 1891. Records suggest that he suffered a stroke and later partial paralysis. This affected his sight and speech. King was admitted to the home a second time in 1892 and died there on Nov. 7, 1894. He is buried at Wood National Cemetery in Milwaukee as the Veteran’s Home that he was admitted to was in Milwaukee. His Veteran’s Home records note that he was a seaman on the USS Michigan and USS Little Rebel, serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was a carpenter by trade, a widower and of the Catholic faith. His last residences prior to his admittance were listed as Chicago, Illinois and Cincinnati, Ohio. His sister, Mrs. Joseph Colwell of Cleveland, OH, was his only next of kin. No fanfare, not obituary listing or memorial. There is only a simple gravestone with C S King, US Navy.
To be continued…
