Notes:
[Photograph of Charles taken by Doug Mumma in 2008]
Data source is Bill & Sandra O'Brien, bobrien206@windstream.net
Charles Alexander Mumma was born in Shiprock, New Mexico (Navajo Indian Reservation) to "Co-lie" (Pelecarns Shine Bega) and "Johe", the mother. The mother died during childbirth (listed as died in confinement). Apparently the father was unable to care for the boy and it is stated that he was left outside the hut to die. Mrs. Sarah Mumma, a missionary working in the area, rescued the boy and he was cared for by her. Sarah adopted the boy with the permission of the father. The exact date of adoption is unknown, but it likely occurred about 1922.
On August 1, 1922, Sarah Mumma was given permission by the father and the Indian authorities to remove Charles from the Reservation for the purpose of educating him.
On 9 March 1929, Sarah Mumma died of breast cancer. She and Charles were living in Glendale, AZ at that time. Per her Will, she request a cousin, L. Keller Brubaker, and a nephew to be the guardians of Charles and educate him. L. Keller Brubaker was living in New York and was a manager of a missionary resident home in New York City.
Initially there were funds available from Sarah's estate for his education so Charles was placed in the Christian Orphanage located in Fort Lee, NJ. He remained there for about 2 years, but his adopted mother's estate ran out of funds due to previously unidentified claims against the estate and the effect of the depression.
On October 31, 1931, Charles was placed in the Christ's Home Orphanage which only accepted destitute children. It is located in Warminister, PA and he remained there until July 16, 1940 when he was discharged at age 20. He was the only Native American child in the orphanage.
On 1 Feb 1946, Charles enlisted in the Army. The "online" Army enlistment records, state that he was living Cumberland Co., PA at that time and his civilian occupation was that of a chauffeur. He enlisted as a corporal at the Indian Gap, Pennsylvania, Army base.
In 1952, he fathered a girl while stationed in Germany. When he was reassigned to duty in the United States, the young couple parted ways and never married nor saw each other again. Charles continued to serve in the military and was mustered out while living in California, where he remained until his death in 2011.
In 2008, Bill & Sandy O'Brien contacted Doug Mumma, looking for Sandy's father, Charles Alexander Mumma. Sandy was the child that Charles fathered with her mother and they had no information about his whereabouts. After doing some Internet searching, Doug Mumma was able to locate Charles living in Fair Oaks California and was able to help Sandy make contact with her long lost father. They two of them were able to meet each other when the O'Briens flew to California.
Unfortunately, details of Charles' early life were never uncovered nor recorded. He was never married.
