Charles Beckett Buchanan

Documented History

According to the U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current, Charles Beckett Buchanan was born on 4 January 1913. Indiana issued his Social Security number. He is the first person I’m researching from the Buchanan family.

Based on information from the 1920 United States Federal Census, in the small town of Patoka, Indiana, nestled on Lafayette Street, the Buchanan family resided in 1920. Pearl Buchanan, a 29-year-old wife, was part of a household of six. Her husband, Morris G Buchanan, led the family as a Preacher with the church, and their children, Versa, Carlin, Charles, and Lois, filled their home with youthful energy.

Born in Illinois around 1891, Pearl’s roots seemed to mirror her husband’s, as both her father and mother hailed from the same state. Despite the modest setting, the Buchanan family seemed to thrive, with Pearl’s ability to speak, read, and write in English reflecting a level of education and engagement within their community. The dynamics within the household hinted at a bustling and lively atmosphere, where each member played a unique role in the family unit.

Based on information from the 1930 United States Federal Census, in 1930, in the small town of Loogootee, Indiana, Charles Buchanan, a 17-year-old white male, lived with his family in a household of five. Charles and his twin brother, Carlin, and younger sister, Lois, resided with their parents, Maurice and Pearl Buchanan.

The family’s roots seemed firmly planted in Illinois, as both Charles’ parents hailed from there. Despite being young, Charles could already read and write and had attended school. The Buchanan family seemed to be a close-knit unit, with Charles and his siblings living under the care of their parents in a modest dwelling in Martin County. The household’s dynamics and the relationships within it hinted at a sense of familial unity and shared experiences, with Maurice serving as a Pastor at the Methodist Church.

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Marriage

Charles married Mildred Viola Beyl on 25 May 1935 in Marion County, Indiana, according to the Marion County, Indiana, Marriage Index, 1925-2012. Charles was 22 years old when they married.

According to the U.S, Charles lived with Mildred at 211 E. Xorth Street, Apartment 36, Indianapolis, Indiana in 1936. City Directories, 1821-1989. He was a salesman for Hiller Office Supply Company at the time.

According to the U.S., Charles and Mildred lived in 2033 in Houston, Indianapolis, Indiana 1937. City Directories, 1821-1989. He was a salesman for L C Smith & Corona Typewriter, Incorporated.

Charles filled out a Social Security Application or Claim in 1937, according to the U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. His birth date is listed as 4 January 1913. His death date is listed as 29 September 2003. The claim was made on 5 November 1974 and lists his social security number.

Based on information from the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, Charles Becket Buchanan, a 27-year-old white male from Ridgeway, Illinois, registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, in Indiana. At the time, he worked for the Royal Typewriter Co., Inc. in Indianapolis, Marion. Standing 5’9″ and weighing 160 pounds, Charles had a light complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes.

His next of kin was listed as Maurice Grant Buchanan. The draft card indicates a household of two, with Charles as the head and his father, Maurice Grant Buchanan, also mentioned. The details paint a picture of a young man taking the necessary steps during uncertainty, preparing for potential service in the military.

According to the U.S, Charles and Mildred lived at 2538 Guilford Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1942. City Directories, 1821-1989. Charles was a Maintenance Man at the time. Charles was 29 years old at the time.

Based on information from the 1950 United States Federal Census, in 1950, Charles B. Buchanan, a 37-year-old white male from Illinois, resided with his family on N Sherman Street in Indianapolis. As the head of the household, Charles worked as a foreman in the radio parts industry, putting in 48 hours a week.

His wife, Mildred, worked as a Group Leader at the same manufacturing company. Their four children, Barbara, Charles, John, and Sandra, lived with him. Charles had completed 12 years of schooling and earned $4800, with no other supplemental income.

Married for 15 years, the Buchanan family enjoyed stability and a comfortable life in their Indianapolis home.

In 1951, Charles and Mildred lived at 55 N. Sherman Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, according to U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989. He was a foreman for RCA at the time. Charles was 38 years old.

Charles and Mildred lived at 3705 N. Ritter Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1956, according to U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989. He was still a foreman for RCA. He was 43 years old here.

From 1975 through 1993, Charles and Mildred lived on Allyn Drive, Hudson, Florida, according to U.S. Public Records, Volume 1. They started at 20 Allyn Drive, Hudson, Florida 34667 in 1975 and ended at 13613 Allyn Drive, Hudson, Florida 34667-1505 by 1993. Their phone number was 868-9256. Charles was 80 years old in 1993.

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Death

Charles died on Monday, 29 September 2003, according to the U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current. He died at the Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, Florida. According to his Obituary in SPTimes, Charles was born in Ridgeway, Illinois, and moved to Hudson in 1971 from Middletown, New Jersey. He had retired from RCA.

At the time of his death, he had five children, seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one 2x great-grandchild. He was buried at the Wellwood/Grace Funeral Home and Cemetery in Hudson, Florida. He was 90 years old when he died. 

My son and I will soon make another trip to his grave to clean up his resting place and add some flowers, as Mildred loved. I remember visiting him once when I was 11, and we ate at a local restaurant near their home. Their eldest daughter was also with us. Charles was somewhat abrasive with the waitress in how he spoke to her. I asked him why he was so rude to her. He didn’t answer, but his wife and daughter giggled quietly.

I also remember him allowing me to drive his boat on the Gulf of Mexico shortly before that and teaching me how to play pool in their sunroom.

Karen shared:

Charles was a grandfather. He was an avid golfer, at 85 yrs old he even had his knees replaced so he could golf more. His golf buddies were his family. He was a “only believe it if I see it” kind of person, very analytical and skeptical. His mind stayed very sharp until the end. He could still speak some Spanish that learned decades earlier from some Cuban friends he worked with. He was very direct and said what he meant. He loved to play pool and cards. He and Mildred passed many hours playing cards together. Charles gave me some budgeting advice when I was a young adult that I still practice today. The basic concept was, pay bills first, put some away for savings and give yourself some “fun” money with every check, just a little. Charles could sometimes seem harsh, even when he didn’t mean to. I remember one day as my husband and I were leaving, weeks before he died, I heard him say “I love you.” I had never heard him say that and happily turned around and told him “I love you too.” He said, “no, I was talking to Tony.” I laughed to myself thinking, you could have just let me think you were loving me! Lol. We went fishing in his boat on the Gulf of Mexico and he warned me, “I won’t bait your hook.” I told him not to worry, baited my own hook and then I caught the first fish. I think it really hurt his ego that a girl beat him. He was from the old school way of thinking that girls didn’t really have much value out of the home. He retired young, at age 50 I believe. He once told me that if he knew he was going to live past 70 he would have kept working much longer. I guess 40 years of spending all day watching the golf and weather channels bored him, just a couple of hours visiting when we could only speak during commercials, was boring! ~Karen

So that’s all I have for Charles Beckett Buchanan at this time.  If you were related to Charles or have memories of him that you’d like to share, please leave your stories in the comments section below.

That’s it for today, stay tuned!

~Kris