Charles came with his parents and sister Eleanor to Napier when he was just two and a half. They lived up on the hill. He attended the first school in Napier, situated on the corner of Hastings and Tennyson Streets, and run by William Marshall. The family lived through the severe 1863 earthquake. At age 10, Charles left school and beacme a shepherd on Rissington Station owned by Sir George Whitmore. He later became drover and then station manager. He was an accomplished drover. In the early 70s, Charles shifted to Gisborne where he met Emma Matilda BARKER and they were married at Ormond in 1876. By 1881 they had moved back to 'Ardlussa', part of the old Rissington Estate. William Barker was born here. In stages they then moved to Tolaga Bay (north of Gisborne), Waipu and Kamo (Whangarei). After farming in Kamo, the family returned to Taradale, living in Lee Road, 'The Nurseries' at the end of White St, 'Roseneath' on Meanee Rd, Avenue Rd, and Gloucester St, Greenmeadows. For 32 years Charles was an inspector for the S.P.C.A. He serve don the Taradale School committee and was one of the 17 members of All Saints Church in Taradale serving on the Vestry. He was a member of the Central Hawke's Bay Sheepdog Trial Club from its inception, and an early member of the Hawke's Bay A. and P. Society. Charles had a friendly, easy-going nature and a long white beard.

Source: Cherry SWAYN