Charles Edward Heppler was born in South Easthope Township, Perth County on Christmas Day in the year 1882. He was the son of John (Johannes) Heppler and Bresila Schwartz.  The Heppler family had emigrated from Baden-Württemberg Germany to Canada in 1847.

Not long after Charles was born, his father sold his farm and moved the family to the Village of New Hamburg where John became a house painter and ultimately a general merchant.  The village is where Charles grew up and apprenticed as a machinist.

The Grand Trunk Railway had relocated their locomotive repair shop from Toronto to Stratford in 1870. Charles took advantage of the opportunity and moved to Stratford in the early 1900s as the repair shops were expanding.

On July 26, 1905, Charles married Ann (Annie) Hansuld in Stratford. At the time of her marriage she was a dressmaker. Annie was born on August 18, 1879 in East Zorra Township, the daughter of Conrad Henry Hansuld and Magdelena (Lena) Roth.

Charles and Annie purchased a lot on Water Street from James Trow and completed the house in September of1907.  Three months later Annie gave birth to a son, Carleton George Heppler, on December 17th. He was their only child.

Charles sold 185 Water Street to Fred J. Corrie, the former owner of the Queen's Inn on Ontario Street who was listed on the assessments as a gentleman, in 1909.

The Hepplers lived on Downie Street for a number of years before moving to Kitchener. Annie died October 2, 1953 and Charles died November 17, 1956. They are buried in the McTavish Cemetery in South Easthope Township along with their son Carleton who died December 14, 1973.