Charles L. Aumiller, 1887 Obituaries

AUMILLER

Posted By: ddr (email)
Date: 6/28/2010 at 18:37:19

(Source: Carroll Sentinel, December 2, 1887)
Many people in Carroll can readily remember a little, crippled, half blind old man, or apparently old, who has been about here for years, most of the time in the employ of W.T. Minchen. Very few of us knew his name, less of us cared what it was. He was repulsive in his appearance, his eyesight was poor, but yet he was retiring and never forced himself upon anyone’s attention, and so it is not likely that his real condition was ever known. During summer months he usually found such work as he could do and got along well enough. How he fared in winter no one knows if anyone cared. He drifted away from here some days ago, as he had often done before, no one missing him. Last Saturday dispatches were received here from Atlantic stating that he was dead.

The man’s name was Chas. Aumiller. He was a Pennsylvanian, and was an old veteran, serving about four years in the 147th Pennsylvania Infantry, where he laid the foundations of the diseases that afflicted him. While clearly entitled to a pension he never applied for one.

It is firmly believed by those who knew something of the queer little fellow, that he died of starvation and exposure. He was scrupulously honest, and he would never beg anything, indeed would never ask for the simplest favor. He was not illiterate, for as poor as his sight was he would read a great deal, and certainly must have been tolerably well informed as he preferred the news columns of the daily papers. He was a singular character, but not a bad or vicious feature was discovered. He will be buried in a pauper’s grave at Atlantic and forgotten in a day.

(Source: Carroll Herald, November 26, 1887)
A dispatch from Atlantic announces the death of Charles L. Aumiller, widely known in Carroll as "Monkey Charley," a tramp who for many years has returned periodically to the town and on these occasions is taken in by W. T. Minchen and given employment suitable to his condition.

Aumiller was a private in the 147th Pa. Infantry and contracted diseases from hardships and exposure in the service which gave his face an expression from which he took the name of “Monkey Charley.” Aumiller was as honest as he was eccentric and peculiar and would accept nothing in charity. He was probably known to every man, woman and child in the
county.