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parents of two children, Henry F., and
Charles Farnum, of whom further.
Charles Farnum Greene attended the
public schools of Bridgeport, completing
his studies at the early age of thirteen
years. He entered upon his business
career in the humble capacity of a news-
boy. For the following two or three
years he served as baker's assistant, book
store clerk and jewelry store clerk, in the
meantime pursuing the course of the
Bridgeport Press College, thus acquiring
a familiarity with the requisites of a
newspaper correspondent. The gifts of
sharp intellect, ready language and keen
observation were his by heredity, and a
forceful pen, which seemed also to come
quite naturally, instilled confidence within
him, and at the early age of sixteen he
felt competent to perform the duties of a
newspaper reporter. He was given his
opportunity, and although working under
a heavy handicap, expending his energy
by day in his routine work of the jewelry
store, and by night as cub reporter for
the "Morning Union," a Bridgeport news-
paper, he satisfied the editors as to his
ability, and in a comparatively short space
of time had established himself as an
alert news writer of originality and force.
Later he had association with many of
the leading newspapers of the East ; from
the "Morning Union," he went to the
"Telegram," thence to the Bridgeport
"Standard," then the Bridgeport "Her-
ald," then the Waterbury, Connecticut,
"Globe," then the Hartford, Connecticut,
"Telegram," and was at the same time the
Hartford correspondent for the Bridge-
port "Herald." Subsequently he entered
upon a brief experience of entirely dif-
ferent work, having joined the field
force of the International Correspondence
Schools. Returning to his newspaper
work, however, he became political writer
for the New London, Connecticut, "Daily
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
235
Telegraph," and during his residence in
that city was prevailed upon to become a
candidate for the office of city clerk. All
this occurred prior to his attaining the
age of twenty-four years. Upon his return
to Bridgeport, in 1904, Mr. Greene joined
the editorial staff of the Bridgeport
"Farmer," and again indicated the pub-
lic trend of his activities, as well as the
public appreciation of his work, by becoming
a candidate for the office of alderman
of Bridgeport. For seven years he
was retained exclusively by the Bridge-
port "Farmer," but in 191 1 he decided to
become an independent writer. In that
year he was offered and accepted an appointment
with Bradstreet's Company,
which, however, did not interfere with
special work he performed for the Bridge-
port "Farmer," the Bridgeport "Post,"
and the New York "Tribune." His abil-
ity brought him into much public promi-
nence, and while still a member of the
staff of the "Farmer," he had joined the
Bridgeport Fire Department, which as-
sociation voted him to executive office as
secretary of the Firemen's Mutual Bene-
fit Fund. He also served as secretary of
the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Ex-
hibition, and in 1913 Congressman Jeremiah
Donald sought the services of Mr.
Greene as his permanent chief secretary,
in which capacity he served until the be-
ginning of 1915, when Mr. Greene relinquished
his position at Washington, and
returned to Bridgeport in order to assume
the directorship of the Bridgeport post
office, which office he has since retained,
performing his duties in a highly credit-
able manner. Mr. Greene is a member of
the Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks, the Foresters of America, the
Woodmen of the World, and the Seaside
Club. He was baptized in St. John's Epis-
copal Church, Bridgeport, of which he is
now a member. His strong personality