TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA - OBITUARIES - Charles F. Miller, 1 Jun 1901 ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the Virginia USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Eagle Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net ============================================================================ "Clinch Valley News" Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday, August 9, 1901 DROWNING OF SERG. MILLER The following interesting letters tell the sad story of the drowning of C. F. Miller, in the Phillipines,(sic) as related in last weeks News. They will be read with tearful interest by many relatives and friends. Laugan, Samar, P. I. June 3, 1901 MR. R. A. MILLER Tazewell, Va., Dear Sir; It is my most painful duty to inform you that your son, CHARLES F. MILLER, late, 1st. Sergeant Company "A" 1st Infantry, was drowned while crossing the Catarman River, near the town of Catarman, on the island , about 3 p. m. June 1st, 1901. He, with two others were crossing the river in a small boat, when the boat upset and, though the river is not very wide, your son was drowned while the others escaped. On the loss of Sergeant Miller, the U. S. Government has lost one of its very best soldiers, and his Company a fine Sergeant and a well loved comrade. He was a sober, industrious and painstaking soldier, always ready to do his duty in the most thorough manner. He endeared himself to his comrades and made himself marked and respected by all officers who came in contact with him, by his sterling qualities of honest, reliability and devotion to duty. No one can feel his loss more sincerely than I, his Company Commander. Believe me, you have my most heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. Please inform me whether you desire his effects, all clothing, sent to you, or sold in the usual way and the proceeds turned into the Government to be claimed by you, together with all other monies that are due him, by applying to the Auditor for the War Department, Washington, D. C. Very Sincerely D. E. LACEY, Jr Captain 1st, Infantry, Co "A" ……………………………………… Laguan, Samar, P. I. June 2, 1901 MR. R. A. MILLER, Tazewell, Va., My dear Sir; CAPTAIN LACEY, or Company Commander , has written to you telling of the death of your son, CHARLES, our 1st Sergeant, on June 1st. Believe me, and I speak for the whole Company, you and your family have our tenderest sympathy in this, your sad, great loss. Our hearts go out in sympathy for you so far away. God help you and give you strength, your aching hearts to bear. His body has not been recovered as yet, and we fear it has been washed out to sea, as the current in the river was exceedingly strong. I will inform you at once if it should be, and I pray that it will be, for then we can bury him with military honors, and in due time his remains will be sent to the United States, then you can have him in your own burying ground. Be assured your son died while doing his duty for his country, and his company. We have lost a comrade whom we had learned to love and respect as a soldier and a man. Kin and generous to a fault, his loss is keenly felt and one that will be hard to fill. He had some pictures of his relatives and a family group, you no doubt would like to have, so will send then (ink smeared for several words) . Do not hesitate to write me if here is anything you desire in the way of information. With deepest sympathy, I am, Very sincerely, Gardiner L. Van Trump, Corporal Co "A," U. S. Army ADDED DATA: 1880 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 368, Jeffersonville Dist ROBERT A. MILLER, 43, Hotel Keeper, All in hotel b. VA .....Clura (sic), 42, wife, k-house .....Sue W., 14, dau .....Allan, 12, daon .....Charles F., 9, son .....Clura May (sic0, 6, dau JAMES H. STUART, 26, Lawyer ANNA LU STUART (sic), 17, daughter-at home THOMAS F. STUART, 23, Physician ELLA STUART, 24, boarder TRACY G. BOWEN, 52, Widow, Boarder M. LOU BOWEN, 27, BOARDER MARY C. BOWEN, 1, boarder JOHN A. MILLER, Clerk In Hotel (A son?) JOSEPH H. BARNER, 23 Clerk In Hotel WILLIAM BALDWIN, 20, Merchant KATE BALDWIN, 19, boarder WALTER BALDWIN, 9/12, BOARDER 1900 TAZEWLL CO VA CENSUS # 27, Tazewell Town JOHN SPRACHER, 32, b. Dec 1867 VA, All in this home b. VA, Farmer, married 3 years ....Clara M., 26, b. Apr 1874, wife, had had 1 child * .....R. W. A., 1, b. June 1898, son ROBT. A. MILLER, 63, b. Apr 1837, Widower/Hotel Keeper CHAS. A. ALEXANDER, 25, b. Oct 1871, not married a full year .....Mamie C., wife, Music Teacher, had had 0 children *(Clara M., d/o Robert A. & Clara Miller) 1900 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 84, Tazewell Town J. H. STUART, 46, Lawyer, married 20 years, all but twins b. VA .....Annie L., 37, b. Feb 1863, wife, had had 8 children with 7 alive in 1900 .....Wm St Clair, 19, b. Sept 1880, Secretary-machine shop .....Hary H (sic), 17, b. June 1882, at school .....Lucy H., 15, b. Sept 1884, at school .....Nellie W., 12, b. Oct 1887, Twin/at school .....Cellie M., 12, b. Oct 1887, Twin/at school .....Robt R., 9, b.April 1891, at school .....Clara H., 2, b. Feb 1898, dau [I did not get the previous weeks "Clinch Valley News," Friday, August 2, 1901 that apparently had another article about this death]. Karen EAGLE Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net April 2002