Miner Descent

George MILLER (1817 – 1860) was Alex’s 3rd Great Grandfather; one of 16 in this generation of the Miller line. His brother John Allan Miller wrote in a letter, Aug. 8, 1908. “He was very industrious and thrifty, was highly esteemed by all who knew him, was remarkably well informed. He died at the age of 43.” He had a homestead in Pickets, Wisconsin.  All of George’s children were bright, respectable people and generally did well.

George Miller

George Miller was born 21 Jun 1817 in Northampton, York County, New Brunswick, Canada.  His parents were Isaac MILLER II and Harriet PARKS. George married Mary ESTEYon 23 Aug 1838 in Dumfries, York Co [New Brunswick Royal Gazette] or 22 Oct 1837.  George died on 7  Sep 1860 in Winnebago County, Wisconsin and is burried in Liberty Prairie Cemetery. Family legend says he died of apoplexy while arguing about the Civil War.

George Miller Obelisk Liberty Prairie Cemetery, Pickett, Winnebago County, Wisconsin

George Miller Obelisk

Mary Estey was born 15 Jan 1820 in New Brunswick Her parents were Abraham ESTEY and Ruth DOW. Mary died 7 Mar 1889 in Pickett, Winnebago County Wisconsin.

Mary Estey Miller

Mary Estey Miller – Courtesy Diane Yehle

Children of George and Mary:

In 1963, my grandmother visited the Department of Records in Fredericton New Brunswick where the land grants were kept and “hit pay dirt.” She introduced herself to the custodian and explained she was looking for information about Mary Estey who married George Miller and that there was a legend that Mary Estey had Indian blood and she was interested in knowing what tribe.  The custodian looked really horrified!  She said

“Oh no – the Esteys were all most respectable.  They came from Massachusetts and brought their wifes with them!

An interesting bit is the marriage announcement of William Collicott in the 29 Aug 1838 edition of the Fredericton, “The New Brunswick Royal Gazette”, abstracted as:

“m. Dumfries, York Co., Thursday last, by Rev. Charles Wiggins, William COLLICOTT / Miss Eleanor ESTEY; On same day, by same, George MILLER / Miss Mary ESTEY, all Dumfries”

The family moved to Wisconsin after the fourth child was born, nine more children were born in Wisconsin.    They moved to Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wisconsin on 1 Sep 1845. George Estey and Deborah Miller Estey (Mary’s brother and George’s sister)  accompanied them on the emigration to Wisconsin.  George’s brother Leonard also emigrated from New Brunswick to Wisconsin In 1850 they moved to the town of Utica in Winnegago County.

Utica Township, Winnebago, Wisconsin

History of Winnebago County Wisconsin 1880 and early history of N.W. by Richard J Harney Page 260

The Late George Miller Among the old settlers and one of the most highly respected sitizens of the town of Utica was the laste George Miller who left to his relict Mrs. Mary Miller and his children the large farm of which a view is given in this book (Picture on page 262) Mr. Miller was born in Northampton, York County, New Brunswick, June 21 , 1817 and married Miss Mary Estey in 1838.  He migrated to Wisconisn and settled in Palmyra, Jefferson County on the 1st of Sept 1845 where he resided till 1850 when he moved to the town of Utica in Winnebago County where he spent the remaining years of his life and died on the 7th day of September, 1860.

Mr. Miller left to his family not only a fine property, but the valuable inheritance of his good name, for he was one who was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors, form whom he received the highest marks of their confidence and he will be long remembered in this down as one of its most worthy citizens. He was elected several times chairman of the [Winnebago County] Board of Supervisors, was one of the mos efficient and influential members of the County Board, and was one of the building  committee under whose guidance our fine court house [in Oshkosh] was built. He was a man of the strictest integrity and of great efficiency in whatever public business was entrusted to his hands.  His death was not only an irreparable loss to his family but also to the town whose interests he was always ready to promote and the burden of whose enterprises he was always ready to share.

The farm, now in the possession of his families is one of the finest in the county and contains 310 acres.  It was yielded in good seasons 1500 to 1800 bushels of wheat and 1200 to 1800 bushels of corn and oats with other crops in proportion.

George Miller Farm – History of Winnebago County 1881

1860 United States Federal Census, Winnebago Co., Town of Utica Name: George Miller Age in 1860: 43 Birth Year: abt 1817 Birthplace: New Brunswick Home in 1860: Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin Gender: Male Post Office: Weelaunee Household Members: Name Age George Miller 43 Mary Miller 40 Ira Miller 21 Alonzo Miller 20 Charles Miller 16 Ezra Miller 14 Helen Miller 13 George Miller 11 Eugine Miller 9 Albert Miller 7 Orlena Miller 5 Orin Miller 4 Franklin Miller 2 Colin Miller 40

1870 Federal Census Winnebago County, Wisconsin (Town of Utica 34 | 82 80 | Miller Mary | 50 F W | Keeping house | 10000 1200 | New Brunswick 35 | 82 80 | Miller Charles | 26 M W | Farmer | 2000 | New Brunswick 36 | 82 80 | Miller Eugene | 19 M W | At home | | Wis 37 | 82 80 | Miller Lena | 15 M W | At home | | Wis 38 | 82 80 | Miller Orin | 13 M W | Attending school | | Wis 39 | 82 80 | Miller Frank | 11 M W | Attending school | | Wis 40 | 82 80 | Miller Cora | 9 F W | | | Wis

1880 Federal Census,Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin Name: Mary Miller Home in 1880: Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin Age: 60 Estimated birth year: abt 1820 Birthplace: Nb Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Father’s birthplace: Nb Mother’s birthplace: Nb Occupation: Keeping House Marital Status: Widowed Mary Miller 60 Frank Miller 22 Cora Miller 19 Lily Miller 18 (Who was Lily?  She was listed as a daughter in this census, but she was not on the 1870 census. She was born about 1862 , but Frank died in 1860. )

George Miller’s sons Ira (born 1838), Alonzo Enoch (called Lon and born 1840) and Charles Henry (born 1843) all served in the Civil War. Charlie would have been only 17 when the war started. There is a family story that George died of apoplexy when he became enraged arguing about the War, but since he died in 1860, the argument must thave been about slavery.  George’s brother Colin was living with them in 1860. Colin joined the 14th Wisconsin Infantry in 1861 was 1st Lt., Company C, and was killed on 23 May 1863 during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.  His brother John writes, Colin was a broad gauge man, had many sterling qualities. Was universally loved and respected. I knew him better than I did any of my other brothers, and I felt his loss for many year.

Children

1. Ira Miller

Ira’s wife Margaret Louisa Johnson was born 10 Jan 1842 in Boone County, Indiana. After Ira died, she married 12 Apr 1905 in Monterey, California to Silas Gratton  Babb (b. Jul 1842 Tennessee).

In 1900, Silas was a  widower boarding in Gilroy and working as a teamster.  In 1910, Louisa was married and a servant in Santa Cruz Ward 1, Santa Cruz, California.  Silas seems to have had a restaurant  at 1621 “J” Street, not far from the capital in Sacramento.  Margaret died 25 Mar 1918  in Maywood, Cook County, Illinois and is buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois.

Ira was a private in Company B, 1st Wisconsin Cavalry in  Civil War.

In 1870, Ira and Louisa were farming in Sherman, Monona, Iowa. In 1880 Ira and Louisa were living in Monterey, Monterey, California where Ira worked as a laborer.

Ira sold 40 acres of land that he had cleared and planted to orchard in Sebastapol, California to his brothers Eugene and Frank.  Neighbors who knew of the tremendous effort he made to develop the place said he was a powerful and vigorous man.

Ira is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, Calif.

The 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was organized at Camp Harvey in Kenosha between Sep 1 1861, and Feb 2 1862. It mustered in on Mar 10 1862, and left for St. Louis, Missouri, on Mar 17 1862, where it was stationed at Benton Barracks until Apr 28. It traveled to Camp Girardeau, Missouri,  on Apr 28 1862, where it was attached to a series of Union cavalry brigades that fought in Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama over the next four years. The regiment fought at the Battle of Chickamauga on Sep 19-20, 1863, in the Atlanta Campaign the following year, and helped capture Confederate president Jefferson Davis on May 10, 1865. The 1st Cavalry lost a total of 401 men during service. Six officers and 67 enlisted men were killed. Seven officers and 321 enlisted men died from disease.

View a longer history of the 1st Wisconsin Cavalry
View the roster
View a list of casualties
View original documents

Children of Ira and Margaret:

i. Lelia Helen Miller (6 Apr 1862 Winnebago County, Wisconsin – 14 Feb 1896 Santa Clara, California Burial: Oak Hill Memorial Park San Jose California Plot: Sec MM, Lot 20, Block 6) m. 1 Oct 1882 California to John Ayers Simpson (5 Oct 1855 Ohio  – After 1930 census when he was living in El Cajon, California and working as a citrus nurseryman)  After Lelia died, John moved back to Chicago with his two young sons Orval  (1883-1979) and Ray where he worked as a millwright.

ii. Elmer Frank Miller (1867 Iowa – After 1940 census 1154 1/2 E 76th Pl San Antonio, Los Angeles) m. 1890 to Margaret E Allen (Aug 1868 California – ) Margaret’s parents were Otis Allen (1829 – 1898) and Harriet Adelia Sebring (1844 – 1936) Elmer and Margaret divorced before 1900. By 1903 Margaret had remarrried to Peter Alten (b. 30 Sep 1866 California – d. 04 Jul 1927 in California)

In the 1900 census, Margaret was divorced and living with her parents in Santa Rosa and daughter Cora. By the 1910 census, Margaret and Peter Alten were living with her mother in Santa Rosa. Cora and Hazel (Hattie) were counted in both their mother’s and their father’s households.

In the 1910 census.Elmer was divorced with two teenage daughters Cora Miller Elvy (14 Aug 1893 – Jun 1972 Santa Clara, Santa Clara) and Hazel and working as a painting contractor in Santa Cruz, California He was working as a painter and paperhanger in Fresno in the 1920 census and in Los Angeles in 1930.

Peter and Margaret had two children Otis Peter Alten (1904 – 1977) and Ruby Rosella Alten (1910 – )

In the 1930 census Margaret was still living with her 85 year old mother in Bodega, Sonoma, California)

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2. Alonzo Miller

Lon’s wife Corneila Pheba Holden was born 29 Sep 1844 in New York.  Her parents were Hannibal Holden and Huldah D Bailey. Corneila died in 1940 in Worth County, Iowa,

Alonzo was a Corporal in C Company, 14th Infantry, Wisconsin Volunteers in the Civil War. (There were four Alonzo Millers in the Wisconsin Volunteers, but he was the only Alonzo E.  This was just about the time they invented middle names!) 16 Sep 1861 – Enlisted as a Corporal in Company C, Wisconsin 14th Infantry Regiment Promoted to Full Sergeant. Discharged for Promotion on 10 Jun 1863.

Like Matthew Broderick in  Glory, Alonzo was an officer of African American troops in the Civil War.

10 Jun 1863 – Commissioned an Full 1st Lieutenant in Company C, U.S. Colored Troops 48th Infantry Regiment Mustered out on 22 May 1864 The 14th Wisconsin Infantry was organized at Camp Wood in Fond Du Lac and mustered into service on January 30, 1862. The regiment left Wisconsin for St. Louis, Missouri, on March 8, and then traveled to Savannah, Tennessee, March 23-28. From there during its service it moved through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. It participated in the battles of Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth, Champion Hill, Nashville, and the Siege of Vicksburg. 14th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin

Four of its members received the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in the Battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862; among them the “Colors Sergeant,” Denis J. F. Murphy (Green Bay), who, though wounded 3 times, continued bearing the colors throughout the battle Date of Organization: 30 Jan 1862 Muster Date: 9 Oct 1865 Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 6 Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 3 Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 116 Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 194

Fourteenth Infantry. — Cols., David E. Wood, John Hancock, Lyman M. Ward, Lieut.-Cols Isaac E. Messmore, John Hancock, Lyman M. Ward, James W. Polleys, Eddy F. Ferris, Majs., John Hancock, Lyman M. Ward, James W. Polleys, Asa Worden, Eddy F. Ferris, William J. Henry. This regiment was organized in Nov., 1861, at Camp Wood, Fond du Lac, and was mustered in Jan. 30, 1862. It left the state on March 8 and went into barracks at St. Louis until ordered to Savannah, Tenn., on the 23d.

Alonzo fought at the Battle of Shiloh  – Engraving by Thulstrup

It was in action at Shiloh, where it charged a Confederate battery and drove the enemy from the guns, but was compelled to fall back. It repeated this three times during the day, holding the guns the fourth time, and receiving the sobriquet of the “Wisconsin Regulars,” for the determined bravery on this, its first field. It lost 14 killed and 79 wounded and missing.

Pittsburg Landing a few days after the Battle of Shiloh

It was made provost guard at Pittsburg landing during the Siege of Corinth, and was ordered to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans in the advance on Price at Iuka. When within 2 miles of Iuka it was ordered back to Corinth which was threatened by the enemy and at the battle at that place it had the advance position in the line, the post of honor. In his official report, Col. Oliver, commanding the brigade, said of its work: “Col. Hancock and his regiment, the 14th Wis., there was no discount on; always steady, cool and vigorous. This regiment was the one to rely upon in any emergency. * * * They maintained their lines and delivered their fire with all the precision and coolness which could have been maintained upon drill.”

Alonzo fought at the Battle of Vicksburg

The regiment was at Champion’s Hill, the Big Black River, and took a conspicuous part at Vicksburg losing 107 men in killed, wounded and missing, out of 256, in an assault upon the enemy’s works. It remained in the front line until the surrender and was given the position of honor in the brigade in the march into the city. Gen. Ransom said: “Every officer and man in the 14th is a hero.” First known as the 10th Louisiana Infantry, the 48th Infantry Regiment was a regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was composed primarily of freed or escaped slaves from Louisiana’s plantations and was commanded by white officers. The unit was organized at Lake Providence and Goodrich Landing, Louisiana between May 6 and August 8, 1863.

It was attached to the Goodrich Landing post until January 1864 and at Vicksburg until March 1864. The regiment participated in the Yazoo River Expedition between February 1 and March 8, 1864. Action was seen at Liverpool Heights, Mississippi on February 4 (with the 11th Illinois Infantry and the First Mississippi Calvary) and Satartia, Mississippi on February 7. Yazoo City, Mississippi was captured by Union forces on February 4 and the regiment occupied the city between February 9 and March 6. There was a skirmish at Yazoo city on March 5. The regiment was designated the 48th Regiment Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops on March 11, 1864. The regiment participated in the expedition from Vicksburg to Rodney and Fayette, Mississippi between September 29 and October 3, 1864. The unit was sent to Algiers, Louisiana on February 26, 1865 and then to Fort Barrancas, Florida. Between March 20 and April 1, they marched from Pensacola, Florida, to Blakely, Alabama,

Alonzo participated in the storming of Fort Blakely

The regiment fought in the Battle of Fort Blakely, April 2–9, 1865 and then marched to Montgomery April 13–25. They were at Montgomery until June, 1865 and then went to Texas where they were on duty along the Rio Grande until January, 1866. The Battle of Fort Blakely took place from April 2-April 9, 1865 in Baldwin County, Alabama, as part of the Mobile Campaign of the American Civil War.

African American Troops

Maj. Gen. Edward Canby’s Union forces, the XVI and XIII Corps, moved along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, forcing the Confederates back into their defenses. Union forces then concentrated on Spanish Fort, Alabama and nearby Fort Blakely. By April 1, Union forces had enveloped Spanish Fort, thereby releasing more troops to focus on Fort Blakely. Confederate Brig. Gen. St. John R. Liddell, with about 4,000 men, held out against the much larger Union force until Spanish Fort fell on April 8 in the Battle of Spanish Fort. This allowed Canby to concentrate 16,000 men for the attack on April 9, led by Brig. Gen. John P. Hawkins. Sheer numbers breached the Confederate earthworks, compelling the Confederates, including Liddell, to surrender. The siege and capture of Fort Blakely was basically the last combined-force battle of the war. Yet, it is criticized by some (such as Ulysses S. Grant) as an ineffective contribution to Union war effort due to Canby’s lateness in engaging his troops.

African-American forces played a major role in the successful Union assault. The regiment mustered out on January 4, 1866 By the end of the Civil War, roughly 179,000 black men (10% of the Union Army in about a hundred regiments) served as soldiers in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 served in the Navy. Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the war—30,000 of infection or disease. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, as well. Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause. Because of prejudice against them, black units were not used in combat as extensively as they might have been. Nevertheless, the soldiers served with distinction in a number of battles including the capture of Fort Blakely above. In addition to the perils of war faced by all Civil War soldiers, black soldiers faced additional problems stemming from racial prejudice. Racial discrimination was prevalent even in the North, and discriminatory practices permeated the U.S. military. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and typically commanded by white officers and black noncommissioned officers.

Black Soldiers

The black troops, however, faced greater peril than white troops when captured by the Confederate Army. In 1863 the Confederate Congress threatened to punish severely officers of black troops and to enslave black soldiers. As a result, President Lincoln issued General Order 233, threatening reprisal on Confederate prisoners of war (POWs) for any mistreatment of black troops.

Lon married Cornelia Pheba Holden Miller (29 Sep 1844 New York – 1940  Kensett, Worth County Iowa)  Cornelia is buried in Kensett Cemetery.   In 1880, Lon and Cornelia were farming in Rock, Mitchell, Iowa.

Kennsett, Worth, Iowa

1900 Census Manly, Worth, Iowa Alonzo E Miller 59 (Head of Household) Cornelia P Miller 54 (Wife) William F Miller 15 (Nephew) Gracie Hildredth 3 (Granddaughter) Hattie I Miller 27 (Daughter-in-law – Widowed) Guy E Miller 9 (Grandson) Fern V Miller 8 (Granddaughter) Faythe I Miller 2 (Granddaughter) .

Children of Lon and Cornelia:

i. Lester Holden Miller (29 Jun 1865 Winnebago County, Wisconsin – 1900 Kensett Cemetery, Kensett, Worth, Iowa Plot: Lot 108) m. Hattie J Hilton. (b. 1873 Michigan – d. 13 Mar 1957 Los Angeles, buried Woodland Union Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio) Hattie’s parents were James Matthew Hilton (1839 – 1929) and Helen A Hanks (1841 – )

In the 1900 census, Lester was gone and Hattie was living  in Lincoln, Worth, Iowa with Ira and Cornelia with her three children: Guy E Miller 9, Fern V Miller 8, and Faythe I Miller 2. In 1910 Hattie was still a single mother on income and had moved to Newark, Marshall, South Dakota. On 20 Aug 1912 Blue Earth, Faribault, Minnesota Hattie married John J Duffield (b. 1857 Ireland – d. Aft 1930 census Garden City, Blue Earth, Minnesota) John immigrated in 1871.

ii. Hattie Orlena Miller (13 Dec 1866 in Randolph, Columbia, Wisconsin – Aft 1930 census Lincoln, Worth, Iowa); m. 5 Nov 1890 Randolph, Columbia, Wisconsin to Frank Wilbe Jewett (b. 6 Feb 1869 in Randolph, Columbia, Wisconsin – )  His parents were Charles Fred Jewett (1836 – ) and Cordelia Arethusa Bliss (1839 – 1868).  Frank was a farmer.

iii. Kate (Kattie) Maud Miller (27 Dec 1872 – 13 Aug 1897 Burial: Kensett Cemetery, Kensett, Worth County,Iowa) m. 9 Nov 1892 Worth, Iowa to  William Philo Hildreth   (b: 15 Aug 1870 in Osage, Mitchell, IA – d. 21 Dec 1947 in Plum City, WI) William’s parents were William Bramwell Hildreth (1839 – ) and Abigail Hitchcock (1835 – 1872) After Kattie died, William married Bertha Pedersdatter Kval (1871 – )

In the 1900 census, Gracie Hildredth 3  was living with her grandparents and William was living with his sister and brother-in-law Lillian and Melvin Jewett

By the 1910 census Will had married Bertha and was farming in Sanford, Grant, Minnesota. Clyde age 15 and Grace age 13 were back at home.

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4. Charles Henry Miller

Charles’ wife Esther Ann Hunter was born 8 Mar 1849 in New York. Her parents were William Hunter and  Lettetia Park daughter of John and Nancy (Ditty) Parks of  Bellarnewdine, Ireland.   They  were living in Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin in the 1870 census. Esther died 21 Sep 1935 in Seattle, Washington Burial: Tacoma Mausoleum).

Charles Henry enlisted with his uncle, Leonard J Miller, in the Wisconsin 21st Infantry, Company B and served for three years; mustering out near the end of the war due to severe injuries received to his right arm during the Battle of Dallas, Georgia.

Charles was living in Tacoma, WA in 1908.  Charles and his son, Ray, were in the banking business in Tacoma, WA.

Children of Charles and Esther:

i. Ray Clinton Miller (28 Oct 1876 Winnebago County, Wisconsin – 19 Jun 1913 Tacoma, WA) m. 11 Dec 1907 to Mollie E. Kennedy (18 Jan 1882 Wisconsin – 25 Jan 1943 Tacoma, WA)

In the 1910 census, Ray was a bank cashier in Tacoma, Washington.

ii. Letta May Miller (Aug 1886 Wisconsin – Aft 1910 census, Tacoma )

iii. Vera E Miller (May 1891 Wisconsin – Aft 1940 census, Haller Lake, King, Washington); m. Harlow Holabird Whiteside (1 Jun 1891 Missouri – Aft 1940 census) Asst. Mgr. of the Gas Plant, Olympia, Wash.

In 1940, Harlow was working as a traveling salesman for commercial refrigeration.

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5. Ezra Miller

Ezra ‘s wife Rosabelle Rachel “Belle” Horton was born 29 Jun 1859 Olmsted County, Minnesota.  Her parents were William Horton (1832 – 1907) and Eliza Jane Dennis (1833 – 1900). Belle died May 1944 Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa) Burial: Osage Cemetery, Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa Plot: Section 1049 , Position 11

In the 1900 census, Ezra was a merchant in Jackson, Harrison, Iowa.

Jackson Township, Harrison County, Iowa is in the southwest corner of the state, 50 miles north of Omaha

Child of Ezra and Belle:

i. Roy Wallace Miller (Dec 1879 Lincoln, Worth, Iowa – Aft 1940 census Jackson, Harrison, Iowa) m. Nellie E McCabe (1882 Iowa – Aft 1940 census). Nellie’s father Terrence was born in Nov 1837 in Ireland and her mother Martha J Dugger in Tennessee.  Roy was the manager of a grocery in Jackson, Harrison, Iowa in the 1920 census.

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6. Helen Miller

Helen’s husband Charles Warren Washburn was born 27 Jun 1846 in Washington County, Wisconsin. His parents were Henry Washburn (1817 – 1908) and Lucy Sargent (1826 – 1883). Charles died 1 Jan 1920 in Florence County, Wisconsin.

Helen was a school teacher.  She was away from her family during the 1870 census – so I am guessing she was elsewhere teaching or getting a certificate to teach herself before her marriage. She married Charles Warren Washburn 25 Nov 1871 Winnebago, WI.   Charles actually was on the farm in Utica in 1870 and his cousin was living with them, as she was as school teacher in that area (Oshkosh, I think). Years after they married, they homesteaded a farm in the Town of Fern (formerly Washburn Settlement) under a land grant by Grover Cleveland, but they ended up moving back to Florence, WI where they remained the rest of their lives. He outlived her by 21 years and from what I understand, he missed her terribly. Sounds like they were quite a love match.

In the 1880 census, Hellen was living with her brother Orren and her three children in Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin

Helen Mary Miller – Courtesy Diane Yehle

Helen and Charles Washburn – Courtesy Diane Yehle

Charles Warren Washburn younger – Courtesy Diane Yehle

Children of Helen and Charles:

i. Mary Lucy Washburn (15 Mar 1873 Winnebago County, Wisconsin – 9 Mar 1955 Florence County Wisconsin) m. Louis Yehle (21 Jun 1863 German – 16 Nov 1913) Louis (Alois) Yehle was an immigrant from Schaan, Liechtenstein and was killed in an electrical accident at the transformer station where he was employed as an electrical engineer in Florence County, Wisconsin.

In the 1910 census, Louis was an engineer at a pumping station in Florence, Florence, Wisconsin.

ii. Ralph Newton Washburn (3 Aug 1874 Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa – 16 Oct 1946 Crystal Falls, Iron County, Michigan) m. Elizabeth Julia Bailey (3 Apr 1883 Ohio – 20 Mar 1951 Florence County, WI) Elizabeth’s parents were Hayes Barr Bailey (1852 – 1932) and Emma Elizabeth Hoyman (1863 – 1926) Ralph and Elizabeth had four children born between 1909 and 1916.

In the 1920 census, Ralph was a farmer in Florence, Florence, Wisconsin

iii. Grace Belle Washburn (8 Nov 1877 Waukau, Winnebago County, Wisconsin – 24 Feb 1951, Florence County, Wisconsin) m. George W Kinnear (b. 14 Nov 1863 Pennsylvania – 20 Jul 1921 Drowned during a river log drive in Florence, Wisconsin) George’s parents were David Kinnear (1828 – 1900) and Katherine “Kate” Pike (1843 – 1910)

Grace Belle Washburn

iv. Henry George Washburn (3 Jul 1884 Florence County, Wisconsin – 10 Aug 1970 Green Bay, Wisconsin); m1.  Beulah May Johnson (20 Jun 1890 in Wisconsin – Aft. 1940 census);  m2. Arlene Bates (23 May 1901 – 15 Mar 1976)

In the 1920 census, Henry was an internal revenue collector in Shawano Ward 3, Shawano, Wisconsin.

Henry and Beulah divorced. In the 1930 census, Beulah had remarried to Christian Christensen and was living with her two daughters Mildred and Marjory in Denver, Colorado.

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7. George Leonard Miller

George’s wife Julia Ann Tennant was born 29 Dec 1856 in Wisconsin.  Her parents were John Tennat (b. 1810 in Ireland – d. 2 Mar 1896 in Rushford, Winnebago, Wisconsin) and Martha Bestwick (31 Mar 1819 in Bolton, Warren, New York – d. 28 Jan 1872 in Waukau, Winnebago, Wisconsin).  Julia died 4 Nov 1887 in Wisconsin.

In the 1880 census, George and Julia were farming in Omro, Winnebago, Wisconsin.

Children of George and Julia:

i.  Ralph Miller (29 Aug 1874 Wisconsin – 7 Sep 1889 Wisconsin)

ii. Angie Miller  (1877 Omro, Winnebago, Wisconsin – Aft 1940 census, Belle Plaine, Shawano, Wisconsin); m.  Ward Bonette Peterson (14 March 1871 in Belle Plaine, Shawano, Wisconsin- 1949) Ward’s parents were Alexander Peterson (1842 – 1929) and Mary Rose Bonette (1842 – 1916) Angie and Ward had two children Lynn Russell Peterson (1902 – 1992) and Forrest Ward Peterson (1904 – )

In the 1920 census, Ward and Angie were farming in Belle Plaine, Shawano, Wisconsin.

iii. Martha Miller  (1879  Omro, Winnebago, Wisconsin – Aft. 1940 census Antigo, Langlade, Wisconsin); m. Henry J Buesch (1872 Wisconsin – Aft. 1940) Henry’s parents were from Germany.  In the 1910 and 1920 census, Henry and Martha were farming in Norwood, Langlade, Wisconsin.

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8. Eugene Edgar Miller

Gene moved to Sebastopol, California in 1891.  After an especially hard Iowa winter, he threw the snow shovel on the ground and said he was never going to shovel any more   —– snow.  So Eugene and Frank decided to buy the 40 acres that their brother Ira had cleared and planted to orchard.  Neighbors who knew of the tremendous effort he made to develop the place said he was a powerful and vigorous man. He had moved to Ashland Oregon by the 1910 census and lived in Ashland in 1920 and 1930.

Eugene’s wife Lillian Marion Horton was born in 13 Aug 1857 in Grafton, Worth, Iowa or Olmsted, Minnesota.   Her parents were William Horton and Eliza Jane Dennis.  Lillian died 27 May 1950 in Sebastopol, Sonoma, California.

Children of Eugene and Lillian:

i. Alice Esther Miller (8 Mar 1878 Lincoln, Worth, Iowa – 11 Mar 1955) m. [__?__] Stubbs (b. Pennsylvania) By the 1910 census, Alice was divorced and living with her parents and four year old son Richard Stubbs in Ashland, Oregon.

ii. George Raymond Miller (17 Dec 1879 Lincoln, Worth, Iowa – 20 Feb 1956 ) m1. Caroline L. [__?__] (1882 California – ) Caroline’s parents were born in Germany. m2.  Isabelle W. [__?__] (b. 1883 Iowa)

In the 1910 census George and Caroline were living in Hydesville, Humboldt, California where George was working as a millwright.  In his 1918 World War I Draft Registration, George was working as a millwright machinist at the Pacific Lumber Company in Scotia, Humboldt, California.  His form showed the loss of his left leg below the knee. In the 1920 census, George and Caroline had moved to Idaho Falls, Bonneville, Idaho.  By the 1930 census, George was back in Scotia working as a millwright in a planing mill.  He and his 22 year old son Percy were lodgers.  In his 1942 Draft Regislation,  he was married to Isabella and a machinist at the Klammath Falls Machine and Locomotive Shop in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

iii. Clarence Arthur Miller (9 Jul 1881 Worth County, Iowa – 09 Mar 1974  Sebastopol, Sonoma, California) m. 18 Nov 1903 to Edith Brewster Palmer (18 Nov 1878  Ferndale, Humboldt, California –  16 Dec 1956 in Sonoma, California) Edith’s parents were Thomas Brewster Palmer (1843 – 1909) and Mary Elizabeth Wiley (1848 – ). Clarence and Edith had five children Marie Miller (1905 – 1998), Gladys Miller (1907 – 1955), Rodney Miller (1910 – ), Effie Marjorie Miller (1911 – 1988), and Clarence Miller (1918 – )

Edith and Clarence Miller

Edith’s father Thomas Brewster Palmer (1843 – 1909)

Edith’s mother Mary Elizabeth Wiley (1848 – )

In his 1942 draft registration Clarence and Edith were living at 564 North Main Street in Sebastopol, California and he was working for Rooney T. Miller’s Miller Trucking Service in Sebestopol.

iv. Mabel Lenora Miller (13 Mar 1883 Plymouth, Iowa – Nov 1973  620 19th Ave East, Seattle, Washington); m1. 20 Sep 1909 to William C. Maas (1878 Wisconsin –  20 Apr 1914 in  Entiat, Chelan, Washington.) William’s father Louis was born in Germany and mother Martha Barthals in Wisconsin;. m2. 7 Jun 1920 Spokane, Washington to Adolph Gustave Emil Bahnke (b. 23 May 1881 – Petznick, Germany – d. 23 Sep 1951 Pierce, Washington)

Emil became a naturalized citizen 30 Sep 1942 in Renton, Washington. He arrived in Seattle from Vancouver in 1905. He worked as a gardner. Their son John Emil Bahnke was born 28 Jul 1921 in Renton, Washington and died 10 Jan 2010 in Piatt County, Illinois.

In the 1910 census, Mabel and William were farming in Entiat, Chelan, Washington. According to the 1920 census, Mabel was divorced and working as an nurse assistant in the home of Albert Pratten in Wenatchee Ward 2, Chelan, Washington. Mabel and William had three children: Albert Maas (1913-1971), Ula Maas (1911 – 1999), and Edward Maas (1911-1933) who were raised by William’s  parents in Wisconsin.

Edward Maas Obit

v. Etta Maud Miller (13 Jul 1884 Iowa – 1 Jun 1977 Santa Cruz CA buried 7 Mar 1977 Sebastopol evergreen lawn cemetary Sebastopol, CA) m. 1915-1921 in Jackson County, Oregon to Edward O. Nelson

In the 1930 census, Etta had married Adolph J Asmann (b. 16 Jun 1875 California – d. 9 Mar 1956 San Francisco) Adolph had no occupation and Etta was managing her apple farm in Analy Township, Sonoma, California. By the 1940 census, Adolph was living with his brother-in-law in San Francisco and claimed he was widowed. Etta’s sister-in-law Kittie Nelson (b. 1882 Norway) was living with the family.

In the 1940 census, Etta, her daughter Virginia and her mother Lillian were living at Guerneville River No 12 Route 2, Sonoma County, California where she operated an apple farm.

My grandmother  Genevieve was fond of Uncle Gene and Aunt Lillian. Their daughter Etta married someone named Nelson, and she and mother corresponded. Genevieve always went to visit Etta when she was in Northern California. My mother remembers driving down a dirt road to a ranch house to visit them when her family went on the famous trip to Victoria in the summer of 1941.

vi. Frank Horton Miller (10 Apr 1887 Plymouth, Iowa – Oct 1975 Solano, California) m. before 1910 census probably in Analy, Sonoma, California to Eva May Hunt (1880 Illinois – 1953 Solano, California). Eva’s mother came from Denmark.

In his World War I draft registration, Frank was living in Rio Vista, California and working as a ranch foreman on Tyler Island. Frank was a farm manager in Burnett Township (between San Jose and Morgan Hill), Santa Clara, California in the 1930 census. In his World War II Draft Registration, Frank and Eva were living in Vacaville, California where Frank was a ranch superintendent. Frank and Eva are buried at Rio Vista Masonic & Odd Fellow Cemetery, Solano County in plot 1188.

vii. Mary Eliza Miller (6 Jun 1889 in Iowa – 27 Dec 1968 Grants Pass, Josephine, Oregon); m. 12 Apr 1911 Oakland, California to Clyde Milton Hamilton (18 Nov 1886 Waverly, Coffey, Kansas – 12 Sep 1952 in Eads, Kiowa, Colorado or 30 Jun 1969 Los Angeles). Clyde’s parents were Guy Hamilton (1834 – 1913) and Mary Louisa Harlan (1851 – 1911)

Clyde’s parents were from Ireland. Clyde was tenant farmer in Belleview, Jackson, Oregon in the 1930 census when Mary and Clyde had seven children living with them.

One child,  Clyde Frank (aka Francisco) Hamilton came to Australia with the US Army in 1942. He was discharged in Australia and never returned to Oregon.  Alma Mary Hamilton/Houston of Brisbane, Queensland, and Juanita Hamilton/Goodland of Theodore are the grand-daughters of Mary Eliza Miller who married Clyde Milton Hamilton.

Alma (aka as Mary) has one grandson and three grand-daughters. Juanita had four sons ( one deceased) and a daughter. She has two grandsons and two grand daughters. Clyde died 12 July 1989 and his wife Florence Hazel Alexander died 01 January 2001. There are remnants of the Miller line in Queensland.

viii. Kathryn “Katie” Rachel Miller (3 Nov 1893 Sonoma Califonia – After 1920 Census) In 1919, Kathryn sailed to Hawaii on the Sachem. In the 1920 Census when she was living with her parents in Ashland Oregon and working as a public school teacher.

ix. William Henry Miller (24 Sep 1896 Sonoma Califonia – 15 Jan 1911)

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9. Albert Julian Miller

Albert’s wife Clara Barton Cadwell was born 22 Aug 1867, Woodbine, Harrison County, Iowa. Her parents were George Bishop Cadwell and Clarissa Seeley. Clara died 8 Aug 1918, Olmsted County, Minnesota.

In the 1910 census, Albert was an abstractor of title (a person who prepares and certified the condensed history (known as an abstract of title) of the ownership of a particular parcel of real estate, consisting of a summary of the original grant and all subsequent conveyances and encumbrances affecting the property.) in Logan, Harrison, Iowa.

Children of Albert and Clara:

i. Helen Caldwell Miller (29 Apr 1893 Harrison County, Iowa – May 1971 Boulder, Colorado) Burial: Logan Cemetery, Logan, Harrison County, Iowa.

In the 1930 census, Helen was single and a bookkeeper at a steel company in Chicago.

ii.  Jeannette Miller (Oct 1894 Iowa – )  In the 1930 census, Jeannette was living with her “partner/lodger” Bessie M Landfear in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut. Both Jeannette and Bessie were librarians.

In the 1940 census, Jeannette living with her sister Clara at 2901 Ashby Ave? Berkeley, CA with a Swedish maid and a lodger. Jeannette was a school librarian and Clara had her own optometry business.

iii. Paul Barton Miller (b. 15 Sep 1896 in Logan, Iowa- d. 1982 in Hendersonville, North Carolina); m. 1921 Silvis, Illinois to Catharine Debourcy (b. 1900 in Rock Island, Illinois = d. Boca Raton, Florida)

In the 1930 census, Paul and Catherine were living  in Petersburg,  Prince George, Virginia

In the 1940 census, Paul and Catherine were living at 21 Amherst Court Hempstead, Nassau, New York where Paul was an industrial auditor.
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10. Orlena  “Lena” Victoria Miller

Orlena’s husband Edmond George Stone was born 1852 Champlain New York sometimes listed as New Brunswick.  Edmond died after 1930 Census.

In 1880 Edmund and Lena were farming in Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin.  In the 1930 census, Orlena and Edmond were retired in Oakland, California where they owned a home in Brooklyn township.

In the 1940 census, Lena and her daughter Edna were with Helen Price lodging at 5455 Hilltop Crescent, Oakland.

Children of Lena and Edmond:

i. Cliff Winifred Stone (19 Oct 1874 Fisk, Winnebago, Wisconsin – ); m. Kate Kelly [__?__] (b. 1875 Wisconsin)

In the 1900 census, Cliff was rooming in Indianapolis and working at a public school teacher. By 1910 he had married Kate, had an infant daughter and a live-in servant; and was teaching normal school in Farmville, Prince Edward, Virginia. Longwood University is a public school located in the heart of Farmville with an enrollment of about 5,000. It is one of the oldest public institutions in the country, founded as a female seminary. Longwood is mainly known as a teachers school and was once called State Female Normal School. This school is known as the mother of sororities: Sigma Sigma Sigma, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Kappa Delta were founded here. In 1918, Cliff was away from his Cedar Falls home working for the War Department in Newark New Jersey.  By 1919, he was back home in Cedar Falls working as a teacher when he applied for a passport “for YMCA work” in Great Britian and France.  By 1930, the family had moved to Pullman, Washington and Cliff where Cliff was an instructor at Washington State.

Cliff Winfield Stone was born in Wisconsin in 1874. After graduation from the State Normal School at Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1899 he later attended Columbia University where he took the B.S. in 1904 and the Ph.D. in 1908. He served as a teacher, school principal, and director of teaching in such diverse places as Indiana, New York City, Virginia, and Iowa. During World War I Dr. Stone was a member of the American Expeditionary Force University at Beaune, France. Directly following his service in France he came to Washington State University as Professor of Education. He served in this capacity from 1920 to 1946 when he retired as Professor Emeritus of Education.

An early pioneer in testing children’s arithmetical abilities, Dr. Stone published a work on this subject in 1908 which he followed several years later with a series of reasoning tests in arithmetic. The New Stone Reasoning Tests in Arithmetic (1927) was published by Columbia University’s Teachers’ College. His knowledge in this field served him well when he chaired the Washington Education Association’s school survey of the graded school and the one-room “little red schoolhouse” which was typical in rural areas of Washington State. The study was to survey and then compare progress made by pupils of one-room schools with progress made by pupils of equal ability from graded schools. Dr. Stone completed such a study, albeit on a limited basis, in 1927 (cf. Journal of Educational Research, November, 1927). The state-wide survey he and his associates made was published as “The Subject Progress of Pupils in Different Types of Schools” in the Washington Education Journal, April 1930.

The papers of Cliff W. Stone  are stored at Washington State University.

The papers consist of approximately 2,800 items of correspondence and research materials pertaining to his various activities while at WSU. Series 1 reflects Dr. Stone’s work as a college teacher, researcher into arithmetical reasoning in school children, and friend to hundreds of WSU students seeking teaching positions. Series 2 contains the specific work Dr. Stone undertook for the Washington Education Association in the late 1920s. He and several associates attempted a state-wide educational analysis of students in graded school houses as opposed to those students who were still attending the one-room school made famous as the “little red schoolhouse.”

This collection of papers presents a contemporary researcher with unique evidence of raw data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing for a state-wide educational project completed during an era of swift social and economic change in the state of Washington.

ii. Edna H. Stone (18 Mar 1876 Fisk, Winnebago, Wisconsin – 10 Jul 1961 Alameda County, California)

In the 1900 census, Edna was a boarding student at Cedar Falls, Iowa,  home to one of Iowa’s three public universities, the University of Northern Iowa.  Edna sailed from France on the De Grasse in 1928.  In 1930, Edna was living in Oakland, California with her partner Helen G Price and working as a public school supervisor.  Helen was a librarian.

iii. Ada M. Stone  (28 Jul 1878 Wisconsin – 10 Aug 1957 Los Angeles); m1. 1903 to  Avrill L. Atwood (Jun 1873 Michigan – After 1930 census) m2. Marion Leslie Hockett (19 Mar 1887 Arkansas –  01 Jun 1964 Alameda, California)

In the 1900 census, Avrill was a boarder in Logan, Iowa working as a clerk in a department store shoe department.  In the 1910 census, Ada was married, but living with her parents without her husband and working as a bookkeeper/cashier in Logan, Harrison, Iowa.  In 1910, Avrill was taking care of his father in Carroll, Iowa.    In 1920 and 1930, Avrill was widowed and living with his brother in Macon, Georgia. Meanwhile, in 1920, Ada had remarried to Marion Hockett, a white mulatto from Arkansas, nine years younger than herself and was living in Redondo Beach, California where Marion was working as a pump operator for an oil company By 1930, they owned their own home in Redondo Beach and Marion was still working as a derrick operator in the oil fields.

iv. Ruth B Stone  (May 1880 Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin – After 1900 census)

v. Georgia “Georgie”  B Stone (Nov 1886 Wisconsin – After 1900 Census)

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11. Oren Fremont Miller

Oren’s wife Lillian Electa Buck was born 30 Sep 1860 Rosendale, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.  Her parents were Hamilton Buck and Mary Eliza Hinkley. Lillian died 20 Dec 1941 in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado

Oren inherited the family farm in Utica Wisconsin.  He had the farm until at least 1912 when his daughter Hazel was married.  Oren took down the original house and built a new house on the same spot, some roads were changed, but the woods, the marsh, the fields were the same in 1963 as they were 100 years earlier.  The acreage was still intact – 310 acres.  My grandmother wrote “It seems that status in that part of Wisconsin consists of ‘keeping up the place’, that is house and barn painted and tools all under sheds and green grass in front.

In 1920 Oren and Lillian were boarding in with Hazel’s sister-in-law and father-in-law in Utica, Winnebago, Wisconsin so maybe they had sold the farm by then.  By 1930 they had moved to Colorado Springs.

Children of Oren and Lillian:

i. Homer Arthur Miller (30 Apr 1891 Wisconsin – 1916 Burial: Liberty Prairie Cemetery, Pickett, Winnebago County, Wisconsin Plot: Plot 74)

ii. Hazel Belle Miller (13 Feb 1893 Utica, Wisconsin – After 1940 census 805 North Corona Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado); m. 27 Sep 1916 Winnebago, Wisconsin to James Edwin Jennings (24 Oct 1889 Utica, Wisconsin – 7 Jan, 1963 in Colorado Springs, Colorado). His parents were John S Jennings (1862 – ) and Eliza I. Washburn (1849 – )

In 1910, Edwin had been a hired hand at Hazel’s parents farm.  In the 1920 census, Edwin and Hazel were farming in Calhan, El Paso, Colorado near Colorado Springs.

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12. Frank Nelson MILLER (See his page)

Frank Miller 1880

Frank Miller and brother

13. Cora Estella Miller

Cora’s husband Albert Ellsworth was born 6 Apr 1832 Calais, Washington, Maine.  Albert died 5 Feb 1899 – Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin.  His parents were Mark Ellsworth and Elizabeth Jane Cheney.  He first married 1856 – Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin to Lydia Frances McCurdy (b. 1838 in St Patrick, Charlotte ,New Brunswick, Canada – d. 25 Aug 1882 in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan)  Albert was twice as old as Cora when they married in 11 Aug 1890  58 and 30.

In the 1900 census, Cora and Albert were living in Escanaba, Delta, Michigan. Cora was a school teacher and Albert was a bookkeeper. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13,140, making it the third-largest city in the Upper Peninsula after Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie.  In the 1910 census, Cora was  widowed, teaching public school and boarding with another teacher’s family in Omaha, Nebraska.

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Sources

http://www.barney.org/family/wga39.htmlWisconsin Volunteers Civil War Roster – MillerWisconsin Volunteers – Civil War Roster – Millerhttp://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/l/Calvin-Miller/GENE1-0008.htmlhttp://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/l/Calvin-Miller/GENE1-0033.html