Life in the Fast Lane

When people say the words “hard work pays off,” they mean it. Charles D. Neiswender is an example of it. He became the look of wealth and business in the new century.

Charles was born on March 6, 1876, in Pitman Township, Schuykill County. As a child, Charles had two brothers, Harry and Monroe. Before his success, he found the love of his life, marrying Fannie Glover. The couple had two children, Irene, and Sailor. Charles was a merchant and after becoming a new father, he knew he had to start a better career somewhere.

He first attempted a career in politics. He became a Selinsgrove borough council member and used his momentum to win a spot on the Republican Party’s ticket for the 1913 Selinsgrove borough election. Nationally, the Republican Party stood opposed to special privilege and monopoly at this time amd ran against the Democratic and Washington Parties. Charles’s losing campaign became a steppingstone for future success, purchasing the well-known National Hotel in Selinsgrove months later. Moving on from politics, a new business occupation seemed to work for the young Charles. The business became successful. Months after taking control, Charles received his liquor license for the hotel. The license court decided between Neiswender and Clyde “Booty” Keiser. Eventually, Clyde settled and offered the license to Neiswender for $500; Charles agreed.

There was one thing that attempted to slow down young Charles, pneumonia. On February 25, 1915, he contracted the deadliest virus in the world. There was no treatment, and the fatality rate was 25%. Though difficult, Charles defeated the deadly infection. While the hotel became a success, Charles had a new interest automobiles. In late January 1915, he traveled to Harrisburg with early automobile experts George Schoch and George Boynton. This gave Charles a new idea to start an automobile business. Automobiles became the new and remarkable thing of the decade; seen as status and wealth and gave Charles a better look. In October 1915, he sold his hotel to Jacob Berlew. Dreaming of his new future, Charles opened an automobile dealership, particularly for Chevrolets and Reos. The business started slow, and Charles thought of ways to fix it. A year after opening, Charles posted an advertisement in the Selinsgrove Times. He kept rolling the dice, joining the General Electric Company as a salesperson. Charles sold his businesses and left for the southern part of Pennsylvania. However, the new occupation did not go as planned. Charles returned to Selinsgrove remembering what brought him success, the National Hotel. In early 1918, he bought the hotel back from Berlew. The business did well, but an old enemy reappeared. After celebrating the news of Germany offering peace talks at the end of the first world war, pneumonia returned. Two weeks later on October 17, 1918, he passed away.

Charles Neiswender started his career as a merchant and knew having a future in business would be better for him. He purchased the National Hotel and brought the business to success. As a businessperson, he took risks like selling his hotel for an automobile dealership and moving across the state to work for the General Electric Company. He repurchased the hotel, where months later he would pass away.

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