Charles H. Lanier

Charles H. “Charley” Lanier was born in 1859 in Tennessee.¹ At some point between 1870 and 1880, he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and worked as a barber at the Denison House Barber Shop, shaving future President Benjamin Harrison. When Harrison moved into the White House in 1889, he hired Lanier to serve as his valet.² Official documents listed Charles Lanier’s position as “messenger,” but according to The Kansas City Times, “One of the messengers is the president’s valet. Charley…shaves the president, looks after his wardrobe, etc.” Lanier also traveled with the president and managed his baggage.³ 

During the Harrison-Cleveland transition in 1893, President Grover Cleveland retained Lanier’s services at the White House as a messenger. It is unclear if he also took on valet duties at that time.⁴ However, in June 1894, Charles Lanier was dismissed “to meet the demand for a general reduction of the White House messenger force.”⁵ He returned to Indiana where operated his own barber shop for many years.⁶ Lanier was also an active member of his Episcopal Church and a Mason. He died on January 4, 1926 and was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.⁷