Charles West MIFFLIN

Charles West Mifflin, Lloyd's third brother, is an elusive character. There is very little known about him. ​​​

Like his other brothers, he was born in the family home on Walnut Street, Columbia and, as an adult, he had his own estate built very near Columbia to remain near his family. He purchased land about half a mile from Lloyd's Norwood, Houston's Cloverton, and James' Oakmont. Charles named his estate at 11th and Chestnut Street, Lark's Nest. A slight odd elongated structure some say resembles a ship. The carriage house to this property is still admired to this day.

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Charles married twice. His first marriage to Jennie Martha Cameron in 1878 was quite a grand affair (right before this time, Charles was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan). Great pomp was to be expected since she was the granddaughter of Senator Simon Cameron, who also became United States Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln at the start of the Civil War. Charles and Jennie were married at the Simon Cameron Estate in Donegal Springs. The Cameron's made their fortune in railroading, canals, and banking. So, when these folks hosted a wedding, people took notice. Columbia was abuzz with carriages and rail visitors that day. Charles's sister Mary was a bridesmaid. His brother, James Deveaux, was an usher. His brother, Dr. Houston Mifflin, attended as a guest. After the wedding, Charles and Jennie headed to—of all places—Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There's a mention that Charles worked as a druggist there.

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We know they moved around a bit for the next few years. Jennie began showing signs of consumption, so they moved to Arizona and eventually San Diego, California. Jennie (b. 1854) died in San Diego County, California in 1887, at the young age of 33. Maybe the sadness of her death was the reason we don't hear much from Charles until he marries Mary Bartlett Haire (1861-1948, Aurora, Illinois) in 1889. Some years later, we hear that both Charles and Mary died in West Newton, Massachusetts and were buried in Exeter, New Hampshire, albeit at very different times. Records show that Jennie and Charles had a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Mifflin, who was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mary died in San Diego, California, at the sad age of 11—four years after her mother. They share a grave marker there. It could be understandable that Charles wanted to get far away from such devastation.

Charles soon moved to New York City, where he found employment in the Pennsylvania Railroad office, having been previously employed for a time, while in the West in the Santa Fe Railroad office. Charles and Mary were married there and she bore five daughters: Alice, Marjorie, Gladys, Dorothy, Helen, and one son, John. 

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We can only hope that after so much heartache during his first marriage, Charles found some sense of happiness.​​​​​​​​​​​

A view of the rear of the main house of Lark's Nest as it appeared in 2025