Miller, Charles (James Cleveland)

James Cleveland was only 7 when his mother died and 12 when his dad died. In 1900, all the children, except for Ethel, were still living at home (Pulaski County, KY). Following the death of their parents, the children either lived with relatives or with families they worked for.

Elmira Marie “Susie”, 18 yrs old, was a “servant” in the home of a clerk for the Lumberland PipeLine. Wilburn Franklin “Frank”, at 13, was a “hired boy” on a farm.)

In 1907, the oldest of the Miller children, Ethel, died leaving behind her husband, John Cooper and three young children. Byon, was 7, Tony 4, and Bessie 18 months.

When James Cleveland was about 16 (about 1909), he ran away from home. He went to Wyoming where he assumed the name, Charles Miller. He “later took up a homestead in the Passiac area.” About 1917, his sister, Elmira Marie “Susie” came to live with him. She became a postmistress in Passaic for about a year. His brother, Wilbern Franklin “Frank” also moved to Wyoming.

Interestingly the two siblings that moved to Wyoming were the two I found listed in the 1910 census as being a servant and a hired boy. I can only imagine what their lives were like.

Charles “Charley” was inducted into the Army June 27, 1918 for World War I, “seeing action in the trenches of France and GErmany. He served in the Infantry Company B, 160th as a Private. He was released from service at Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming, May 22, 1919.”

Sources:

• “Backward Glance 1880-1980’s. Ulm, Leiter, Ucross, Clearmont (Wyoming), A Century of History.” Published by the Clearmont Historical Group, Clearmont, Wyoming.
• Affidavit from his sister, Susie, regarding his name change.