Here’s the story of a sweet boy named Charlie, who by the end of his life, was a fugitive.  

To begin this story, you need to know about his father. 

His father, Seymour Raymond, didn’t know how to read or write, but somehow was able to build his own empire; He was president of Raymond and Campbell Iron Works, director of the Tube Works and Car works, President of the Middletown Furniture Manufacturing Company, Vice-President of the National Bank (in Middletown), Treasurer of the Middletown Water Company, Director of the Landisville Camp-meeting association and Worshipful Master of the Prince Edwin Lodge, 486. The stoves made at the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works were considered the Best of the Best at the time and were sold all over the country. His company was the one that invented the thermometers inside stoves and steam heat for the home (thank you, Seymour).  He worked very hard to support his family. He married Anna Kennard, and they had 12 children. However, 7 only lived to adulthood. The family moved from Philadelphia to Middletown in 1856. When Seymour passed away his wife was given a life insurance policy of $10,000, which in today’s inflation would have been $3,700,000.00. 

Charles was the oldest child, born October 18th, 1853, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Middletown when he was 3 years old. 

By the time Charlie was 16, he was already working in his father’s foundry. His father had already made a name for himself and his home in Middletown, PA was valued at $43,000 (which in today’s money would have been over $1 Million). 

Charles graduated from Iron City Business College in Pittsburgh, Pa in 1871 and was an officer of the OUAM (Order of United American Mechanics) in Middletown. 

After graduating he began working at his father’s company and quickly rose the ranks. The Raymond and Campbell Iron works were more famously known for their stoves, but also made rails for the railroad tracks, beams for bridges and ironically iron doors for cells in prisons across the United States. 

In 1880, he became an officer at the Prince Edwin Lodge (no. 486), Middletown, Pa. 

In 1883, it is first mentioned that Charles and Ida were an item, but it wasn’t util February 25th, 1885, that they married. This was a big story at the time, as Ida was the daughter of Joseph Campbell (the Campbell of the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works). The article also states that the wedding was more like a party, as there were “lights blazing from the home from early evening until early morn.” There were 250 guests that arrived for the wedding, which came from; Philadelphia, Reading, York, Lancaster, New York and Harrisburg. The notable guests were Mr. C. A. Aughinbaugh (a renowned jeweler), Misses Kitty and Grettle Swartz (musicians), J.C. Jennings (Superintendent of the Philadelphia Railroad) (and family) and Thomas Peters (Senator of Pennsylvania). Charles and Ida, both coming from wealthy families, were given a home, which was already furnished for them.  

Charles's father had been ill for some time and in the later part of 1885 transferred the business interest of the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works to Charles and his brother, Joseph. Then, sadly in January of 1886, Seymour passed away. Charles also became the President of the National Bank of Middletown. Just a bit of history here, the National Bank of Middletown, was founded by General Simon Cameron (if you don’t know who that is, he was a famous General in Pennsylvania and his home now is a Bed and Breakfast named, Cameron Estate Inn ( History of Cameron Estate Inn Bed and Breakfast Lancaster PA ). Seymour Raymond, as mentioned prior, was the vice president and Simon was the president. When Simon, passed away, it was written that Charles would become the President of the Bank. 

I am not entirely sure what transpired in Charles' mind after his father passed, but by all accounts, he became greedy. 

The employees of Raymond and Campbell went on strike in 1886, because they had asked for a 10-cent raise, but “the firm” claimed they were unable to pay the increase.  

On Nov 30th, 1887, Ida’s first-born daughter, was still born. It would be almost 10 years later, until they had another child... and as it turns out, their only child. (As I continue with the Raymond family, you will see that many, if not all the children were sickly, about a third of the children didn’t make it past the age of 5, others lived to their 20’s, one was a special needs who never married and the rest, besides Charles, lived a long life. It was reported several times throughout his adult life about his illnesses.) 

The R&C (Raymond and Campbell) Iron Works was given a proposal for a new railroad that would travel from Middletown to Hummelstown (1888). This new venture, when completed, met the very popular demand for travel, a new inlet for sources of coal and for farmers. In this year as well, we start seeing interest columns of Charles illnesses.  

In 1890, Charles began the construction of the mansion he and Ida would live in, which if you’re a local, know the building now, as Alfred’s Victorian Restaurant ( OUR STORY | alfredsvictorian ). The initial cost to build this mansion was $12,000 (in today’s money it would have been almost $405,000.00). But as it turned out, it ended up costing him more than money.  

Also, in the year 1890, he began in interest in running for State Treasurer and bought “the most expensive apartments at the Bolton House in Harrisburg for his headquarters.  

In 1891 he ran for State Treasurer. In August of 1891, there is an article that reads, "By this committee, representing the democracy of Dauphin County, that we hail with confidence the candidacy of the office of state treasurer one of Dauphin county’s best citizens, Hon. Charles W. Raymond of Middletown, a gentleman of sterling integrity of high standing in business qualifications and pertinence of wide acquaintance among men of affairs. One upon who the people may with confidence rely on to lead this important office out of the errors and mistakes of the past into a careful and honest administration in the future.” Unfortunately, he didn’t win the run for State Treasurer, but he was appointed as the State Councilor. 

In 1892, Charles (and other members of the Raymond family and some of the Campbell family), had applied and won the award of corporation for the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works. Because of this they were given individual shares. Joseph Campbell (name's sake and father of Ida) received the most at 185 shares and Charles received the second most at 98 shares. The value of these shares at the time was $200 per share. So, Joseph had $37,000 in shares (in today’s money that would be about $1,250,000) and Charles had $19,600 (about $660,000). 

In 1893, it is reported that Charles had been sick for some time and after 3 weeks, was able to conduct business from home, but still not able to get to the office. 

Charles also had a home in Philadelphia and New York City and often worked from those offices. The Store in New York was named, “New York Stove Store of Raymond and Campbell of Middletown”. Due to this, and his affiliation with top executives had decided to run for Collector of the Port of Philadelphia and for Pennsylvania State Treasurer again.  

But this is when things started to unravel for Charles. In September 1893, he withdrew from the race for State Treasurer and Collector. The people that voted for him were shocked and made the paper with the title, “RAYMOND NOT IN IT”. 

In July of 1894, his only child (my great grandmother), was born. She was named Charlotte Elizabeth Raymond (who later married Aaron S. Kreider, Jr, who I just finished writing about). But that was the only positive thing that happened...  

In September of 1894, the newspapers blew up with the Raymond boys in the paper (Charles and his brother; Edward) … “RAYMONDS ARRESTED”, “WARRENTS ISSUED”, “BANK ROBBED”, “THEY LOOTED THE BANK”. Charles and his brothers were charged with embezzling money from the National Bank.  

William M. Hardt, the man Charles had just been running against as State Treasurer was now investigating him. There was $50,000 ($1.8 Million) in misapplied funds. They were handcuffed and sent to jail; the bail was set in the amount of $20,000 ($700,000). This case made national and international news. The townspeople of Middletown were furious, their shares on the bank and Raymond and Campbell went from $50 a share to literally $0 overnight. It had originally been reported that there were $50,000 ($1.8 Million) in misapplied funds, but as more investigating occurred it was realized that there was $200,000 ($7.1 Million) to the bank and $300,000 ($10.7 Million) to Raymond and Campbell Iron Works, that was “misapplied”. 

Finally in 1895, the Raymond Brothers Trial was in every paper. It was the equivalent of watching it on Court TV. The papers were ruthless and buried Charles”. There were rumors that Seymour groomed Charles for this and that when the previous cashier, H. C. Staven, fell dead at work, and Edward Raymond took over the role, with no experience, that now it is said that Mr. Staven had been murdered. Of course, there was no proof of this. It was also told that Charles had, the year before, “gently” forced Joseph Campbell to sell his interest in the Raymond and Campbell Iron works, stating, due to “advancing years and wanting to escape the corporate woes”. Charles wanted this so Joseph’s shares could be “misapplied” as well, without people really taking notice. But during the case, it was realized that Campbell’s own money was stolen as well, in the amount of $77,000 ($2.8 Million). A few years before the fall of the bank, Charles had built a new building for the bank (which is now the Brownstone Cafe Live and Local: History meets delicious food at Middletown’s Brownstone Cafe | fox43.com ), his mansion (now Alfred’s Victorian, link above) and Joseph Raymond (brother to Charles) mansion (now an apartment building). These buildings dazzled the townspeople. Charles threw grand parties and invited many from the town. He had prize black stallions with gold mounted harnesses that were the talk of everyone. Was this all a ruse to distract the people from the misdoings of Charles and his brothers? As the trial began, the people started to wonder if that indeed was the case. When the bank doors closed, the towns people, especially the poorer folk, ran to the bank, hoping to find the president, to see if this was just temporary. But they were told that Charles had a sprained ankle and Edward was ill. It was later that day, when Middletown found out that Charles and Edward had embezzled their money away to nothing. 

Where did the money go? Some went into the building of the new bank, Charles and Joseph’s brownstone mansions. Some were used to purchase from other companies. Like when Edward bought stock (four-fifth of the company) for the Middletown Water Works, but when it was further investigated, it was found that part of the stock was applied toward Swatara Flouring Mills Company, which had long been merged with the Water Works. Thousands of dollars vanished and were never found. 

When it came upon the brothers that they would need counsel, Charles hired Chairman of the National Democratic Executive Committee; William Harrity and his law partner. It was said that Charles and William were on intimate terms. When William was appointed Chairman of the Democratic Committee, Charles made a “liberal contribution” of $3500 ($127,900.00). 

Now that he was being arrested, everything he had done in previous years was being reviewed with a fine-tooth comb. Examples were coming from everywhere, like when he ran for State Treasurer in 1891. The lavish apartments in Harrisburg, the fact that he “bought” 200 men and their suits (which were described as; “the men were dressed uniformly with high silk hats”, and to march down Middletown streets, behind a band and shouted for Raymond “and made much noise”. When Charles didn’t win for Collector (Port of Philadelphia), “he blamed William Harrity... as he had passed his word... that the prize would be forthcoming”. William told him, “He would dilate on the advantages of that the prominence would bring him, how he would be able to extend the influence of his different enterprises and gain social distinction.” When he lost it caused “bitter vexation” toward William and Charles stopped the contributions to the Democratic Committee. Also, it was realized that when bank examiner, William Miller, Jr shot and killed himself the year before (Altoona, Pennsylvania), it was most likely due to this scandal and other banks in the state. 

Months had gone by after it was first learned of the Raymond brother’s embezzlement and the people of Middletown were getting angry. There were widows and orphans that had lost everything due to what the Raymond’s had done to the townspeople. The people blamed the government for a coverup. Stating, “powerful political influences were at work and that the United States authorities were in no way anxious to move forward with the case. It was such a bitter feeling in Middletown, that some of the bondsmen that had put money up for the Raymond’s, started to drop off. And so that was why the bail went from $20,000 to $12,500 to the final bail at $5,000. The community was furious and believed even more now that the government was involved. The government also did not want to take Charles’ home from him and instead, went after the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works. 

While months had passed, people really began to open up and talk about Charles and his unusual business practices. In one instance, a man, who had owned 10 stocks with the bank, stated that Charles approached him days before the bank closed, asking if he wanted to be the director of the bank, but to qualify he needed 20 stocks.  

In February 1895, it finally came out that the Raymond’s were not the only ones involved with the destruction of the National Bank. The other’s named; William Pettingill – smuggling and attempting to bribe a United States officer, James Anderson and Frederick Baldt - conspiracy to defraud the United States, Arthur McAvoy – embezzling mail matter, Wilson Rowe, Harry Wells, Lorin Chambers, Harry Briggs, Gustave Spencer, Robert Rapp and Rodman Blake – schemes to defraud using mail and lastly John Durland – depositing in the mail letters and circulars regarding an enterprise similar to a lottery.  

In March of 1895, Charles becomes brazen. He purchased The Newport Foundry and Machine Company in Newport, Pa, where he said his family would relocate. The money to purchase this failing foundry was from his mother and friends, who were “anxious to put up ample capital...”. He was so confident that he stated, “...once the foundry is up and running this town will see a boom, like it has never seen before.” When he was challenged, due to the failing of the National Bank, he quickly turned the blame away from himself and stated the fall of the bank was due to “electric railways, stone quarries, and the Middletown and Hummelstown Railway” (which his father help build). It was in the option of the newspaper that “Mr. Raymond wasn’t troubled with the case against him and was confident that all charges would be dropped.” 

There were a few months in 1895 that the Raymond’s weren’t in the paper, but then in June of that year, another brother and father-in-law were brought into the case. Joseph F. Raymond (brother) and Joseph Campbell (father-in-law, namesake for Raymond and Campbell Iron Works and director of the National Bank). These men were charged with embezzlement. The case was brought to the courts stating that Raymond and Campbell had been “cooking the books” since 1887, that they stated there was $200,000 in capital, but in reality, there was only $85,000. There were overdraft fees amounting to $110,000 and $50,000 of money that was given to the bank from patrons' own deposits, were not deposited into those accounts, but were directly moved to the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works. Campbell disputed any allegations, stating that he had not signed anything regarding the National Bank, unless it was directly related to the company, he co-owned, Raymond and Campbell Iron Works.  

In November (1895), the trial was to begin, but it was postponed until December. Half of the citizens of Middletown were subpoenaed and expected to travel to Philadelphia for the hearing. The people of Middletown were to testify either on one side or the other, and some both.  Remember, these citizens were traveling by horse and would take about a day to get to that town. It was also brought to the attention of everyone involved that the Raymonds and Campbell were starting to turn on each other and put full blame on Charles. During the trial, it was noted that the Middletown National Bank was not the only bank that was affected with the “Wreckers of the Bank”. It also affected the Chemical National Bank (New York City), Western National Bank (Philadelphia), John S. Gittings & Co. of Baltimore, The Middleburg Water Co. and the payroll of the Raymond Manufacuring Co.  

On a different note, Charles’ mansion was sold November 26, 1895. 

Joseph Campbell asked for his trial to be separated from the Raymonds, and he was granted this. In the long run, this saved Joseph, his family and his family name.  

As the hearing began, the District Attorney, Mr. Ingram, stated that when the bank was raided by the government, the only money in the bank was $180, and $150 was in nickels, pennies and subsequent coins. He continued that the bank owed $64,000 and the bank needed $210,000 to pay all debts. Of this debt, the Raymond family owed $188,00 to the bank. Witnesses were brought, including a bookkeeper who was instructed by the Raymonds’ to “open a set of double entry books” and other employees of the bank stated they were told, “never to protest a check or note of the Raymond and Campbell Iron Works, even if the account was overdrawn”. However, the District Attorney was more concerned on 4 transactions.  

1. Charles called a meeting of the bank directors and told them they could not extend credit. The directors signed a note for $40,000 supposing the cash would be paid into the bank instead it went toward a note to the Raymond and Campbell Company and was deposited as cash to Charles Raymond and Joseph Campbell.
2. The Chemical Bank of New York gave a bank note of $50,000 thinking they would make a profit with the Raymond and Campbell Company because Edward Raymond told them that the company was worth half a million dollars, when in fact the company was in debt.
3. Edward Raymond had asked for a discount on a bank note for $15,000 from John S. Gillings & Co (bankers of Baltimore). The company agreed to do this but needed a certified copy of the directors resolution authorizing the discounted note. A director from the Middletown National Bank promised this but it never materialized.
4. Pay roll checks for the stove factory in the amounts from $700 to $1500 that were never honored.

Charles had been warned of the destruction of the Bank in 1893 by the bank controller, if he continued running his business and bank this way, but he ignored such warnings. Because Charles didn’t heed his warning, the controller sent letters to all the directors of the bank. They all came to Charles worried about the possible destruction of the bank and Charles said that the controller was making trouble concerning the overdraft of another director. 

On December 21, 1895, when the verdict was read, Charles and Edward had been called to the bar before the judge. Charles’ eyes were sunken in, his skin pale, he was unshaven and “pitiful looking”. The Judge read the verdict, “Charles William Raymond and Edward McClees Raymond are both Guilty of Embezzlement”. Charles was found guilty of misapplying funds of the National Bank and Edward was charged the same, but with mercy. Joseph Raymond was found not guilty. Charles and Edward were then sent to the Eastern State Penitentiary.(Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site ). Charles and Edward were sentenced to 7 years and 5 months in prison. It was also noted at the sentencing that Charles was ill. The judge also ended the trial, stating that he would not allow an application for a new trial. 

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The Eastern State Penitentiary was built in 1822. The creation of the penitentiary was created by Dr. Benjamin Rush (“Dr. Benjamin Rush was a prominent Philadelphia physician with an interest in politics. In 1776, he served in the Second Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. More than a decade later, he would lead the push for ratification of the federal Constitution. He was an outspoken abolitionist and would later earn the title "father of American psychiatry" for his groundbreaking observations about "diseases of the mind."), Benjamin Franklin, and others (not mentioned) had a meeting. Dr. Rush was convinced that crime was a “moral disease” and said that a “house of repentance” where prisoners could meditate, experience spiritual remorse and undergo rehabilitation would radically change jails in the United States and around the world.  

The jail was a marvel at the time, the building itself was more elaborate than the White House (1822). It had central heating, flush toilets, and shower baths in each cell. However, the inmates were completely isolated. From the time they entered the prison till the inmate got to their cell they wore an “eyeless hood”, communication with the guards was only through a food hole in the door and they could NEVER leave their cell. They were given a bible, and some were lucky enough to be given chores, like shoemaking or weaving.  

Some people came to the prison to praise Dr. Rush and Mr. Franklin, amazed that “through isolation, penance could occur” but when Charles Dixons came to witness this “marvel” he was aghast. He stated, whoever designed this, knows nothing! "The slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body." Finally in 1912, the penitentiary removed complete isolation and added areas for the inmates to go outside and eat in a cafeteria. 

Unfortunately for Charles and Edward, they never were afforded this luxury. 

 

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Charles’ wife, Ida (my great-great grandmother), had been kept in the dark about all the crimes her husband, her brothers-in-law, her own brothers and her father had been a part of. She was there, in the court room, when the verdict was read and even though she was considered “a lady of intelligence and accomplishments” she was overpowered by grief. 

Though in my original research, I thought that during these seven years in prison, the papers would be silent. However, I have found that there were additional charges that were brought against Charles and Edward in May of 1896, stating there were two liens that were never paid in the amount of $150,000. They both pled not guilty. Trial began and they were both found not guilty, so their sentences were not extended. In October (1896) they were called as witnesses for others that were tried for the wrecking of the bank. It was stated in the paper that Charles did not look any worse than he had in December and when on the stand he was laughing when being cross-examined. 

In January 1899, the Raymonds were in the paper again, this time their attorney asked President McKinley to be pardoned. Their attorney pleaded with the president stating that Charles’ health had been seriously impaired by his imprisonment and his friends fear he will not out live his sentence. All the jurors from the trial in 1895 and numerous citizens of Middletown signed a petition for clemency. But in June, President McKinley denied the early release and stated they had to stay for the remainder of their sentence at the State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.  

In July of 1900, a new law was in effect for “time served” or Habeas Corpus and Raymond’s attorney went to court. Charles, Edward and 36 other inmates at the State Penitentiary would be the first criminals to ever be considered under this new law. But after his attorney went to judge after judge in Pennsylvania and Delaware, they were declined Habeas Corpus and must serve their entire sentence. 

Charles and Edward asked for another attorney and in 1901, they went to court again. There was a new judge, and he was willing to hear the case. The district attorney was furious and tried to stop the review. But because this was the first of its kind, everyone was interested to see how things would turn out. The case dragged on for months. The district attorney was arguing that Habeas Corpus was for state prisons not federal prisons and since the Raymond’s committed embezzlement on a national bank, that affected banks in other states, this was a federal crime and not just a crime in Pennsylvania. After several months of review by the judge, he denied Habeas Corpus and stated that federal prisoners do not benefit from the Pennsylvania commutation act, stating that if the Raymond’s to be eligible, they would need a letter from the governor. 

The Raymond brothers finished their sentence and were home by March 31, 1902. 

Since their imprisonment, a lot of changes happened with his father’s company. Once named Raymond and Campbell Iron Works, it was now known as Raymond Manufacturing Company. Charles had been removed as president of his company and Robert Nissley (son in law to Joseph Campbell), stood in as president until Joseph Raymond was acquitted and it was transferred back to the Raymonds, naming Joseph as the president and Robert as the vice president.  When Charles and Edward got released, the company changed hands again. The president was now Robert Balfour, vice president, Joseph Raymond and Charles became a managing director. Edward declined to come back to the family business and moved to New York city, where he became a manager of a stove foundry there.  

Other changes were that the Raymond Manufacturing Company no longer had a Monopoly of the railroad tracks and other companies were building their own. There was a pretty big dispute between the P&R (Philadelphia and Reading) Railroad Company and Raymond Company. Raymond wanted to be able to cross over the railroad, basically so they and other companies (such as the Pennsylvania Railroad Company) could use each other’s tracks. But P&R refused and put a construction train over the tracks to keep Raymond Manufacturing company from tearing up the tracks. 

This infuriated Charles, so he and two other managing directors of the Raymond Manufacturing Company went down to the tracks and ripped them up. And so, seven years to the day, Charles is back in front of a judge again. However, they claimed that employees from P&R were the ones that tore up the tracks. There was not enough evidence to pursue, and the case was dropped. 

But things within the Raymond Manufacturing company were starting to get out of control. Robert Belfour was charged with assault and battery on Joseph Raymond in March of 1903. So, Joseph followed his brother Edward and moved to New York City. 

In June of 1903, Charles is back in the government circuit and was in the paper as a candidate for the fifth ward, third precinct. 

Charles realized that he had lost the respect and confidence of the people who mattered most to him. He made amends and rebuilt his relationships with honesty, integrity and dedication. Gradually, he regained the trust of his loved ones and colleagues and restored his reputation and self-esteem. He was most concerned about his wife, Ida, and his daughter, he barely knew. He wanted to show them he was a changed man and managed more family trips, encouraging Ida to go on trips to see her friends and paying for Charlotte to join clubs and dance classes. 

Ida's social life was a frequent topic of the local media, as she traveled across various regions of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York and entertained guests at their residence. Charles had a busy schedule of business trips. He visited five major cities in the United States: Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. He met with various clients and partners, attended conferences and workshops, and explored new opportunities for his company. He was impressed by the diversity and dynamism of each city, and he learned a lot from his interactions with different people. The newspaper featured Charlotte, the sole child of the family, performing a floral dance with her peers around the Maypole at the age of eleven and socializing at various events. 

In July 1911, the lovely family; Charles, Ida and Charlotte are in their summer home in Chautauqua (Now Mount Gretna). Ida hosted a splendid event at that location and female guests arrived from various cities, such as Middletown, Pittsburgh, Altoona and New Jersey. 

Charles left Raymond Manufacturing Company in September of that year. The company was now under the management of Charles Prizer. He visited the plant in October to evaluate the business. He decided to close the plant and layoffs began. Wesley Raymond, the youngest of the Raymonds, was the only one from the family who still worked there. 

Charles Raymond, the former manager of the Raymond Manufacturing Company, was accused of stealing $5,000 from the company's funds in November 1911. Before Charles Prizer, went to the police, he told Wesley what was happening and gave him a chance to leave the company before things were published about his brother’s crime. Wesley left and moved his family to Ohio. 

Charels moved all his belongings to his brother in law’s home, G. I. King and then fled Middletown, leaving behind his family.  

The Harrisburg Daily Paper reported the scandal on its front page, stating that three warrants were issued for Raymond's arrest. The company's president, Robert Balfour, who also served as a prosecutor, was determined to bring Raymond to justice.  

The company's reputation suffered from the incident, and in January 1912, it changed its name to Wincroft Manufacturing Company, erasing any trace of Raymond's involvement. In March 1912, Raymond was officially indicted by the grand jury on three counts of embezzlement. He remained a fugitive from the law for the rest of his life. 

 Ida moved her daughter, Charlotte, now 16, to Pittsburgh, where her sister lived, and hoped that she would escape the shame and the pain that her father had caused.  

Charles’ whereabouts were unknown until he was admitted to the New York City Home for the Aged and Infirm in June of 1914 (age 60). It states that he arrived in the city in 1913. There, he registered as an inmate and provided information about his family background and contacts. He named his wife Ida, his cousin Charles N. Raymond, and his parents as his relatives. He also indicated that he could perform light work and that he received aid from the city and Bellevue Hospital. After six months, he was discharged from the home and sent to the New York City Farm Colony on Staten Island on December 16th, 1914, a place for the poor and homeless. He was discharged, but readmitted to the Farm Colony on December 16th, 1916, and was released on May 1st, 1917. His last known address (before he was admitted) was 2231 3rd Ave NYC (which today, is the Goodwill Store and Donation Center in Spanish Harlem). He updated his record to include his sister Annie E. Raymond as his only living relative. If Charles was truly homeless, this would have made sense, to be off the streets in the dead of winter.  

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The Home for the Aged and Infirm had about 3,000 inmates, mostly of foreign birth. The average age of the inmates was 72 years, and the average length of stay was 5 years. The institution was supervised by the Department of Public Charities and was funded by the city’s taxes. The inmates received food, clothing, medical care, and religious services. They also had opportunities for recreation, education, and work. Some of the inmates lived in cottages or dormitories, while others lived in wards or cells. The conditions of the institution varied depending on the location, the staff, and the inmates. 

 

The New York City Farm Colony on Staten Island is one of the most storied locations in New York City, a 46-acre site that was built originally as the Richmond County Poor Farm. Renamed the New York City Farm Colony in 1902, the institution provided room and board to the city’s indigent population in exchange for their labor. 

 

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By 1920 (January), the census has Charles listed as a lodger at 128 Park Row, Manhattan, NY. Today 128 Park Row is a correctional facility (how fitting) but in 1920, it was part of the famous Newspaper Row. It was just a few blocks away from the Pultzer Building, (sic) The New York World Paper, which at the time would have been one of the tallest buildings in Manhattan. The Pultzer building was surrounded by smaller, less impressive newspaper buildings, such as the New York Sun building, the New York Tribune building, the New York Times building, the New Yorker, the American Tract Society and the Potter building. It was also a few blocks away from the Brooklyn Bridge and right around the corner from Pearl Street. Charles would have seen Pearl Street Station, which was Thomas Edison’s Power Plant. 

At the time this was the epicenter of NYC, and it would have been easy for Charles to completely disappear into the culture. Charles would have been incredibly poor and feeble. I feel that these past few years in his life were humbling. The loss of everything and knowing he could never have any of it back was sinking in. 

 

The following year brought him a devastating loss. His daughter succumbed to a fatal illness at the young age of 26. He learned of her death from his sister, Annie, who had kept in touch with him despite his precarious situation. He was still wanted by the authorities in Pennsylvania, and he dared not risk attending the funeral of his daughter, whose father-in-law was a prominent politician and a member of the U.S. Congress. He mourned her in silence and solitude, feeling the pain of being separated from his family. 

In 1923, Charles, then, lost his wife Ida, who had been claiming to be a widow for several years. Was it because she thought he was dead, or was it because she could not bear the shame of being linked to a man like Charles, who was surrounded by scandal and controversy? He also lost his sister, Annie, this year. The only one of his siblings that spoke with him. 

Charles remained on Park Row until 1925, where he is found listed as living with his brothers Edward (including his wife and children) and Wesley Raymond at 1009 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. Their home was beside the local school, where Edward’s children attended. The building was built in 1913 and still stands today. In the 1920’s this area was named, “Doctor’s Row” and was considered “first-class” housing.  

Edward, following his incarceration with Charles (1895-1902), turned his life around. After getting out of prison, he left Middletown and moved to NYC, where he became a Civil Engineer. He and his wife, Rebecca, had two daughters (Hilda and Dorothy), who would have been 17 and 6, when Charles moved in with them.  

The New York Census recorded this information on June 1, 1925, and Edward passed away on June 25, 1925. Later, his brother, Wesley, died in 1937. Both brothers' bodies were taken back to the family plot to be laid to rest with their parents, brothers and sisters.  

Charles, now 71 years of age, was a night supervisor at a hotel. After years of suffering, mostly from his own doing, his brothers helped him get back on his feet.  

While working at the hotel, Charles met Mary Hansell (who was 26 years younger than him) and they married in 1926. I am not sure if he told her about his torrid past. Everyone that knew the story had already passed away or didn’t have the desire to tell of it. They married in Philadelphia, with her father present. Her mother and brother had both died years earlier. Mary had never been married and had no children. 

In 1930, He and Mary are living at 371 Wadsworth Ave Apt 312 in Manhattan, NYC. He is listed as a night shift supervisor at a hotel. The neighborhood was a very small community at the time, nothing upscale, as he had lived his first 40 years of life. 

New York stopped doing their own census in 1925, so there are no more records of him, until his death on December 8th, 1938. There are no obituaries, his body was not taken to rest with the rest of his family. His body was unclaimed. In 1938, in New York City, if a person were unclaimed, they were buried in a mass grave on Hart Island. 

Hart Island (or Hart’s Island) is located at the western end of Long Island Sound (northeastern Bronx, NYC). Hart Island was many things over the years. It has been a Union Civil War prison camp, psychiatric institution, tuberculosis sanatorium, potter’s field, homeless shelter, a boys reformatory, a jail and a drug rehabilitation center. 

The remains of more than 1 million people (about the population of Delaware) are buried there and is considered the largest mass grave in the United States.  

 

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I’m going through his life, like a flashback, seeing him as little Charlie, the first-born son, loved and dotted on by his parents. His father Seymour raised him to be a strong steel worker. Charles went to college and worked under his father until he passed and with his mother’s blessings took over the family business and the National Bank.  

He became somewhat of a local celebrity with his mansion, running for state treasurer, traveling in style with gold mounts for his horses. 

To them losing it all to greed... everything... gone. 

 

What a sad ending to what could have been an amazing life. 

Rest in peace Charles.