The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-07-23

That famous hotel occupied the site
on which the Putnam house now
stands.
About this time he went to Virgin
ia to visit at his old home. On his
return he brought ais brother Sandy
with him. Later he sent for his
mother who came and made her home
here until her death.
Wishing to better his circumstances
he decided to become a blacksmith
and worked for six years as an APP
prentice for e. M. Risley, For some
time after learning his trade he was
employed by Henry Jackson who ran
a shop near the Burbank hotel in
Pittsfleld, Mass, and later in Cam
bridge. Soon afterward he learn
paperhanging trade. He well remem-
bers the first paper hanging job he
did. Soon after Charles T. Phillips of
Depot street was married he hired
him to paper a room. He did a good
job but discovered only after the
room was finished that the paper was
on wrong side up.
His last business venture in the
north village was shortly after his
marriage when he started an ice
cream parlor in a section of Patrick
McCarthy's hotel. He had thriving
trade for some time but lack of edu-
cation and close competition finally
drove him out of business.
Left alone with his eight year old
daughter, Hattie, he came to this
nd 10
of the Baptist church. BY hard strug-
Cling he educated his daughter in the
graded school. The latter now is
married. and lives in Newport News,
Va. His occupations at present con-
sist in repairing furniture and UNI
brellas, key fitting and making brass
work for e. S. Pratt and son.
But how he received the name of
Charles H. Miller is question that
has probably presented itself to the
minds of some of the readers of this
article. In the army, as before stated
he was known by tne familiar name
of Doc" When he came to vote an
argument arose as to what his legal
last name SHOULD be. 1t was decided
that he shouldNbear the name OF his
rather who by the way, died when he
was but three days old. Slaves al
ways took their masters name and as
in this case 1t happened to be Miller
he was always known afterwards as
Doc" Miller.
In speaking of slavery in general
Mr.. Miller says that the abuses were
sometimes almost understandable.
Many people are of the opinion that
the masters were directly responsible
for the many brutal acts and the tor
lures of the poor human beings who.
through no fault of theirs we're born
TO their hard lot. AS a matter of
fact, however, the master never came
in personal contact with the slaves
on his plantation except those who
worked about the house. These as a
rule were treated kindly and with
consideration. A superintendent had
Charge of the men and women at
work in the fields.
Any slight infraction of his orders
was punishable by whipping. Some
times he did the iogging himself but
more often had a negro for the pur
pose. The slaves would much rather
be whipped till the blood ran by the
superintendent than have one of their
own color do the fiogging. In fact it
seemed as If the colored whipper was
more severe than the superintendent
1t was under the direction of the SUI
perintendent that the abuses crept in
to the system.
BusilE engaged repairing a cnair in
the aN of store on North street.
where he has his shop, he presents
the appearance of an intelligent and |
Industrious negro. In relating Ahe |
stories of bygone days his face lights |
up with the animation and expression |
of his race and his |
language becomes that of a southern |
So well does he remem-
Der the many thrilling incidents which !
have gone to make up his life and so |
versed is he in all the phrases of the !
slave question that a couple of hours
spent in his company we'll repaid the |
writer through the many interesting
and instructive stories he related. |
by birth and lack of ed
ucation he has made his way with pa
tience in the word for nearly sixty
years and seeks to be a respected cit
izen to the end in the country which
gave him his freedom.