Prior, Charles E.

Charles Edward Prior was the 5^th Mayor of Norwood from April 1, 1899, to April 1, 1901. Just before that he was a member (1 year as President) of the Norwood School Board from April, 1895, to April, 1898. In the mid-1890s, Charles E. Prior was one of the eleven citizens selected to be on the "Welfare Committee" to promote for the betterment of Norwood. One of the major projects was the improvement of Montgomery Road. Mr. Prior was a trustee of the Ivanhoe M. E. Church. He lived on the north side of Hudson Avenue at the second house east of Main Avenue. In 1902, two different sources list the Priors as living at 1928 Hudson Avenue and at Delaware Avenue.

Various references give his birthdate as July 16, 1861, January 16, 1861, and July 1862. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 1900 Census records Mr. Prior as being born in Ohio of Ohio-born parents. His wife of 14 years, Sophia M. (Roever), was born October 1863 in Ohio of German parents. She had five children, all of whom were living with them: Benson F. (Feb. 1887)—obviously named after Prior's mentor, Governor Joseph Benson Foraker, Ethel M. (March 1888), Florence (Feb. 1891), Charles E., Jr. (Dec. 1891) and Gertrude R. (Aug. 1893).

Mr. Prior received his primary education in Cincinnati. He graduated from the Cincinnati Law School, and in 1882 was admitted to the Bar. From 1886 to 1890 he was the Executive Clerk of Governor Joseph B. Foraker, and ex-officio secretary of the State Board of Pardons. On January 1, 1895, he formed a law partnership with Foraker under the name of Foraker & Prior. Later, the firm was renamed Foraker, Outcalt, Granger & Prior.