Tombstone Tuesday, Charles Ackerman

Charles B. Ackerman, son of Sanford J. Ackerman and Christena J. Bunnell
Born January 5, 1861 Ohio Died December 18, 1915 Illinois bur Ravenna Cemetery, Ravenna Michigan

The following biography from:
A HISTORY OF Northern Michigan AND ITS PEOPLE
BY PERRY F. POWERS Assisted by H. G. CUTLER Editor of the Lewis Publishing Company
ILLUSTRATED VOLUME III 1912 THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO pages 1071-1072


Charles B. Ackerman.—The substantial and well-to-do citizens of Leelanau county have no more worthy representative than Charles B. Ackerman, who has for many years been intimately associated with the advancement of the business prosperity of Empire, and has filled the various offices of trust to which he has been elected with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens. He was born in Ohio in 1862, a son of Sanford and Christina (Bunnell) Ackerman, the former of whom was born in America, and the later in Germany.

Coming with his family to Michigan about 1868, Sanford Ackerman bought land in Muskegon county, and began the improvement of a farm. Moving from there to the village of Muskegon, he served two terms as sheriff of Muskegon county, and for a number of years was marshal of Muskegon. He subsequently returned to his home farm, but in 1884 came to Leelanau county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Empire.

Having completed his early education, Charles B. Ackerman entered the employ of the Empire Lumber Company, at Empire, and for five years had charge of the firm's store at Pearl Lake, after which he had for a time full control of the shipping of wood and bark for the company. In 1901, in company with Michael Horen, of whom a brief personal notice is given elsewhere in this work, Mr. Ackerman bought the furniture and undertaking business of George Esch, of Empire, and has continued it successfully until the present time, having carried it on alone since 1906, when he bought out Mr. Horen's interest in the establishment.

Genuinely interested in local affairs, Mr. Ackerman has served his constituents ably and acceptably in various offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, having been supervisor, town clerk, county superintendent of the poor, village president and trustee, and deputy sheriff, a position which he held for some four years under Mr. Harrington. On January 2, 1902, he was made postmaster of Empire, and is now serving his tenth year in that capacity. Politically he supports the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and to the Knights of the Maccabees. Religiously he is a regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Ackerman married first, in 1882, Julia F. Laughery, of Ravenna, Michigan, and to them four children were born, namely: Jessie, who lived but twelve brief years; Charlie; Lafe; and Lottie. In 1895 Mrs. Julia F. Ackerman passed to the higher life. Mr. Ackerman subsequently married Frances C. Selby, of Hart, Michigan, and they are the parents of three children, namely: Ruth; and Vera and Verl, twins.