Charles Christian Kiefer was born in Washington County, Maryland, on September 23, 1826. He received his education in Dayton, Ohio where his family had moved in 1832.While living in Dayton he was engaged in the hardware business. In 1876 he moved to Urbana, Ohio and became secretary of the Urbana Gas and Light Company.
He was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Urbana and served for many years as superintendent of its Sunday school. In 1850 he married Miss Mary Engle and to that happy union two sons were born.
M.W. Brother Kiefer was so impressed with the dignity of the Masonic Funeral he witnessed for his father that he determined to become a member of the Craft. To that end he received his Entered Apprentice Degree on May 5, 1849, his Fellowcraft Degree on May 28, 1849 and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 11, 1849 in St. Johns Lodge No. 13 of Dayton, Ohio. Upon moving to Urbana, Ohio he dimitted from St. Johns Lodge on December 15, 1877 and affiliated on February 14, 1878 with Harmony Lodge No.8 of Urbana. He served as the secretary of Harmony Lodge from 1895 to 1898, having previously served as Worshipful Master of St. Johns Lodge.
In 1879 and 1880 he was elected Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master in 1881 and 1882. In 1888 he was appointed a member of a special committee from the Grand Lodge to work with similar committees appointed by other Masonic orders concerning the desirability of establishing a Masonic Home in Ohio. He was one of the first trustees of the Ohio Masonic Home, being appointed in 1890 and continued to serve in that capacity until his death.
He was a member of Unity Chapter No. 16 R. A. M. of Dayton, later affiliating with Urbana Chapter No. 34. He held many offices in the Grand Chapter of Ohio and served as Grand High Priest in 1868, 1869, 1870 and 1871.
He was a member of Reese Council No.9, Dayton, and served as Grand Master of the Grand Council of Ohio in 1860,1861 and 1862.
He received the Orders of Knighthood in Reed Commandery No.6 of Dayton and, following several offices in the Grand Commandery, was elected to Grand Commander in 1875 and 1876. Thus M, W. Brother Charles C. Kiefer became one of three men who have presided over the Grand Lodge of Ohio as well as the three York Rite Orders.
Death came to M. W. Brother Kiefer on Sunday, March 12, 1899 after an illness of three months. The funeral was held on Wednesday March 15th conducted by Harmony Lodge No. 8. Internment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Section 45, Lot 1600, Dayton, Ohio.