Charles W. Browning was born around 1819 in Pennsylvania to Joseph Browning and Sarah Ann Coleman. His father died around 1830. He married Huldah Montgomery, and they had at least three children: Parker, born around 1843; Maria, born around 1847; and Clarence, born around 1850. The family lived in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. In 1850, Browning was working as a farmer, and he owned $500 of real estate. A decade later, he owned $2,500 of real estate and $1,163 of personal property, and in 1870, he owned $5,000 of real estate and $1,500 of personal property. He died on May 30, 1893.