The Claude (usually 3.7 Sonnet) artificial intelligence tool can be used to write family-friendly biographies of my ancestors that might be suitable for my relatives and descendants to help them understand their ancestry. Using the ABC method described in Using Artificial Intelligence In the Ancestor Biography Creation (ABC) Process, here is one ancestor biography.
1) I have written genealogical sketches for almost every known ancestor back 9 generations in blog posts based on 35 years of genealogical research in my 52 Ancestors/Relatives Biographies series. The genealogical sketch for my great-grandfather, Charles Auble (1849-1916) (#14 on my Ahnentafel List), including record abstracts and sources, is 52 Ancestors Friday - Charles Auble (1849-1916).
2) For the Claude AI biography, I attach the PDF of the genealogical sketch for the specific ancestor, and then prompt the AI tool with: "You are an expert genealogist. Please create a draft biography from the attached file, including parents, siblings, spouses and children (with birth and death dates and places), summarize life events, and add historical facts as appropriate, but do not add or embellish any extra genealogical details. Use section headings. Expand the information in each section to add more details. The tone should be casual and suitable for family members."
3) The expanded biography of Charles Auble (1849-1916) created by the AI tool Claude 3.7 Sonnet, lightly edited, is:
Charles Auble (1849-1916): A Family Biography
Early Life & Family
Charles Auble was born on October 31, 1849, in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, during a time when the United States was experiencing rapid growth and westward expansion. He entered the world as the third child of David Auble (1817-1894) and Sarah G. Knapp (1818-1900), a couple with deep roots in New Jersey. David and Sarah had established their family in Newark, which was developing into an important manufacturing center in the mid-19th century. Charles grew up surrounded by siblings in what appears to have been a stable, working-class household. His family included his older brother William A. Auble (born about 1845), who was five years his senior; his older sister Mary Frances "Fannie" Auble (born about 1847), who was just a couple of years older than Charles; and his younger siblings Katherine "Kate" Auble (born about 1852), Anna M. Auble (born about 1860), and Cora Auble (born about 1862). This relatively large family of eight would have filled their Newark home with activity and the normal joys and challenges of family life in Victorian-era America.
Youth and Education
As a young boy in Newark, Charles benefited from the expanding public education system of the northeastern United States. The 1860 census explicitly notes that Charles, then 11 years old, attended school alongside his older siblings William and Mary Frances. Education in the 1850s and 1860s was considerably different from today's schooling, often taking place in one-room schoolhouses with children of varying ages learning together. Basic literacy, arithmetic, history, and moral instruction would have formed the core of Charles's education. Like many children of his time period, Charles likely divided his time between schoolwork and helping around the home, perhaps assisting his father with simple tasks related to the boot and shoe business. Though we don't know exactly when Charles completed his formal education, it was common for boys of his social standing to finish schooling in their early to mid-teens to learn a trade or enter the workforce, suggesting Charles may have ended his classroom days around 1863-1865.
Move to Indiana
The pivotal move to Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana, took place around 1864, when Charles was approximately 15 years old. This relocation happened during the final year of the Civil War, a time of significant upheaval and change across America. The family's decision to leave New Jersey for the Midwest may have been motivated by economic opportunities, cheaper land, or connections to other settlers in the area. Terre Haute was growing rapidly during this period, benefiting from railroad connections and the expansion of industries in the post-war boom. For the Auble family, the move represented a significant life change, requiring them to establish new community connections and adapt to Midwestern life. David Auble continued his trade as a boot and shoemaker in their new hometown, managing to acquire modest property valued at $2,500 in real estate and $200 in personal property by 1870—sums that would have placed the family in the comfortable working class. It was in this new environment that Charles, entering young adulthood, took up the painting trade at around age 21, an occupation that would define his professional life for the next five decades. The family appears to have integrated well into their new community, with most members including Charles remaining in Terre Haute for at least 16 years after their arrival.
Adult Life and Career
As Charles entered full adulthood, he continued residing with his parents at 40 Chestnut Street in Terre Haute well into his thirties, a living arrangement that wasn't uncommon for unmarried adults in the 19th century. The 1880 census portrays him at age 30 as a single man following his established trade as a painter, living in a household that included his parents and several of his sisters. This extended family living situation likely allowed family members to pool resources and support one another economically and socially. Sometime between 1880 and 1888, Charles made another significant life change by relocating to Chicago, Illinois—a booming metropolis and the economic heart of the Midwest following its rapid rebuilding after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This move showed considerable initiative and perhaps a desire for greater independence or professional opportunities beyond what Terre Haute could offer. In Chicago, Charles established himself in the painting and decorating trade during an era when the city was experiencing tremendous growth and architectural development. City directories trace his movements through various Chicago addresses—from 429 W. Madison in 1888, to 414 W. Monroe in 1897, to 7121 Union Avenue in 1900-1901, and finally to 611 West 76th Street from 1909-1910. Each move might have reflected changes in his fortunes, work locations, or housing opportunities in the dynamic Chicago real estate market. Throughout these years, Charles refined his skills as a house painter and decorator, a trade that required both technical expertise and an aesthetic sense. His consistent identification with this profession in census records and city directories suggests he found steady employment in Chicago's thriving construction and renovation markets. His eventual membership in the Painter's Union also indicates his integration into the organized labor movement that was gaining significant momentum in Chicago during this period.
Marriage and Family
Charles's personal life took a romantic turn during his years in Chicago when, in his late forties, he met Georgianna "Georgia" Kemp, a much younger woman who had been born in August 1868 in Ontario, Canada. The daughter of James H. Kemp and Mary Jane Sovereen, Georgia represented a connection to America's northern neighbor and was part of the significant Canadian immigration to the United States during this period. Having arrived in America around 1889-1890 when she was about 21 years old, Georgia was still relatively new to the country when she met Charles. Their courtship apparently had a tender, romantic quality despite their significant age difference of nearly 19 years—family records mention that Charles wooed Georgia with poems and flowers, suggesting a man who, despite his advanced years for a first marriage, possessed a sentimental and expressive nature. The couple formalized their union on June 19, 1898, traveling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for their wedding ceremony, which was conducted according to Methodist Episcopal customs. Interestingly, marriage records indicate that Charles began a pattern of age misrepresentation at this time, perhaps feeling self-conscious about the age gap between himself and his young bride. This pattern continued in subsequent census records—most notably in the 1900 census where he's listed as only 35 years old (when he was actually 50), thereby presenting himself as only four years older than Georgia rather than nearly two decades her senior. About fourteen months after their marriage, the couple welcomed their only child, Emily Kemp Auble, born in August 1899 in Illinois. The 1900 census paints a picture of their household at 515 West Adams Street in Chicago, which included not only Charles, Georgia, and infant Emily, but also Georgia's younger brother, Franklin Kemp, who at age 20 may have been helping the family financially or receiving their support while establishing himself in the city. This arrangement speaks to the importance of extended family connections and mutual support in turn-of-the-century American life.
Move to California
The Auble family's westward journey continued around 1911 when Charles, now in his early sixties, Georgia in her early forties, and Emily approaching adolescence, relocated to San Diego, California. This move aligned with a broader demographic trend of Americans migrating to California for its climate, economic opportunities, and quality of life. For the Aubles specifically, family connections appear to have played a significant role in their decision, as they likely moved to be near Georgia's brothers, James and Franklin Kemp. This familial connection would have provided an important support network in their new city. Once established in San Diego, Charles continued pursuing his lifelong trade as a painter and interior decorator, setting up shop at their home at 767 14th Street, where the family lived from 1913 until Charles's death in 1916. The house itself became part of Charles's business identity, featuring professional signage that advertised his services with the words "Painting" and "Decorating" prominently displayed. The arrangement of using their home as both residence and place of business was common for small business owners and tradespeople of the era, allowing Charles to minimize overhead costs while maintaining a professional presence. The basement of the house served as Charles's studio, where he likely stored his materials, mixed paints, and perhaps created samples or demonstration pieces for potential clients. This period in San Diego represented the final chapter of Charles's long working life, with him continuing his trade well into his sixties—at a time when many Americans did not have the luxury of retirement and worked as long as their health permitted.
Personal Characteristics
Beyond the official records and dates that outline the basic structure of Charles's life, family recollections provide glimpses into his personality and appearance that help bring him to life as a real person rather than simply a name in genealogical records. According to these family memories, Charles had a fondness for "strong drink"—a euphemism suggesting he enjoyed alcohol perhaps more than was considered socially acceptable, though this was far from uncommon in an era before Prohibition. His consistent misrepresentation of his age throughout his marriage reveals a man perhaps concerned with appearances and social perceptions, especially regarding the significant age difference between himself and Georgia. In physical appearance, the later Charles was described as portly, suggesting a man who enjoyed his food and perhaps lived a relatively sedentary lifestyle typical of his era and social standing. He was bald, which may have been another motivation for concealing his true age, and maintained a mustache—a common facial hair style for men of his generation that remained fashionable well into the early 20th century. Though these characteristics might reveal some human foibles, Charles also demonstrated admirable qualities, particularly in his professional life. His dedicated membership in the Painter's Union Local No. 333 indicates a man who valued solidarity with his fellow tradesmen and believed in the importance of organized labor in protecting workers' rights and interests. The respectful resolutions passed by his union after his death further suggest that Charles was well-regarded by his colleagues and made positive contributions to his professional community. Like most people, Charles was a complex individual with a mixture of strengths and weaknesses that made up the totality of his character.
Final Years and Death
The last chapter of Charles's life was marked by unfortunate circumstances that led to his untimely death at age 66. Approximately three months before his passing, Charles suffered a serious fall—a common and dangerous occurrence for older adults, especially those in physical trades that might involve ladders and scaffolding. This accident set in motion a chain of medical complications that would ultimately prove fatal. On March 23, 1916, Charles succumbed to cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) caused by a ruptured gallbladder, both conditions resulting from his earlier fall. This connection between his accident and eventual death highlights the limited medical interventions available in 1916, when many conditions that would be treatable today often led to serious complications or death. Even in death, the pattern of age misrepresentation continued, with Charles's death certificate recording his age as 61 rather than his actual 66 years—a fiction perhaps maintained by Georgia out of habit or to preserve the narrative they had established during their marriage. Charles's funeral, held on March 25, 1916, at Bradley & Woolman's chapel in San Diego, was overseen by Reverend W.E. Crabtree and attended by family, friends, and fellow members of the Painters Union, Local No. 333, who were specifically invited to pay their respects to their departed colleague. Following the service, Charles was laid to rest in what was then known as the Masonic Cemetery (now incorporated into Mount Hope Cemetery) in San Diego. His grave, number 15 in lot 21, Division S, remains unmarked to this day—a common situation for many graves of that era, particularly for families of modest means. The $25 payment made by Georgia for the burial plot represented a significant expense for a widow who had just lost her family's primary breadwinner.
Legacy
Charles Auble left behind a grieving family including his wife Georgia, who would live another 36 years until 1952, and his daughter Emily, who was only about 16 years old at the time of her father's death. His surviving siblings, including Mary F. and Katherine Auble who were living in Bushnell, Illinois, also mourned his passing. The impact of Charles's death on his immediate family must have been significant, both emotionally and financially, as Georgia and teenage Emily faced the future without his support and presence. The formal resolutions passed by the Painters' Union in early April 1916 not only honored Charles's memory but also explicitly acknowledged the "great void in the hearts of his helpmate and family" and offered "an expression of that sincere sympathy" along with "an assurance of our best offices in every way possible in alleviating the pain." This gesture suggests the union may have provided practical assistance to Georgia and Emily following Charles's death, reflecting the fraternal and supportive nature of labor organizations in that era. Despite losing her father at a young age, Emily went on to marry Lyle Lawrence Carringer (1891-1976) in 1918, just two years after Charles's death. Through this marriage, the Auble line continued, eventually leading to Charles becoming the great-grandfather of genealogist Randall J. Seaver, who documented much of the family history. This connection across generations—from Charles to Emily to Betty Virginia Carringer (1919-2002) to Randall Seaver—represents the living legacy of Charles's life, a chain of descendants that continues to remember and honor his place in their family story more than a century after his passing.
Historical Context
Charles Auble's life journey from 1849 to 1916 paralleled many significant developments in American history, placing his personal story within the broader tapestry of national experience. Born in the mid-19th century during the antebellum period, he was a young boy during the tumultuous years of the Civil War (1861-1865), which broke out when he was about 12 years old and concluded around the time his family relocated to Indiana. While we don't know if any Auble family members served in the conflict, the war's social and economic impacts would have touched every American family in some way. As Charles grew to adulthood, he witnessed and participated in the dramatic industrial and urban growth that characterized the post-Civil War era.
His work as a skilled tradesman placed him within the expanding American middle and working classes that were being transformed by industrialization, new technologies, and changing labor practices. The family's migration pattern—from New Jersey to Indiana to Illinois and finally to California—mirrors the broader demographic shifts in American society during this period. Millions of Americans were on the move, leaving eastern states for opportunities in the Midwest and eventually the West Coast, responding to economic opportunities and the expanding national transportation network, particularly the transcontinental railroad completed in 1869.
Charles's profession as a painter and decorator was closely tied to the building booms in Chicago after the Great Fire and in San Diego during its early 20th century growth period. His work would have evolved with changing architectural styles and decorative tastes from Victorian elaboration to the simpler Arts and Crafts aesthetic that was gaining popularity by the early 1900s. Perhaps most significantly, Charles's membership in the Painters' Union placed him within one of the most important social movements of his era—the rise of organized labor during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This period saw frequent labor unrest, including the famous Haymarket Riot in Chicago in 1886 and numerous strikes and labor actions that sought better wages, improved working conditions, and recognition of workers' rights. While we don't know Charles's specific involvement in these movements, his union membership suggests he shared the values and aspirations of American workers who were collectively organizing to improve their circumstances during a period of rapid economic change and often harsh working conditions.
Charles lived during the presidential administrations of Zachary Taylor through Woodrow Wilson—a span that saw the United States transform from a largely agrarian society into an industrial and world power. He witnessed the advent of automobiles, telephones, electric lighting, and countless other innovations that fundamentally changed daily life. His death in 1916 came as America was on the verge of entering World War I, a conflict that would usher in the modern era and forever change the nation he had known throughout his long and eventful life.
4) A poem and song lyrics to commemorate the life of Charles Auble (1849-1916)can be found in "The Painter's Story" -- A Genealogy Poem and Song Created by Artificial Intelligence. The song created from the song lyrics can be heard in that blog post.
5) An audio overview (essentially a podcast created by the Google ContentLM AI tool) discussing the life of Abbey Ardelle "Della" (Smith) Carringer can be heard at https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/b70d88dc-ef5c-414b-a487-e6d0a984bda0/audio
6) I lightly edited the Claude biography text to add more family detail and correct minor errors. Every large language model (LLM) AI tool writes descriptive text much better than I can write. I was an aerospace engineer in my former life, and my research reports and genealogical sketches reflect "just the facts." The AI tools are very perceptive, insightful and create readable text in seconds, including applicable local and national historical detail. For example, the Claude 3.7 Sonnet expanded biography above was written in less than 30 seconds. It takes me longer to copy it and paste it into a computer file than it takes for Claude to write it.
7) An ABC Biography of Della's husband, Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) is in ABC Biography of #12 Henry Austin Carringer (1853-1946) of Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and California.
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Copyright (c) 2025, Randall J. Seaver
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