Charles Eckhart was born in February 24, 1841 in Germantown, Pennsylvania. to John and Caroline Eckhardt. At age eight, he began to help his father spool yarn. He had a year and a half of schooling. At 16 years old, he was apprenticed to a wheelwright. Later at the age 19, he set up a repair shop in Hilltown (Bucks County), Pennsylvania. In 1860, he enlisted in the 104th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army and served until May 20, 1863 when he was discharged because of heart trouble. At that time he held the rank of 1st sergeant. He re-enlisted later and remained in the service until six months after the Civil War. His signature, Eckhart, was continued for pensions after the war.

Upon his discharge from the Army, Charles came to Indiana to visit his uncle, George Eckhardt. During this time, he worked for the Studebaker Carriage Works. He married Barbara Ellen Ashleman on October 30, 1866. Barbara was the daughter of John Ulery and Mary Everhart Ashleman. (John helped layout the town site of Auburn in 1864.)

Charles and Barbara moved to Pennsylvania in 1867, where their four children were born: Frank in Chester County, and Anna, Morris and William in Montgomery County, all not far from Phoenixville.

In 1873, the family moved back to Indiana and lived in a brick house on a five-acre tract in Auburn where Charles established the Eckhart Carriage Company. It supplied the wholesale trade for a complete line of buggies and surries. Charles retired in 1893, leaving the business in the hands of his sons. Frank, the oldest son, assumed active management of the Eckhart Carriage Company. In 1902, the Auburn Automobile Company was formed as a family enterprise. Charles’ wife, Barbara, died on September 10, 1903.

On October 18, 1904, Charles married Martha A. Hoffman, daughter of the Reverend J.H. and Margaret Hoffman. Charles was an ardent prohibitionist and ran for Governor of Indiana on the Prohibition Party ticket.

He gave the city of Auburn, the Eckhart Public Library and a city park. He and his son Frank, gave the city a completely equipped Y.M.C.A. building. The October 6, 1915 issue of the "Auburn Weekly Bee" describes Charles as a “humble, earnest, honest-workman, soldier, manufacturer, public spirited citizen, philanthropist, Christian husband, father and friend to everybody.”

Charles Eckhart died on September 30, 1915 in Auburn, Indiana.