Charles W
Charles W. ChesnuttCharles W. Chesnutt
Though born in Cleveland in 1858, the grandson of a white man and the son of free blacks, Charles W. Chesnutt grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina where his family, having left the South originally in 1856, returned after the Civil War. Chesnutt who had little formal education taught himself and also received tutoring from family members. Chesnutt is known as one of the great American novelist and short-story writers of the late 19th century.
Chesnutt lived most of his childhood in Fayetteville, NC where he
worked part time in a family grocery store and attended a school founded by
the Freedmen\'s Bureau. By 14 he had published his first short story in a
Fayetteville newspaper. "I think I must write a book It has been my
cherished dream and I feel an influence that I cannot resist calling me to
the task."(1) At 15 Charles dropped out of school to support his family.
By the age of 16, he had come to Charlotte to teach the city\'s
black schoolchildren and also to support his family. He had an
intense thirst for knowledge. At a time when few educational opportunities
existed for black Americans, he studied math, music, literature and
languages. He left Charlotte to take a job as assistant principal of the State
Normal School. By age 22, he was its principal. "There\'s time enough, but
none to spare."(1)
Lack of opportunity to advance led him to go to New York City
to find work at Dow, Jones and Company and also writes a financial
news column for the New York Mail and Express. Later that year his
son Edwin J. Chesnutt is born. In November, he leaves New York for
Cleveland where he begins to work in the accounting department of
Nickel Plate Railroad Company. While in Cleveland Chesnutt studied
Law.
While in Cleveland Chesnutt supports his mother and father
while supporting his own family. Chesnutt begins to write for Family
Fiction. While working at Nickel Plate Railroad Company and
writing for Family Fiction he continues to study law. A year later, he
passes the Ohio Bar Exam and joins the law offices of Henderson,
Kline, and Tolles. Chesnutt published "The Goophered Grapevine" in
the Atlantic Monthly became the first work written by a black author.
The success of "The Goophered Grapevine" leads him to publish "Po�
Sandy" and "Dave�s neckliss" in the Atlantic Monthly.
Chesnutt decides to start his own firm of Attorneys, stenographers,
and court reporters. Employing a large number of minority who were
not hired by larger firms. Chesnutt starts to feel overwhelmed with
writing and being a full time attorney. Charles takes a two month
vacation to Europe. When he returns he decides to give up his firm
and become a full time writer.
As a full time writer Chesnutt he publishes...
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