Charles Asher Flynn was born September 26, 1848 at Rush City, Minnesota, the son of John and Mary Mullen Flynn, who had emigrated from Ireland in 1827.
Charles Flynn grew to manhood at Rush City and in 1881 he came to Barnes County, homesteading on the Southeast ΒΌ of Section 4 of Eckelson Township. This property is still owned by his daughter, Cassie Flynn Altringer.
In 1883, due to the influx of settlers, the Urbana School District number 46 was organized with Charles Flynn as one of the board members. The new teacher was Miss Mary Carlton. On November 29, 1883, Mary Carlton and Charles Flynn were married.
Mary Carlton was born in Minnesota on January 21, 1855, and was educated as a teacher. She taught three years in Minnesota before coming to the Urbana School, where she received forty dollars a month salary. She taught the Urbana School until 1885.
The Charles Flynns had six children; John, Henry, Charles E., Cassie, George and Mary.
Cassie, born October 4, 1890, was educated as a teacher and taught at Buchanan, Rhame and Oriska before working in Washington, D.C. during World War 1. She returned at the war's end and resumed teaching in Anderson Township. On June 27, 1923, she married Louis H. Altringer. Two children were born to Louis and Cassie; Mary Ann (Mrs. Edward Graven) and Patty.
Always active in community, school and church affairs, Cassie continues to do so at the age of 85. A graduate of the Valley City Normal School in 1912, she recently returned to the School (Now Valley City State) to earn additional credit. She is the sole survivor of the Charles and Mary Carlton Flynn union.
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 71