Charles Miller JERVIS, Sr
(1885-1961) New York and Cuba
Charles Miller JERVIS, Sr. is the 4th and last child of Joshua Purdy JERVIS and Mary Jane MILLER
b. 14 October 1885 Amityville, Suffolk, New York
m. 26 August 1922 in Marcané, Oriente, Cuba to Carolie MEIGS
d. 23 January 1961 Copiague, Suffolk, New York
Grandpa died before I was born, so I never got to meet him.
Grandpa had one brother, Scudder, who choked to death when he was almost 4 (Grandpa was almost 2 at the time). Grandpa also had two sisters, Grace and Sarah. Sarah died in a car accident when she was 35 (and Grandpa was 31). Grace passed away in 1962 at the age of 83.
Grandpa kept some scrapbooks that have really been a help to me in my genealogical research. He was quite a traveler since he used to work as a surveyor. He was in Jamaica, Panama, Chile, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Japan, China, Alaska, and of course, Cuba. In the back cover of one of his scrapbooks he kept a list of the places he'd traveled to. He only missed visiting 4 states: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
He had graduated from Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, New York in 1910, and then traveled the world as a surveyor. After a while, he settled in Cuba and eventually became the manager of the Alto Cedro sugar plantation in the Holguín Province for the West Indies Corporation. Alto Cedro Sugar Mill is now known as Loynaz Hechevarria.
My grandmother, Carolie, who was visiting her sister Edna and brother-in-law Dr. Benjamin Strong, met Grandpa, and they were later married in Cuba. He was 36 and she was 21. They had two sons, Uncle Joel and my dad.
While he was there, there was a big strike and many Americans went back to the States for safety's sake. Grandpa stayed behind as a hostage. He put some newspaper clippings about it in his scrapbook. He was fine and the strike eventually ended.
Grandpa became ill with a disease called Tropical Sprue. This is a disease "that occurs in people who live in or visit tropical areas for extended periods of time. It impairs nutrients from being absorbed from the intestines. Tropical sprue (TS) is a syndrome characterized by acute or chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption of nutrients. This disease is caused by damage to the lining of the small intestine. It comes from having too much of certain types of bacteria in the intestines." medlineplus.gov
While he was there, there was a big strike and many Americans went back to the States for safety's sake. Grandpa stayed behind as a hostage. He put some newspaper clippings about it in his scrapbook. He was fine and the strike eventually ended.
Grandpa became ill with a disease called Tropical Sprue. This is a disease "that occurs in people who live in or visit tropical areas for extended periods of time. It impairs nutrients from being absorbed from the intestines. Tropical sprue (TS) is a syndrome characterized by acute or chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malabsorption of nutrients. This disease is caused by damage to the lining of the small intestine. It comes from having too much of certain types of bacteria in the intestines." medlineplus.gov
He wound up retiring to his childhood home on Long Island, New York. He had to have many operations (about 80 if I remember right). He passed away there in January of 1961 at the age of 75. Grandma was only 60 at the time and was a widow for 25 years before she passed away in 1986.
There are several of grandpa's passport applications available online. There are three in a row (1917, 1918, and 1919) that mostly give the same info:
Forehead is broad-high-high
eyes are blue
nose is sinuous-irregular-irregular
mouth is medium (lips are small)
chin is pointed-square-square
hair is light
complexion is fair
face is oval-long-long
Due to grandpa traveling so much and working in foreign countries, he is only enumerated in a few census records. Grandma is in a few more than he is.
1900 US Federal Census Babylon Township, Amityville, Suffolk, New York
Joshua Jervis Aug 1852 NY
Mary J Jan 1856 OH
Grace P Apr 1879 NY
Sarah E Jun 1881 NY
Charles M Oct 1885 NY
1910 US Federal Census Defuniak Springs, Walton, Florida
Samuel Meigge 58 South Carolina
Etta 37 North Carolina
Samuel K 15 Alabama
Kate 11 Alabama
Carolie 9 Alabama
James 7 Mississippi
Dorothy 5 Georgia
Grace 2 Florida
1920 US Federal Census Palatka, Putnam, Florida
Samuel Meigs 60 South Carolina
Etta 49 North Carolina
Carolie 19 Alabama
James 17 Mississippi
Dorothy 14 Georgia
Grace 12 Florida
Lillian 8 Florida
In 1920, Charles, Sr. and his parents are enumerated in 2 different places.
1920 US Federal Census Sarasota, Manatee, Florida 323 7th Street
Joshua P Jervis 67 NY
Mary J 63 OH
Charles M 34 NY
1920 US Federal Census Babylon, Suffolk, New York Great Neck Rd.
Joshua P Jervis 65 NY
Mary J 64 NY [which is incorrect]
Charles M 34 NY
1935 Florida State Census Jacksonville, Duval, Florida
Cary Lee Jervis 34 Florida [which is incorrect]
Joel 11 Cuba
Chas 3 Florida
1950 US Federal Census Babylon Township, Suffolk, New York Great Neck Rd
Charles M. Jervis 64 NY
Carolie 49 NY [which is incorrect]
Charles M, Jr. 17 NY
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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Brooklyn, New York
April 22, 1911, page 6, [also in the South Side Signal (Babylon, New York) Friday, April 28, 1911]
Copiague soon will be represented in the Philippines. Charles M. Jervis of that place, has been appointed a government surveyor there, and sails on May 3 to begin his duties in those far-off islands of the sea. The young man is the son of Joshua P. Jervis, himself a surveyor, and great grandson of Squire Joel Jervis, who, with a jury, tried the famous case of Wood vs Whitman. The defendant was no less a personage than Walt Whitman, the "good gray poet," who was arrested for assaulting the son of a neighbor. The boy had harassed Whitman while the latter was trouting in the pond separating their respective homes at West Babylon. The future poet stood the annoyance until, fighting mad, he tolled the boy within reach and then, collaring him, nearly wore out a stout hickory fishing pole on him. For this he was arrested and haled before Squire Jervis and a jury. When the jurors returned into the court, the squire asked them: Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a verdict?" "We 'ave, your honor," said the foreman, a Yorkshireman of the name of Edwards, some of whose descendants still live near Babylon. "What is the verdict," asked the court. "We find, your honor," answered the foreman, "that 'h didn't 'it 'im 'ard enough." The verdict may not have been strictly in accordance with law and usage, but it "went," and until this day remains a tradition of life in the old days along the south side. The pond on whose surface the row took place, was later owned by Malcolm W. Ford, and now is the property of W. G. Gilmore of Brooklyn.
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Wedding Announcement
Copiague soon will be represented in the Philippines. Charles M. Jervis of that place, has been appointed a government surveyor there, and sails on May 3 to begin his duties in those far-off islands of the sea. The young man is the son of Joshua P. Jervis, himself a surveyor, and great grandson of Squire Joel Jervis, who, with a jury, tried the famous case of Wood vs Whitman. The defendant was no less a personage than Walt Whitman, the "good gray poet," who was arrested for assaulting the son of a neighbor. The boy had harassed Whitman while the latter was trouting in the pond separating their respective homes at West Babylon. The future poet stood the annoyance until, fighting mad, he tolled the boy within reach and then, collaring him, nearly wore out a stout hickory fishing pole on him. For this he was arrested and haled before Squire Jervis and a jury. When the jurors returned into the court, the squire asked them: Gentlemen, have you agreed upon a verdict?" "We 'ave, your honor," said the foreman, a Yorkshireman of the name of Edwards, some of whose descendants still live near Babylon. "What is the verdict," asked the court. "We find, your honor," answered the foreman, "that 'h didn't 'it 'im 'ard enough." The verdict may not have been strictly in accordance with law and usage, but it "went," and until this day remains a tradition of life in the old days along the south side. The pond on whose surface the row took place, was later owned by Malcolm W. Ford, and now is the property of W. G. Gilmore of Brooklyn.
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Wedding Announcement
Palatka Daily News
Palatka, Florida
3 Sept 1922, Sun Page 5
Jervis-Meigs
Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Meigs announce
the marriage of their
daughter,
Carolie,
to
Mr. Carl Jervis
Friday, August twenty-six,
nineteen hundred and twenty-two
Santiago, Cuba
Mrs. Jervis is a charming Palatka girl and has many friends here and elsewhere in Florida who will wish her every happiness in her married life.
Several months ago she left for a visit to her sister and brother-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Armstrong [it's Strong and not Armstrong], of Cuba, and the above announcement comes as a total surprise to her many friends here.
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another wedding announcement of unknown newspaper
Charles M. Jervis of Central Alto Cedro, Marcane, Cuba, was married on August 26 to Miss Caroline [Carolie] Meigs of Palatka, Florida. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua P. Jervis of Copiague and is well known in Amityville where he was popularly called "Curly" as a schoolboy.
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birth announcement for Joel Russ Jervis in an unnamed Amityville, New York newspaper:
Born
JERVIS. April 5, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Jervis (only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua P. Jervis, Copiague) at their home in Central Alto, Ledro, Marcane, Oriente, Cuba, a son, Joel R.
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birth announcement for Charles M. Jervis, Jr, this was probably from an Amityville, New York newspaper:
An announcement has been received of the birth at Jacksonville, Fla., last Friday, October 14, of a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Jervis of Marcane, Cuba. Mr. Jervis is a brother of Mrs. William W. Smith, Union avenue.
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Standard-Sentinel
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Thursday Morning, October 26, 1933 p 11
GRAU'S CABINET WENT TO PALACE, cont. from page 1
Despite interest in pending political developments, serious labor troubles at American-owned sugar mills is widely separated parts of the island continued to worry Americans and the Cuban governments. At least one American was endangered by striking workers who held him prisoner.
The United States destroyer Twiggs, was standing by off Antilla, in Oriente Province, near the Alto Cedro sugar mill, where C. M. Jervis, the American manager, was held by strikers who had formed a Soviet regime.
The government, meanwhile, after successfully breaking a threat of a general strike in Havana Province, where serious disorders were reported during the day.
The commander of the Twiggs said Jervis was afraid to leave under an escort of Cuban soldiers, believing his departure would precipitate a clash between the strikers and troopers.
...
An exchange of shots between dissenting groups of workmen at the Jaronu sugarmill in Camaguey Province resulted in one death and injuries to several men. Soldiers were called to re-establish order.
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Casper Star-Tribune Herald
Casper, Wyoming
26 Oct 1933, Thu page 7
BANDITS HOLD MILL MANAGER
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26
Secretary Hull reported today that Cuban militiamen had been sent to the aid of the imprisoned American manager of a sugar mill at Antilla, C. M. Jervis, and that his life was no longer endangered.
Jervis was imprisoned by workers at the mill he managed. Upon receiving word that he was held, American officials ordered a destroyer to move toward Antilla.
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From The Ludington Daily News
From The Ludington Daily News
Ludington, Michigan
30 October 1933, Monday
Family Acquainted With American Held As Prisoner in Cuba
The William D. Lewis family of 203 North James street read with regret the headlines “Cuban Rioters Hold American Prisoner” which appeared in a recent issue of Ludington Daily News, as C. M. Jervis, manager of the Alto Cedro Sugar mill in Opente [sic] province, is an acquaintance, the son of next-door neighbors of the Lewis family when they lived at West Palm Beach, Fla., during the season of 1931-1932.
Mr. Jervis Sr. often related his son’s many interesting and exciting experiences as civil engineer for the United States government in the Philippines and adjacent islands before he became affiliated with the sugar industry in Cuba--so it was a genuine pleasure, members of the Lewis family state, to visit with C. M. Jervis upon his visit to his father in West Palm Beach last winter. Mr. Lewis became well acquainted with him, learning much of interest from his account of years of diversities.
Mr. Lewis pleasantly recalls Mr. Jervis’ narrations of the islands and the diplomatic methods sometimes involved to win them over without hostilities.
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Family Acquainted With American Held As Prisoner in Cuba
The William D. Lewis family of 203 North James street read with regret the headlines “Cuban Rioters Hold American Prisoner” which appeared in a recent issue of Ludington Daily News, as C. M. Jervis, manager of the Alto Cedro Sugar mill in Opente [sic] province, is an acquaintance, the son of next-door neighbors of the Lewis family when they lived at West Palm Beach, Fla., during the season of 1931-1932.
Mr. Jervis Sr. often related his son’s many interesting and exciting experiences as civil engineer for the United States government in the Philippines and adjacent islands before he became affiliated with the sugar industry in Cuba--so it was a genuine pleasure, members of the Lewis family state, to visit with C. M. Jervis upon his visit to his father in West Palm Beach last winter. Mr. Lewis became well acquainted with him, learning much of interest from his account of years of diversities.
Mr. Lewis pleasantly recalls Mr. Jervis’ narrations of the islands and the diplomatic methods sometimes involved to win them over without hostilities.
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The Gaffney Ledger
Gaffney, South Carolina
2 November, 1933 Thursday page 1
Prisoner Liberated.
Havana, Oct. 30. --C. M. Jervis, American manager of the Alto Cedro Sugar Mill at Antilla, Oriente Province, who was held prisoner last week by striking employes [sic], has been liberated, it was learned today. He is now in Santiago.
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obituary from an unnamed newspaper January 1961:
CHARLES JERVIS
Charles Miller Jervis, 75, of 970 Great Neck rd., Copiague, a retired civil engineer, died on Monday, Jan. 23, at his home.
Services are scheduled to be held this afternoon (Thursday) at the Powell Funeral Home, Broadway, Amityville, with the Rev. George Leadbeater, pastor of the United Christian Church of Copiague, officiating. Burial will follow in the Amityville Cemetery.
After his graduation from Clarkson School of Technology, Potsdam, N. Y., Mr. Jervis, in the capacity of civil engineer, went to the Philippines as a representative of the U.S. Bureau of Lands. He went to Cuba 45 years ago and spent 25 years as manager of the Central Alto Cedro Sugar Company of Cuba. He retired 20 years ago.
Born Oct. 14, 1885 in Copiague, the son of Joshua P. and Mary Jane Miller Jervis. Mr. Jervis is survived by his wife, the former Carolie Meigs; two sons, Joel R. Jervis of Los Altos, Calif., and Charles M. Jervis Jr. of the Copiague address. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Grace P. Smith of Union ave., Amityville, and three grandchildren, Chandel and Russ of Los Altos, Calif., and Denise of Copiague.
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obituary from an unnamed newspaper January 1961:
CHARLES JERVIS
Charles Miller Jervis, 75, of 970 Great Neck rd., Copiague, a retired civil engineer, died on Monday, Jan. 23, at his home.
Services are scheduled to be held this afternoon (Thursday) at the Powell Funeral Home, Broadway, Amityville, with the Rev. George Leadbeater, pastor of the United Christian Church of Copiague, officiating. Burial will follow in the Amityville Cemetery.
After his graduation from Clarkson School of Technology, Potsdam, N. Y., Mr. Jervis, in the capacity of civil engineer, went to the Philippines as a representative of the U.S. Bureau of Lands. He went to Cuba 45 years ago and spent 25 years as manager of the Central Alto Cedro Sugar Company of Cuba. He retired 20 years ago.
Born Oct. 14, 1885 in Copiague, the son of Joshua P. and Mary Jane Miller Jervis. Mr. Jervis is survived by his wife, the former Carolie Meigs; two sons, Joel R. Jervis of Los Altos, Calif., and Charles M. Jervis Jr. of the Copiague address. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Grace P. Smith of Union ave., Amityville, and three grandchildren, Chandel and Russ of Los Altos, Calif., and Denise of Copiague.
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obituary from
The Amityville Record
Amityville, Long Island, Suffolk County, New York,
26 January 1961 Thursday
CHARLES M. JERVIS
Charles Miller Jervis, who was born in Copiague but had traveled in all parts of the world, died in his sleep on Monday morning, January 23, at his home at 970 Great Neck Road, the house where he was born.
Mr. Jervis was born on October 14, 1885, a son of Joshua P. and Mary Jane Miller Jervis. He was graduated from Clarkson Institute of Technology, Potsdam, New York, class of 1910, as a civil engineer, following in the footsteps of his father who had laid out many important streets and sections on Long Island.
After college Mr. Jervis went first to the Philippines where he worked with the Bureau of Land. He traveled in all parts of the world in his work before settling in Marcane, Cuba, where he spent 25 years, first as a surveyor then as manager of a large sugar mill. He stayed until 20 years ago when his health broke and he returned to his birthplace.
Mr. Jervis married Carolie Meigs, of Palatka, Florida, on August 26, 1922. She survives him, as do their two sons, Joel R. Jervis, of Los Altos, California, and Charles M. Jervis jr., of Copiague. Mr. Jervis is survived also by a sister, Mrs. Grace P. (William W.) Smith of Union Avenue, Amityville, and three grandchildren, Chandel, Russ, and Denise.
Private services will be held today in the the Powell Funeral Home, Broadway, Amityville. The Rev. George Leadbetter, of the United Christian Church, Copiague will officiate. Interment will be in the Amityville Cemetery.
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