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It is recorded that in November, 1860, a movement was made to secure a telegraph line from Waterville to Skowhegan. September, 1862, saw the arrival in town of the wires of the Somerset & Kennebec Telegraph Co., which became after a few years a part of the Western Union system. The first operator was Charles H. Sewall whose home was in the Hartwell house on the Island. The office was on the south side of Water St. in the second story of what was then the James Malhon store, next cast of the Dinsmore one. Charles Sewall was the son of Dr. Samuel G., and married Jeanette Jewell, daughter of Mrs. Angeline (Hartwell). After eight years of telegraph duty he removed to New York where he died Mar. 25, 1905, and his wife the following day. Coburn, Louise Helen. Skowhegan on the Kennebec. Skowhegan, Me., 1941.
He was author of The Future of Long-Distance Telephoning and Wireless Telegraph: its origins, development, invention, and apparatus.

He retired as a captain from a 26-year career in the Navy. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and saw action in the battles of Saipan, Taiwan and Iwo Jima during World War II. He received several commendation medals. He graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H., with a degree in history and political science.⁴

CHARLES SEWALL
Charles Sewall, who died yesterday morning at his home. No. 320 West Eighty-first-st., was one of the most prominent fire insurance men In the United States. He was especially prominent In the fire insurance business in this city, and in connection with the Tariff Association, in the work of which he took a leading part. He was a member of the Committee of Fifteen, which has for the last few months been at work on the reorganization of that association, and at the time of his death was the sole manager for the United States of the Commercial Union Assurance Company of London.
The fact that he was seriously ill was known, to only a few until last week. He was last at his office about five weeks ago, and exhibited little physical evidence of his trouble. He had been told by his physicians how grave his condition of health was and was greatly depressed mentally. He had, however, at that time a hope of recovery. About ten days ago his symptoms grew alarming and dropsy set In. On Monday night of last week he sank so low as to arouse the fear that he would die then, but the physicians were able to revive him. He died at 12:20 o'clock yesterday morning.
Mr. Sewall was born on August 9, 1848, in Brooklyn. His father was Henry F. Sewall, whose noted collection of prints and engravings was sold last year to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Henry F. Sewall was at one time a member of the old New-York firm of Grinnell, Minton & Co., East Indiamen. Charles Sewall was a direct descendant of Samuel Sewall, who was the first Chief Justice of Massachusetts. He attended school in New-York, and at an early age went into business as the representative of the Pacific Mall Steamship Company at Aspinwall, Panama. He soon returned to New-York, and entered the office of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company. He displayed aptitude for the business, and became assistant secretary in 1874. In 1878 he resigned and was made joint manager with Alfred Pell of the United States branch of the Commercial Union Assurance Company of London. In 1883 he was made the sole manager. He was also made president of the New-York Commercial Union Assurance Company when that was organized. He was one of the prime movers in the agitation last summer for the organization of a tariff association in New-York, and had since performed much work in aid of the movement. As an underwriter he held a high place in the estimation of managers, agents and brokers.
Mr. Sewall devoted himself almost entirely to business, and had few outside interests. He was a Republican, and a member of the Union Club, the Downtown Association, the New-York Athletic Club and the Westchester County Golf Club. Ho leaves a widow, daughter and three sons.
The Tariff Association and the directors of the Commercial Union Assurance Company both held meetings yesterday, at which tributes were paid to Mr. Sewall’s memory, and resolutions of condolence were adopted. The funeral will take place to-morrow at Mr. Sewall's home, and the burial will be in Woodlawn. New York Tribune, 30 December 1898.⁷