Charles Manuel Miller

Charles Miller was born on December 14, 1863 at Tunnel, Broome County, NY and died about 1932 in Portsmouth, VA. Charles is buried in a pauper's grave in Portsmouth, VA.
Charles married Hesper May Steele on November 30, 1887. The marriage ended in divorce.

We have no documentation of when Hesper was born. She remarried on October 6, 1909 in the State of Wisconsin and died on May 12, 1917 at Wisconsin Rapids, WI. No children were born to Hesper May [Steele-Miller] and Archie Muir.

Charles and Hesper had the following children:

Census Information

Charles is listed as living with his parents on the census of Colesville, Broome County, NY for the following years:
1870 U.S. Federal Census
1875 New York State Census
1880 U.S. Federal Census

After 1880, we have no definitive census records for Charles Manuel or his family. However, the following census information (based on the letter below) is assumed to be Charles Manuel:

1930 U.S. Federal Census Norfolk, Portsmouth Virginia
(Chestnut? Street -- next to High Street)
Charles Miller   W   M   S   60(?)    Roomer   Occupation: pipe fitter   employed by: Self
Lists 'Not attending college or school'
Can read and write
self, father mother - all born in New York
Actually employed: Yes
Veteran of war? No

Documentation

- The following is a letter written by Charles Manuel's daughter, Hesper Mae, to Mildred Miller dated August 21, 1942:
"From the pictures I have of Uncle Norman, he looked as I remember my own father. He never changed his habits and at the time of his death was living with the Negros in Portsmouth Virginia. He said he had a cancer of the tongue and asked to come to me. I told him he had better stay there where he could be well cared for as they sent all cancer cases north did not treat them here. This was the truth. He told me that he had plenty and would be no burden as I did not worry over him so when Kieth was at Norfolk, in training, I asked him to go over to see him as I had not heard for some time. He went and traced him out be address a squalid negro section. Yes, they said he had lived there, "Capt" Miller, but had died some time before. We could not find out just when, or where he was buried. He had nothing they said. Well I am glad he is out of his misery but I cannot mourn for him for I cannot remember him as a good father or husband."

- Charles Manuel was not always as his daughter remembered him, as witnessed by the following newspaper article from the Binghamton Dispatch (Binghamton, NY) Dated 5/22/1887:
"A Broome County Boy: Charles Miller, son of Jacob Miller of Tunnel station, went west last fall to see if Horace Greeley's advice to young men was true. He obtained work as a firemen [sic] on the Illinois-Iowa railroad. Thrown out of work by the Interstate law taking effect. He was in Kankakee's terrible fire, losing all but the clothes he had on. Soon after there was a position open which called for a man of good moral character, one of great responsibility and trust at the Kankakee asylum. Leading men of the road gave him the recommendation and he now has charge of all the men and engines in the engine department nights, quite a responsibility for so young a man. But it shows plainly that a good character is better than money. His many friends wish him good luck."