Charles Henry Hales

Born: On June 17, 1817 in Rainham, Kent, England

Died: On July 1, 1889 in Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah

Parents: Stephen and Mary Ann Hales

Married: Julia Ann Lockwood on October 31, 1939. Frances Elizabeth Almira Brunyer on October 31, 1856. (This was a plural marriage.)

Children by Julia Ann Lockwood: George Gillett, John Taylor, Harriet Elizabeth, Maria Josephine, Stephen Fredrick, Joseph Lockwood, Charles Henry, Mary Isabell, Julia Ardena, Eliza Ann, Jonathan Hyrum, William Parley

Children by Frances Elisabeth Almira Brunyer: Lucy Elmina, James Lawrence, Alma Charles, Caroline Elmira, Franklin Henry, Harmon Brunyer, Edward Moroni, Joseph Mathew, Richard Smith, Sarah Jane, Hannah Permelia, Daniel Wells, Mary Ann

Relationship to Me: 3rd Great Grandfather (Hales Branch)

Charles was born in Rainham, England, the eldest of nine children born to Stephen and Mary Ann Hales. Growing up he and his family were members of the Church of England. He came to Canada with his family in 1832. His father, Stephen, was shoe and boot maker, and taught him to do the same. When he was 15 he was allowed to choose his own trade. Since being a boot maker did not interest him, he took up farming.

Upon hearing the gospel and being moved by it, Charles was baptized into the LDS faith in 1836 by Parley P. Pratt. In 1838 he sold the farm and began moving with the saints. He came to Huntsville, Missouri and stayed there for a time, working to earn money to push westward toward Zion. This is where he met Julia Ann Lockwood. Once he had moved to Quincy, Illinois he married Julia on "the last day of October 1839." She was just 15 years old.

In 1840 they moved to Nauvoo and Charles immediately joined a brass band. He and the band played at many local events, including a great number of building dedications for the ever-growing church.

He and his family arrived in Salt Lake City in 1852. He also chose October 31 to marry his second wife, Frances Brunyer in 1856.The family moved to Spanish Fork in 1858 and upon arrival were very poor. At that time their poverty was so great that they struggled even to feed and clothe their family. Eventually Charles became a prominent builder and farmer. He and Julia were members of the Spanish Fork Choir for a number of years. Additionally, he held offices and civic duties for the city of Spanish Fork.  Altogether there were 15 Hales children, and, despite the family's hardships, all of them survived to adulthood.

Spanish Fork Choir