Ink-Slinger Profiles: Charles Forbell

Charles Henry Forbell was born in Brooklyn, New York on September 11, 1885, according to his World War II draft card. In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, he was the oldest of four children born to Charles and Margaret. He lived in Brooklyn at 408 Warwick Street. His father was a letter carrier. The 1930 census said he married at age 24, which would have been from late 1909 to early 1910.

In the 1910 census (enumerated in late April) he and Elsie lived in Queens, New York at 129 Napier Avenue. (Today the street name is either 108 or 109 Avenue in the Richmond Hill area.) He was an advertising artist. Photos of him can be viewed here. AskArt.com said, "…Charles Forbell created the comic 'Naughty Pete', which appeared in magazine Judge from 1910 until the late 1930s. Apart from doing newspaper comics, Charles Forbell did much commercial work. One of his most prominent productions was 'Mr. Peanut', the Planters Peanut Symbol that is familiar around the world (although he did not create it, he was asked to do the design on it)…."

Forbell and his wife had a six-year-old son as recorded in the 1920 census. They resided in Queens at "First Street (214 Street)." His occupation was artist. In this decade he produced strips such as Soosie the Shopper and Cuddles. Ten years later the family lived at 218 Park Lane in Queens (the Douglaston and Little Neck area). He was a magazine artist and cartoonist.

He signed his World War II draft card on April 27, 1942. His home was in Bayside, Queens at 42-01 220 Place. He was self-employed, with an office at 274 Madison Avenue in Manhattan. His description was 5 feet, 8 inches, 143 pounds, brown eyes and gray hair. Forbell passed away at home on April 15, 1946. The Brooklyn Eagle reported his death the next day.

Charles Forbell, Noted Cartoonist

Charles H. Forbell, 60, cartoonist who began his art career as a staff artist on the old New York World after he was graduated from Pratt Institute, died yesterday at his home, 42-01 220th Place, Bayside, after a short illness. For the last 30 years he was cartoonist for the Rogers Peet Company, his sprightly sketches heading the newspaper advertisements of that concern.

Years ago, in the old Life Magazine, he had a series of cartoons entitled, "In Ye Goode Old Days." The cartoons were a medieval satire of the doings of knights in armor. This same idea was continued by Judge in full page style under the caption, "In Ancient Times." He also had a series of cartoons in Judge called "Ancient Sources of Modern Inventions."

For many years he was cartoonist for the Aetna Casualty and Surety Company of Hartford, Conn., and contributed drawings to the advertising sent out by the Central Savings Bank of New York.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elsie Knapp Forbell; a son, Richard C.; his father, Charles Forbell of Brooklyn, and three sisters, Mrs. Wilson A. Higgins, Mrs. Maude Raymonde and Mrs. William Lyons.

Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Fairfield Chapel, 141-26 Northern Boulevard, Flushing.