Bachmann was born in Wheeling as the son of Charles F. and Sophia Bachmann; three of his grandparents were German immigrants.[1] In 1908 he graduated from Linsly Institute. He went to college first at Washington and Jefferson College for two years, and later graduated from West Virginia University, where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He later graduated from law school at West Virginia University in 1915.
Family
On July 14, 1914, he married Susan Louise Smith. They had three children: Charles F., Gilbert S. and Susan Jane.
Early career
In 1915, Bachmann began to practice law in Wheeling, and in 1917 he was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney for Ohio County. In 1920 he was elected prosecuting attorney, serving from January 1921 to December 1924.
