Charles was the second son of John & Elizabeth to be named after his maternal grandfather, Charles Kirkham.
At just 25 years of age, Charles was fatally injured whilst on duty at London Road goods railway station. He died in the infirmary later that evening.

'Manchester Courier And Lancashire General Advertiser' (1 February 1899) -
FATAL ACCIDENT AT LONDON-ROAD STATION
Charles Buxton, aged 25 years, married, who had been employed as shunter on the London and North-Western Railway, and lived at 1, Hoylake Street, West Gorton, died at the Manchester Royal Infirmary at eight o'clock last night from injuries which he received earlier in the day at the goods siding in London-road Station through being crushed against the buffers of a waggon.

'Manchester Evening News' (2 February 1899) -
FATAL ACCIDENT AT LONDON ROAD GOODS STATION
The Manchester Coroner, Mr. S. Smelt, held an inquiry to-day into the circumstances attending the death of Charles Buxton, 25 years of age, a sealer, employed by the London and North-Western Railway Company, and who lived in Hoylake-Street, West Gorton. A capstanman named Samuel Wilkinson stated that on Tuesday he was working on the main line at London Road and Buxton was coupling for him. Just after three o'clock Buxton went alongside the stage under the arch to couple up a waggon. Witness could not see him, but he heard him place the hook on the waggon, and then call out "Go ahead, Sam," and then blew his horn. Witness placed the rope on the capstan, but a moment later he heard Buxton call "Oh Sam; oh Sam." Throwing the rope of the capstan witness ran to the corner of the stage. He was badly injured, having been rolled along the side of the stage. Witness added that he found that instead of coupling the hook on the front he had hooked the rope to the axle guard at the side. Had the hook been fixed in the proper place the accident might not have occurred. It was stated that he had done coupling on and off for about five years. Charles E. Doyle, who took Buxton to the Infirmary, stated that it was over three-quarters of an hour before he was attended to by the doctors. Buxton was conscious, and complained of pains in his back and side. Dr. Montgomery stated that when a man was admitted suffering, as Buxton was, from shock, the first thing to be done was ensure his quietness and give him a rest. That had apparently been done, and the delay alleged was thus accounted for. Death took place the same evening. The jury thought the explanation satisfactory, and returned a verdict of accidental death. The Coroner advised the workmen to be very careful in future.