Charles Bent was born in Virginia in 1797, graduated from West Point and then resigned form the military. He was in the mercantile business in St. Louis until his father's death in 1827, at which time he moved west. He helped his brother William build the second Bent's Fort in Colorado, then moved to Santa Fe and then Taos to look after business interests. He was appointed first Territorial Governor and a few months later was killed during an insurrection. His daughter, Teresina, who witnessed his murder, later married Aloys Scheurich in 1865. Her daughter was Celestina Dora Berry whose daughter Teresa (Tessie) Berry was mentioned in the dedication speech.
From the guide to the Teresina Bent Scheurich Note Book, n.d., (Museum of New Mexico. Fray Angélico Chávez History Library.)
