Charles Rothwell moved to Dearfield, CO with his mother in March 1911 at 15 years old. Charles became a cowboy during his time at the all Black settlement, and his tools denote his work with ranching, farming, and carpentry. Charles Rothwell was drafted into the army in 1918 and took up residence in Denver upon his return.

The tin snips were used to cut sheet metal for roofing. The t-square was used to draw straight horizontal lines, usually for building plans. The drawknife was used to shape furniture made of wood. The flat metal file was used to smooth wood surfaces. The gouge chisel was used to carve grooves into wood. The keyhole saw was used to cut small curves into wood as well as too cut small holes into doors for doorknobs and locks. The knife and holster appear to have been handmade, and would have been used for skinning a hunted animal or as a general handy man's knife. The cross peen hammer head was used for blacksmithing, most likely to create horseshoes and nails. The buck saws were used to cut logs. The hand saw was used to cut wood into different shapes. The hoe was used to cultivate soil for farming.

Information about the history of Charles Rothwell was found in History Colorado's "Lost Highways" and from the Weld County Genealogical Society.

Information about the names and uses of the tools was found at the Bee Family Centennial Farm Musuem in Fort Collins, Colorado as well as on the Smithsonian digital archive.