Necrology of Toledo's Woodlawn Cemetery

Charles Northup

Charles Northup was a well respected Toledo attorney who was active in civic affairs and involved himself in projects that would lead to the betterment of the city. The Michigan native was the only son of Dr. and Myron Northup, a well respected family from Lexington, Michigan.

Northup was born in Lexington on November 12, 1869 and attended the local schools in the city. After graduation, he left for Ann Arbor where he attended the University of Michigan. He obtained his law degree in 1889 and moved to Port Huron, Michigan. In Port Huron he opened a law practice with O'Brien and O'Donnell. In June of 1896 he came to Toledo and, with Samuel Kohn, founded the law firm of Kohn & Northup. At the time it was recognized as one of Toledo's best law firms. Northup continued to practice law for more than twenty-seven years.

On November 27, 1903 Northup married Miss Alice Delia Bechelder of Galion, Ohio. Together the couple had four children: Kathryn, John D., Spencer, and Annette. Northup also had one sister, Mrs. Lincoln Avery, who succeeded him in death.

From 1899 to 1903 Mr. Northup served as Assistant City Solicitor. In 1905, he was elected to the position of City Solicitor. In addition he was chief council for the Toledo Baseball Club company as well as a member of its Board of Directors. From 1903 to 1905 he served on the Board of Directors of The University of Toledo. Furthermore, he was a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Toledo Bar Association and served as president of the Toledo Bar in 1908 and 1909. To top his accomplishments, he was also the first chairman of the Civil Service Commission of Toledo.[Scribner, Harvey, ed. Memoirs of Lucas County and the City of Toledo, 2 vols. (Madison: Western Historical Association, 1910). Vol. 2, p. 339.

This well-respected attorney was a Mason of high degree and belonged to several other small clubs. He was a member of the Toledo Club, the Inverness Club, the Marine River Yacht Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and many other organizations. After a long illness Northup passed away, only 56 years of age, at his home on May 18, 1925.(Toledo Biographical Scrapbook. Local History Room, Toledo Lucas County Public Library).

Charles Northup's grave

(Photography of Woodlawn Cemetery by Josef Schneider.)