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The Second Known Child of Hans and Christiane.  Anna Dorthea Jensine Christensen (Oscar Miller) – The Torslunde church records show her birth on January 2 (7?), 1859, and was baptized on April 21, (?).  Hans Nikolai Christensen and Christiane Rasmusdatter are listed in the record.  There are people who are likely sponsors listed in the record, and the handwriting is not clear.  Egholm is after one of the names.

Much of the story of Oscar, Anna, and their family is contained in Oscar Miller's obituary, from the front page of the Ocheyedan Arrow of Thursday, October 8, 1931, of Ocheyedan, Iowa.  This lists their children, but also suggests that Anna returned to Denmark after emigrating with her parents and met and married Oscar Miller there.  That obituary reads in its entirety:

"Obituary of Oscar Miller.  Oscar Miller was born in Schleswig, Denmark, December 29, 1857, and came to this country when 16 years of age, later returning to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he served three years with the Danish military forces.

In the year 1879 he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Christensen of Copenhagen, Denmark.  He returned to this country with his bride and settled at Aurelia, IA., where he operated a meat market and dealt in live stock.  Mr. Miller came to Harris about thirty-five years ago, operating a meat market and dealing in livestock, retiring from business ten years ago on account of poor health.  He was operated on at the Clinic hospital at Worthington, Minn., September 24, and was getting along fine until pneumonia developed.  He passed away at 12:45 p.m., October 2, 1931.

During the long years of Mr. Miller's residence in Harris he gained the confidence of a large circle of friends.  In his dealings with his fellow men he was always honest and held to the highest esteem by those who came to know him.

To this union five children were born.  Ella, born in 1880, passed away November 14, 1882 when two years of age; Henry, born in 1883, passed away March 19, 1917, when 24 [sic] years of age.  Those living are: Mrs. B.B. Hadley, Des Moines; Fred A. Miller, Chicago, and George A. Miller, Harris.  His wife passed away December 2, 1889, being at the time of her death 32 years of age.

Funeral services were held at the M.E. church in Harris Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Robert Grigsby, after which the remains were taken to Aurelia and buried in the family lot of the Pleasant Hill cemetery beside those of his wife and two children."

Anna is shown in Torslunde church records to have been born on January 7, 1859 and to have been christened in church on April 21, 1859.  She is shown with her parents in the 1860 Danish census as Anna Dorothea, 2.

She is shown in the 1870 census as Anna Jensine Christensen, 11, with Frederick Carl Massberg, 63 and Veronica Gortz—the couple that raised Hans Christensen. 

Anna arrived with her family in Quebec in the summer of 1872 on the S. S. Prussian of the Allen Line, where she is shown in the passenger record as Ana, 11.  She is not shown with her family in the 1875 Kansas state census, or in the U.S. census in 1880 in Waupaca County.  This tends to bear out the dates and places shown in the Oscar Miller obituary, and supports the theory that she returned to Denmark.

There are a number of photos of Anna and her family passed down.  There is one of Anna Miller, taken in Cherokee, Iowa.  There are others of two miller children – Ida and Harry.  In a photograph passed down with other Christensens, Oscar Miller was also shown as a young man in what appears to be a military uniform.  The photograph was taken in Copenhagen.  [In the photo of Oscar Miller, he is shown in a Military Uniform.  Below the photo on front side: Sorensen 4(?) C9 (CB?), Gothersgade 63.  On the back is written in pencil "Oscar Miller".  Printed is Fotografi  Sorensen & Ca.  Gothersgade 65 Kjobenhavn  Pladen opficoares til Efterhestillinger Lobe No. 9510, the number 9510 being handwritten].

Anna Christensen is shown in an old family photo, which has printed underneath, Wilson's Gallery, Roosevelt, Cherokee, Iowa".  Handwritten in pencil on the back was "Sister Anna".

As shown above, Oscar Miller’s 1931 obituary indicates that he came to the United States, returned to Denmark, and then returned with his young family in 1881.  There is a Copenhagen police emigration registration for Oscar Henrik Johannes Moller and Anna Jensine D. Moller.  Oscar is shown as age 23, a resident of Copenhagen, a butcher, destination Weyauwega, Wisconsin, “indirecte”.  Anna Jensine D. Moller is shown as 22, wife, with the same destination and residency.  I have not found a third person – their daughter Ella would have been one at this time and been with them.  It is unclear where they arrived in America.

In Cherokee County birth records is shown a child born to Oscar Miller and Anna Christensen Miller on January 24, 1883.  The record shows that the boy was unnamed, the second child in the family, born in Aurelia Town, with his father being 25 years old and Danish, born in Denmark.  His mother was Danish, born in Denmark, age 24 and listed as Annie Miller, nee (nu?) Christiansan (sic).  The father was listed as Oscar Henry Miller, and the "medical attendant" making the certificate was W. F. Quirk, M. D.(The spelling of this name was verified by the 1914 Cherokee County History by McCulla, in which Dr. Quirk was listed as being the first physician in Aurelia in 1877.)

There were no other birth records for any of the other Miller children in Cherokee County during this period.  Also, there was no marriage record for Oscar and Anna in the Cherokee County marriage records, tending to verify the Oscar obituary that indicated that they were married in Denmark.

Anna and Oscar are shown in the 1885 Iowa state census for Pitcher Township, Aurelia Town in Cherokee County.  There is a listing for Oscar Miller, 27, a butcher, with Annie, 26, housekeeper, Harry, 1.  Harry was born in Cherokee County.  Oscar and Annie are both shown as born in Denmark.  Oscar is shown as an alien who has taken out his first papers.  He is not listed as subject to military duty or entitled to vote.

There is a town lot deed index for Cherokee County Iowa and there were a few references for Oscar Miller and wife in that index.  Oscar Miller and wife did a mortgage to James Hanson dated June 16, 1883 for a lot and buildings in the town of Aurelia.  There is another transaction between Oscar Miller and wife and Alex Reddell dated May 7, 1888 for lots in Aurelia.  There is another for Oscar Miller and wife to Byron Reed dated October 21, 1889 for lots in Aurelia, Iowa.  This seems to be dated after Anna’s death the month before.  There’s another one with the same date also to Byron Reed that just lists Oscar and no wife for a lot (not the same one as in the previous deed) in Aurelia.  There’s a third one to Alex Ridell (sic) from Oscar Miller that is a “release” but in the index does not list which property it is for.

In the Aurelia Sentinel of November 8, 1888, there is an article: “The Aurelia meat market has changed hands, Oscar Miller having sold the same to W. J. Lindsey.  We understand that the market will be moved from its present location to the recently vacated Central House building.  No one doubts that with Mr. Lindsey in charge the market will be in good hands.”

There was a death record for Anna G. Miller, who died on September 19, 1889 in Cherokee County.  The record stated that the deceased was female, white, 31 years old.  The record was made on October 11, 1889, that the deceased was a resident of the state (Iowa) for seven years.  The place of death was Aurelia, Iowa and the place of burial was Aurelia, and the burial took place on September 21, 1889.  The name of the physician returning the certificate was Mels (Nels, Miles?) Avery of Aurelia.  The cause of death was typhoid fever, and the duration of the disease was five weeks.  The occupation of the deceased was listed as housekeeping.

There is an obituary in the Aurelia Sentinel of September 19, 1889: “Mrs. Oscar Miller died to-day at eleven o’clock.  She had been ill for several weeks of typhoid fever, and it was give out a day or two ago that there were serious doubts as to her recovery.  At an early hour this morning the attending physicians could see that she was sinking, and that there was no longer any chance of her getting well.  The deceased leaves a husband and four small children who have the deepest sympathy of the community in their loss.”

A letter from one of Anna’s brothers, most likely Henry, in 1891 refers to a trip he was going to make to Iowa in early November to bring Harry and Ida Miller to Kansas.

There is an Oscar Miller in an entry in this census in an entry with James F. Campbell and his family in Buena Vista County, Iowa – age 37, a stock buyer, born in Norway (sic).  It fits his age and occupation, just not his birth place.  It is quite likely this is Oscar. I did search for Oscar line by line in Osceola County and in Pitcher Township in Cherokee County in the 1895 Iowa census – but did not find him in either place.

O. H. Miller is shown in Harris Town, Fairview Township, Osceola County, Iowa in the 1900 census in an entry taken on June 1, 1900.  Osceola County is not far north of Cherokee County in northwest Iowa.  He is age 42, born in Denmark, with both his parents born in Denmark, and a lodger with L.B. Crown.  He was shown as widowed, no children listed, a buyer, immigrating to the United States in 1881 and having been a resident for nineteen years.

I have two listings for Oscar Miller in the 1905 Iowa State Census in Harris, Osceola County.  The first just shows him on a census page.  The second is a complete card with information, showing he was in Harris, Fairview Township, Osceola County – Oscar Miller, age 47, born in Denmark with both his parents born in Denmark, owns his own house or farm, no value listed, naturalized citizen, 24 years in U. S., 23 years in Iowa, butcher, widowed.  His card number is #215 and Harry’s was #59, so they were not listed right together.

In “The Harris Centennial, Harris --The past 100 Years” is listed the 1907 Harris Business & Phone Directory.  Oscar Miller was shown as having a telephone number 18, was listed as a butcher, and had three people in his household.  There was also a listing for George Miller, a laborer, with one person in the household.  There is a listing for a Henry Miller as a farmer with four in the household in Harris as well.  It is not clear at all that it is the Henry that was Oscar’s son and George’s brother.

Oscar H. Miller is shown in Harris, Osceola County, Iowa in the 1910 census, in an entry taken on April 18, 1910.  He is age 52, born in Denmark, and a boarder with Joseph Doerr.  He was shown as widowed, both his parents born in Denmark, a stock buyer of livestock, arriving in 1881 and naturalized.

In the December 13, 1912 edition of the Lake Park News (in adjoining Dickinson County), there was an article in the “Harris Department”: “William Puck, one of our progressive farms, is feeding about 125 head of steers and heifers for market.  He reports that the stock is making very satisfactory gain on the corn he is able to buy locally.  The top dressing will probably be put on with corn shipped in from Missouri or Kansas.  Mr. Puck is also in the market to buy all kinds of hogs and cattle for shipment.  Oscar Miller will be associated with him in the latter”.

In the 1914 volume, "Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa", published by B.F. Bowen in Indianapolis, there is a section on Harris.  It was written that "The pool room is owned by Oscar Miller, who also buys and ships stock."

In the 1915 census there is an O. H. Miller, age 57, shown as a day laborer in Whittemore, Kossuth County, Iowa.  He was shown as unemployed for six months in 1914.  He was German Lutheran born in Germany with both his parents born in Germany.  He is shown as married, and immigrated 35 years ago.  It is the same age, same name, and right state – but birth place is not right, as is the box that states married.

In the Lake Park News of December 13, 1917 there is a section called “Harris Notes”, that includes “William Puck, one of our progressive farmers, if feeding about 125 head of steers and heifers for market.  He reports that the stock is making very satisfactory gain on the corn he is able to buy locally.  The top dressing will probably be put on with corn shipped in from Missouri or Kansas.  Mr. Puck is also in the market to buy all kinds of hogs and cattle for shipment.  Oscar Miller will be associated with him in the latter.”

Oscar H. Miller is shown in the 1920 census in Harris Town, Fairview Township, Osceola Township, Iowa, in an entry taken on February 3, 1920.  Shown is Oscar H. Miller, 62, widowed, head, immigrated in 1881 and naturalized in 1885, a live stock dealer born in Denmark with both his parents born in Denmark.

Oscar Miller is shown in the 1925 Iowa state census in Harris, Osceola County, Iowa age 67, a renter, with his rent ten dollars a month, shown as having lived thirty-nine years in Iowa and the United States, and is shown to read and write.  With him is George Miller, his son, 35, and is shown to be able to read and write.  Oscar is shown as born in “Sweden”, George in the U. S.

Oscar H. Miller is shown in Harris Town, Fairview Twp, Osceola County, Iowa in the 1930 U. S. Census, taken on April 2, 1930.  He is shown as 72, owner of his residence, valued at $800.  He was shown as being 25 at the time of his marriage.  He was born in Denmark, with both his parents born in Denmark.  He is shown to have originally spoken Danish, and was a manager of a confectionary.  His year of immigration is shown as 1881.

Oscar Miller's death certificate, obtained from the Nobles County Clerk in Worthington, lists his occupation as "tobacco store", lists his mother and father as "not known", states his date of death as October 2, 1931, lists his birthplace as Denmark, states his cause of death as "hypostatic pneumonia, strangulated hernia" which was a condition of duration eight days, states that he was white, male, and widowed, states he died in Worthington, lists his age as 74 years, and names his attending physician as K.A. Sparre.  [Oscar is shown in the Minnesota death records database, as Name: Oscar Miller; Death Date; 2 Oct 1931; Died in County: Nobles; State File Number: 009334; Certificate Number: 009334; Certificate Year: 1931; Record Number: 600962.]  A search of Osceola County probate records does not indicate a probate for Oscar.

A letter from Marie Kruger to Ida Nash in March 1932 closes with the request that Ida give Marie’s regards to Oscar Miller.  She probably had not been informed of his death the previous October.

Ella Miller – shown in Oscar Miller’s obituary as the oldest child of Oscar and Anna, having been born in 1880 and dying on November 14, 1882 when two years of age.  It can be concluded from his obituary that she is buried with her parents and brother in a cemetery in Aurelia, Iowa.  Oscar and Anna are shown in 1881 immigration records leaving Copenhagen – confirmed in his 1931 obituary – which indicates that Ella was born in Denmark.

Henry “Harry” Miller – shown in various listings and Oscar’s obituary as a son of Oscar and Anna, most likely their second child, born ca 1883.  Where he went in the last part of his life and where he died is still a mystery.

“Harry” is shown at age one, living with his parents in the 1885 Iowa state census.

Harry Miller, 12, is shown with his uncle Chris Christensen in the 1895 Kansas state census in a Leonardville, Riley County, Kansas listing.  In that listing, Harry was shown as born in Iowa.

There’s an item in the Leonardville Monitor of June 15, 1899: “Harry Miller and Earl Christensen visited the latter’s relatives on Fancy Creek Sunday.”

He is shown living with Christiane Christensen in the 1900 census in Riley County is Harry Christensen, listed as her grandson, age 17 and born in Iowa -- quite probably the son of her daughter Anna.  This record probably was in error in listing Harry’s last name.

A photograph that appears to be of the Miller Children, shows "Cherokee, Iowa".  Nothing written/printed on front.  On back is "J.C. Wilson, Photographer, Cherokee, Iowa.  Extra Copies can be had at any time.  Pictures copied in the neatest style.  A visit to rooms is solicited."

In the Leonardville Monitor of April 10, 1902: “We are in receipt of a letter form Harry Miller who is not at Des Moines, Iowa, where he is employed in a printing office.  His sister, Miss Ida, is attending a commercial college there.  Harry expects to remain there for a time at least”.

In Ida Miller’s 1903 letter to her aunt Lizzie, written upon the death of John Christensen, she mentions that Harry is well settled in Des Moines as well.

There is an entry for Harry Miller in Harris, Osceola County, Iowa in the 1905 Iowa state census.  He is shown as 29, born in Iowa, with both his parents born in Denmark.  His occupation is listed as printer, and he is shown as having lived 22 years in town.  Given that our Harry would have been born in 1884, the age does not seem to fit.

In the Leonardville Monitor of Thursday, March 28, 1907: “J. E. Srack received a letter Monday from Mrs. Willard Amos at Topeka, saying that Chris Christensen had received notice that Harry Miller, who formerly run the MONITOR, had committed suicide at Denver on the 29th inst. By taking carbolic acid.  The reason assigned is that he was in poor health and despondent, Mr. Miller will be remembered around here as a bright fellow and one that was well liked.  His many friends will be sorry to learn of his untimely death.”

Oscar Miller’s obituary indicates that “Henry, born in 1883, passed away March 19, 1917, when 24 [sic] years of age”.  Henry would have been 34 at the time of his death.  There is no record of a marriage for him, or where he died.  Since two children were buried with his parents, and he was one of the two who had died by the time of this statement in his father’s obituary, he is likely buried with his parents at the cemetery in Aurelia, Iowa.  Now I know that this was 1907 – when the Leonardville Monitor article published his death.  The Leonardville Monitor also states he died on March 29, but in an edition of March 28 in which it was stated Chris Christensen was notified of her death by letter.  So it appears that Henry died on March 19, 1907 in Denver, Colorado.

[It was originally thought by me that Harry was the one who married Lulu B. Hobbs on February 9, 1910 in Cherokee County.  They are shown in the 1920 census in Amherst Township, Cherokee County, as 32, born in Iowa, with Lulu B. Miller, 34, Merlin L., 8, Alta L., 7, Eleanor L., 6, Dorothy H., 4 and 5 months, Harold L., 2 years and one month, and Maxine E., five months.  All are shown as born in Iowa, with Harry's parents born in the United States and Lulu's parents born in England.  He is shown as a general farmer.]

Ida Miller (Hadley) – quite likely the third oldest child of Oscar and Anna, born ca 1885, married Bert (B. B.) Hadley on September 6, 1911 in Polk County, Iowa, and died 1964.  Bert Hadley is shown as born in 1882 and died in 1970.  They had four known children: Berton B., son, born ca 1913; John E., son, born ca 1915; Lois J., daughter, born ca 1916; and Marjory M., daughter, born ca 1918.  

There are some photos of Ida, along with her brother Harry, as children – that survive.

Her marriage to Bert Hadley is gleaned from her listing in Oscar’s 1931 obituary as Mrs. B.B. Hadley of Des Moines.  Both the 1900 and 1920 census would place her birth year as either 1885 or 1886.  That has led to the discovery of the following census listing from 1920 that identifies where Ida was, but it still does not clarify where she was between 1900 and 1920. 

The Leonardville Monitor of November 23, 1893: “Chris. Christensen’s little niece, Ida Miller, has the measles”.

Ida Miller is shown as born in Iowa in the Kansas census, and shown as writing a letter to her Aunt Ida from Kansas on the letterhead of her uncle Henry B. Christensen in 1895 [transcribed below].  There is an Ida Miller, 14, shown with them in the 1900 census.

The letter from Ida Miller, to her aunt Ida Christensen Nash, was dated July 12, 1895.  It was on the stationary of her uncle, H.B. Christensen, in Morganville, Kansas.  The letter reads(with misspellings and grammatical errors:

"Dear Aunt Ida:  It was a long since I wrote to you.  I stayed at home fourthofjuly but I had a goad time.  Uncle Henry gave me twenty-five cents two spend.  I was promoted to the fourth read.  I was down to Leonardville and stayed a week and Uncle Christ and Hary bout me home.  That was the first time they had been down.  I had to take care of Earl bout all the time.  I was down there and I dont like Aunt Ella so very well.  My mamma's grandpa in the old country is ded and us children will get money insted of my mother.  Grandma is sixty-nine years old.  Grandma says if you can't talk dane it is no use for her to come out and see you.  Grandma dont know what to do for she says it seems as if all will get married with Americans.  If Uncle Henry gets a noshin to marry Grandma would like to come out and live with you.  Fred Colt in Leonardville is ded.  Pat (?) urtstine (?) died on the Manhatan jail he wanted.  A pig pen out our the road and the railroad men took the pigpen down two times and he put it up again and when they wanted to take it down agin he took his gun and wanted to shoot them.  My brothers have not been down and see me yet and I dont know how they are getting along.  I wrote to papa at Christmas and he has not answered me yet.  We are all well.  are you well.  I think I will close my letter now.  [There's a sentence written up the side that's not decipherable].  Ida Miller"

There’s an item in the Leonardville Monitor of October 25, 1900: “Mrs. H. B. Christensen and Ida Miller spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Morganville with Mr. C.”

In the Leonardville Monitor of July 25, 1901: “Miss Ida Miller came down from Morganville Tuesday night for a visit friends and relatives in Leonardville (sic).”

In the Leonardville Monitor of April 10, 1902: “We are in receipt of a letter form Harry Miller who is not at Des Moines, Iowa, where he is employed in a printing office.  His sister, Miss Ida, is attending a commercial college there.  Harry expects to remain there for a time at least”.

The descendants of John Christensen had a priceless letter from Ida Miller to her aunt Lizzie Christensen, dated December 27, 1903 and sent upon the death of her uncle, Lizzie’s husband, John Christensen.  It was handwritten and on the letterhead of Edingere Studio at 240 KP Block, Des Moines, Iowa, showing that there were photographs, ivory miniatures, portraits in sepia, water colors and pastel.   The letter:

“Mrs. Lizzie Christensen, Snyder, Okla.  Dear Aunt Lizzie: I received a letter from Uncle Chris, telling me of the sadness that has come to your home.  I was greatly surprised and grieved to get such sad unexpected news.  How strange it all is we go on from day to day, seldom ever stoping (sic) in this busy world, to think that each day brings us nearer to our home, and we know not how soon the end may come, until one of our loved ones is taken home and then it seems that it is such a terrible blow, and so hard to bear.  Yet we all must go when our time comes, but it does not seem like so many are taken away when there was so much more for them to do here, and enjoy but the only answer that comes to me is “His Will be Done”.  Aunt Lizzie it is very hard for me to write to you, for I know not what to say, but I want you to know that I sympathize & pity you from the bottom of my heart, and my little cousins also.  Thirteen years ago this month we were four motherless children, but your little ones have a kind mother to be with them.  How I wish Uncle John could have stayed with you and have enjoyed his home and children longer, for I know he loved them all.  Uncle John & you were kind to me when I needed it, and if there is anything that I can do for you, or help you at any time, I will be willing to do all I can.  Poor old Grandma how bad she will feel when she hears that one of her twin boys has gone, and you will have Grandma’s sympathy for she always thought much of you folks.  For the last three years I have had a pretty hard time, and O how homesick I get sometimes for the old days at Grandma’s and when I had some place to call home but now I have no place to call home, but I have many kind friends here and have a nice place to work, in a Photograph Gallery, I enjoy working with the pictures, also do some typewriting.  Harry also is getting along nicely here.  I board with a very nice Quaker family.  I have joined the Quaker church and have many friends there.  Aunt Belle is coming to visit me about the middle of January.  I call her Aunt Belle although she is not my Aunt anymore.  I always thought so much of her, and she was so good to me.  I think it is too bad they could not live together, but I think it is all her folks fault.  Well I have to go back to my work now, but I wanted you to know you were all thought of by Harry and I.  I have often thought of you folks, but my time was always well occupied, so I did not write.  I would like to hear from you and may God be with you always, and be your “Comforter & Guide”, and a father to your fatherless children.  With Love to All, from Your Niece, Ida Miller.” [I added punctuation in a few places where it wasn’t.]

There is an Ida Miller, 25, a bookkeeper for a chemical company, in the Sixth Ward of Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa in the 1910 census.  However, this Ida, a boarder with the family of Thomas Deakin, was listed as born in Iowa with both her parents born in Iowa.

There is a World War I draft registration for B. B. Hadley, taken on September 12, 1918 in Fort Dodge, Webster County, Iowa (where the Hadleys were in the 1920 census) that shows Bert of medium height, slender building, blue eyes, and brown hair.  He lives at 1402 2nd Avenue [north?] in Fort Dodge, and was 36 years old, born on June 20, 1882 (which matches the 1970 social security death record below).  He was the general secretary of the YMCA at north sixth and 1 avenue.  His nearest relative was listed as Ida M. Hadley of the same address.

Bert B. Hadley is shown in the 1920 census in Iowa, Webster County, Fort Dodge City at 1419 Third Ave. North.  Listed as white, 37, born in Iowa with his parents both born in Indiana, and his occupation is listed as YMCA secretary.  Listed with him are Ida Hadley, wife, 34, born Iowa, children Berton B., son 7, John E., 5, son, Lois J., 4, daughter, Marjory M., daughter, 2, all born in Iowa.  Ida is shown as born in Iowa with both her parents born in Denmark.  She is shown as having no occupation, as are all the kids.  Berton B. the son is shown to have been in school the last year, and his parents both are shown to be able to read and write.  The children are shown as born in Iowa, with both their parents born in Iowa.

They are shown in the 1930 census in the First Ward of Des Moines, Des Moines Township, Polk County, Iowa, and taken on April 10 of that year (in the ancestry.com index are listed as “Hadlley”), living at 1404 48th Street.  Burton B. Hadley, 47 is shown as an insurance supervisor, born in Iowa with both his parents born in Indiana and shown to have been 29 when married.  With them are Ida M., 44, his wife, married at age twenty-six years, born in Iowa with her father born in Germany and her mother in Denmark.  Four children are with them: Burton B., Jr, 17; John E., 16; Lois J., 14; and Marjorie M., 12 – all born in Iowa with their parents born in Iowa – except for Marjorie, who is shown to have been born in Minnesota.

There are at least five newspaper references – in the Lake Park News – from the late 1930’s and early 1940’s, indicating that Ida Hadley of Des Moines visited her brother George Miller and family in Harris.  One of them even includes in the visit brother Fred Miller and son Allen Miller.  This indicates that the three surviving Miller children spent time together in this period.

The articles were: In the July 22, 1937 edition in the Harris section, “Miss Marjie Hadley of Des Moines visited last week in the George Miller home. . . Mrs. Ida Hadley and sons Berton and John and Miss Leona Pouch of Des Moines were week-end guests in the George Miller home.  Miss Marjie Hadley, who spent the week with the Millers, returned home with them.  Fred Miller and son Allen of Chicago came Saturday for a few days visit with his brother George Miller and family”.  From the June 16, 1938 edition, “Mrs. Ida Hadley of Des Moines returned to her home Sunday after a ten days visit with her brother Geo. Miller and family”.  From the March 28, 1940 edition: “Mrs. Ida Hadley of Des Moines came Monday for a visit with her brother George Miller and family”.  From the December 26, 1940 edition, “Mrs. George Miller and sons left Saturday morning to spend Christmas vacation in the Mrs. Ida Hadley home in Des Moines.”  From the November 20, 1941 edition, “Mrs. Ida Hadley, Mr. and Mrs. John Hadley, Cecil DuBois of Des Moines were week end guests in the George Miller home”.

There’s an item in the Des Moines Register of August 24, 1944: “Mrs. Melvin B. Kirkpatrick of Los Angeles, Cal., has concluded a six weeks’ visit in Des Moines with her mother, Mrs. Ida M. Hadley, and sister, Mrs. R. G. Ullrich, 3934 Lincoln Place drive, and with Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Kirkpatrick, 5719 Harwood drive.  She will join Lieutenant Kirkpatrick at Fort Benning, Ga.”

There is a memorial for Ida Hadley in the Des Moines Register of December 25 and 26, 1964: “HADLEY – Services for Mrs. Ida May Hadley of Grinnell, Iowa, formerly of Des Moines, will be held Saturday 1:30 P. M. at Hamilton’s Funeral Home.  Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery.”  This indicates that Bert and Ida lived in Grinnell, Iowa at the time of Ida’s death.

There is a social security death record for Berton Hadley, born June 20, 1882, and died in April 1970 in Galesburg (Knox County), Illinois.  His social security number was 359-09-1938.  His card was issued in Illinois.  There was an Ida Hadley in the same records, whose card was issued in Iowa, and whose last benefit was in Iowa, and who was born April 18, 1885 and died in December, 1964.  Her social security number was 478-32-4148.

Bert and Ida are shown in the Find-A-Grave database.  Ida Mae Miller Hadley is shown in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, born on April 18, 1885 and died on December 25, 1964.  Berton Barnett Hadley is shown as born on June 20, 1882 and died on April 17, 1970.  Linked to them in the database is Marjorie Hadley Kirkpatrick, born on November 5, 1917 and died on January 28, 2004.

Fred Miller – most likely the fourth oldest child of Oscar and Anna Miller, shown in the 1900 census as having been born in January, 1887 in Iowa.  In Oscar’s 1931 obituary, he is listed as Fred A. Miller, living in Chicago.

In the 1895 Iowa state census in Clay County, Hurdland Township, p. 12 is Lars S. (B.?)Lyster, 46, born in Sweden, Isabell, 37, and Frank G., 14, both also born in Sweden, with Fred Miller, 8, and George Miller, 6, both listed as having been born in Clay County, Iowa.[There is a tombstone record for Lars Lyster, born in 1848, and having died on September 15, 1928, in Marathon, Poland Twp., Buena Vista County, Iowa.  It matches this Lars.]

Fred and George Miller are shown in the 1900 census with Lars Lyster in Herdland Township, Clay County, Iowa, in an entry taken on June 5, 1900.  Shown is Lars G. Lyster (there is an ink spot over surname, but it is known through other records that this is his last name), head, 52, a farmer born in May 1848 in Sweden with both his parents born in Sweden.  He is shown to have immigrated in 1886, been in the country for fourteen years, and naturalized.  With him in the census is Bell, wife, 44, no occupation listed, born in March 1856 in Sweden with both her parents born in Sweden.  They are shown to have been married for twenty-three years, and she is shown with one child, with one living in 1900.  With them is their son, Gust, son, 19, a farm laborer, born in October 1880 in Sweden with both his parents born in Sweden.  Also in the entry are the two Millers, Fred Miller, boarder, 13, at school, born in January 1887 born in Iowa with both his parents born in Denmark; and George Miller, boarder, 11, at school, born in March 1889 in Iowa with both his parents born in Denmark.

[NOTE: In an attempt to find more about why the two Miller children were placed with this family, I have done a little research on the Lyster Family.  L.G. Lyster is shown in a plat map of Herdland Township in Clay County, Iowa.  I believe the date is in the 1910’s.  He is shown as owning 560 acres, primarily in section 22, but also in Section 15 and 21.  His wife is listed as Ingeborg, his post office is Webb.  Listed in the same book is F. G. (Frank or Franz) Lyster, wife Lena, children Beatrice, Carl, Bertel, and Alice.  His P.O. Box is also Webb, and he is listed as farming some of the land of L. G. Lyster.  In a book of “Cemeteries of Clay County, Iowa from 1983 by Charlotte M. Brett is shown Liberty Cemetery in Section 6 of Herdland Township.  Included is Lana Lyster, (mother) 1880-1959, Frans G., 1880-1954, Wendell J., son of Lana and F. G., November 11, 1912 to February 18, 1914.]

There is a World War I draft listing for Fred A. Miller, 29, born on January 18, 1888 in Aurelia, Iowa.  He is shown 520 N. 5th St in DeKalb, Illinois.  He is shown as natural born, a citizen, a barber employed by Bert Holden in DeKalb.  He listed his wife, Marie (Marrie?), middle initial not clear, Caucasian.  He is listed as short, of slender build, with blue eyes, and light hair.  He is listed in the second precinct of DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois, on June 5, 1917.

Fred Miller is shown in the 1920 census at 3620 64th Place in the 29th Ward of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, in an entry taken on January 7, 1920.  Shown is Fred A. Miller, 31, head, a factory foreman born in Iowa with both his parents born in Denmark; with Fayetta, wife, 22, none as her occupation born in Nebraska with both her parents born in Illinois. Fred and Fayetta are able to read and write.  Also in the entry is Peacy O’Neil, boarder, 19, single, a factor laborer born in Illinois with both his parents born in Illinois. 

In the 1928-29 Polk’s Directory for Chicago, Fred A. Miller is shown at 3620 W. 64th Place.  This matches the addresses of the 1920 and 1930 census entries.  There are multiple Fred A. Millers, and all show their occupation except two, which have an “r” in front of the street address number, indicating that this is their residence.

In the 1930 census, in Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, [with a notation at the top that is an unclear location: 15 Com (part) Com a. 49, Block No. 115] at 3620 64th Place, is shown Fred A. Miller, 40, his “marital condition” listed as D [divorced], owner, value $6,000; born in Iowa with both his parents born in Denmark.  With him is his son, Allen, 8, born in Illinois with his father born in Iowa, and his mother in the “U.S.”.  Fred is shown as a laborer with no occupation shown for his son.  The census was taken on April 8, 1930, and he is shown in Enumeration District 16-580, Supervisor’s District l7, Sheet  6B.

The application for a social security account number from Fred Miller, obtained from the Social Security Administration, adds information about him.  It lists his name as Fred Allan Miller, is dated December 28, 1936, shows his social security number as 346-05-1208.  He was living at 3620 W. 64th Place in Chicago, Illinois [matching the address in the 1920 census above – indicating he lived at that address for at least sixteen years].  He was shown as working at Miehle Printing Press - Mfg. Company at 14 St. and Damm (?) Avenue in Chicago.  His age was shown as 46 on his last birthday and his date of birth was listed as December 18, 1890 (an error, as his mother passed away in 1889).  His place of birth was listed as Des Moines, Iowa and his parents were listed as Oscar Miller and Ida Christensen.  His mother's name was actually Anna, but since he probably never knew her, it is not surprising that he did not have her name correctly listed.  He is also shown as male and white.

The Social Security database shows that Fred died in December 1974 in Knoxville, Marion County, Iowa.  I have received the obituary for Fred Miller through the Marion County Genealogical Society, which indicates he died on December 26, 1974 at age 86 years, 11 months, and 8 days.  The obituary, from an unnamed newspaper, states: “Graveside Services for Fred Miller, 86.  Graveside services were held Dec. 28 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Aurelia for Fred Miller, 86, of Pershing who died Dec. 26 at Collins Memorial Hospital.  Williams Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

A retired machinist from Des Moines, he is survived by a son, Allen Miller, of Knoxville; five grandchildren; and one brother, George Miller, of Artkin, Minn.”

Allan Miller – the son and apparently the only child of Fred Miller.  His obituary from what appears to be a 1978 Iowa local newspaper reads: “Allan W. Miller.  Funeral services for Allan Willett Miller, who died Feb. 6, at Collins Memorial Hospital, were held Feb. 8 from Williams Funeral Home.  Rev. William Travis officiated at the services.  Music was provided by John Crawford vocalist, and Anna Oscarson, organist.  Casketbearers were Vic York, Roger York, Jerry Williams, Gerald Bryan, Wayne Bankus, and Rollie Johnson.  Internment was in Quincy Cemetery, Quincy, Ia., under the auspices of OURCQ No. 117.  Allan Willett Miller was born Feb. 1, 1922 at Malta, Ill., the son of Fred Allan and Fayetta Willett Miller.  On Sept. 25, 1948, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Evelyn McKee at Knoxville.  Allan was employed by the Veterans Hospital in Knoxville for many years.  He served in the Sea Bees during World War II.  Allan was a member of the First Christian Church.  He was preceded in death by his parents.  Survivors include his wife, four sons, Terry of Las Vegas, Nev., Tony of Knoxville, Mike of Des Moines, and Richard of Chicago, Il., and daughter, Mrs. Richard (Lindsay?) Conrad of Chicago, Illinois, and seven grandchildren.”

His funeral announcement from Williams Funeral Home: “Funeral Announcement. Funeral services for ALLAN MILLER of 612 East Jefferson, Knoxville, who passed away Monday, February 8, 1978 at Collins Memorial Hospital at the age of 56 years and five days will be held from Williams Funeral Home, Knoxville, Wednesday February 8 at 10 a.m. with Rev. William Travis officiating.  Interment in Quincy Cemetery, Quincy, Iowa.  Williams Funeral Home.”

George Miller – most likely the fifth and youngest child of Oscar and Anna Miller.  He was born in Aurelia, Iowa on March 7, 1889, married in Harris Iowa to Viola Kiefer on February 24, 1925, and died in Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota on July 6, 1975. 

In the 1895 Iowa state census in Clay County, Hurdland Township, p. 12 is Lars S. (B.?)Lyster, 46, born in Sweden, Isabell, 37, and Frank G., 14, both also born in Sweden, with Fred Miller, 8, and George Miller, 6, both listed as having been born in Clay County, Iowa.

Fred and George Miller are shown in the 1900 census with Lars Lyster in Herdland Township, Clay County, Iowa in an entry taken on June 5, 1900.  Shown is Lars G. Lyster (there is an ink spot over the surname on the census page), 52, farmer, head, immigrated in 1886, fourteen years in country, naturalized, born in May 1848 in Sweden with both his parents born in Sweden; with Bell, wife, 44, no occupation listed, born in March 1856 in Sweden with both her parents born in Sweden.  They are shown to have been married for twenty-years, and she is shown to have had one child, with one living in 1900.  With them is a son, Gust (Gurt?), 19, single, a farm laborer born in October 1880 in Sweden with both his parents born in Sweden.  Also with them are Fred and George Miller, both boarders, both at school, both single, and both born in Iowa with both their parents born in Denmark – Fred Miller, 13, born in January 1887 and George Miller, 11, born in March 1889.

[NOTE: In an attempt to find more about why the two Miller children were placed with this family, I have done a little research on the Lyster Family.  L.G. Lyster is shown in a plat map of Herdland Township in Clay County, Iowa.  I believe the date is in the 1910’s.  He is shown as owning 560 acres, primarily in section 22, but also in Section 15 and 21.  His wife is listed as Ingeborg, his post office is Webb.  Listed in the same book is F. G. (Frank or Franz) Lyster, wife Lena, children Beatrice, Carl, Bertel, and Alice.  His P.O. Box is also Webb, and he is listed as farming some of the land of L. G. Lyster.  In a book of “Cemeteries of Clay County, Iowa from 1983 by Charlotte M. Brett is shown Liberty Cemetery in Section 6 of Herdland Township.  Included is Lana Lyster, (mother) 1880-1959, Frans G., 1880-1954, Wendell J., son of Lana and F. G., November 11, 1912 to February 18, 1914.]

There was a reference to George in the 1907 Harris business directory.  His father was listed as well, and George was listed as a laborer, with one person in the household. 

There is a World War I draft registration that definitely links the Harris Township George Miller to his family.  He is shown as George Miller (the middle initial is unclear.  The ancestry.com listing has it as “G.”  Looking at the actual card, it could be G or other things – as the original is written over).  George is listed in Harris, Fairview Township, Osceola County, Iowa and is shown to have been born in Aurelia Iowa on March 7, 1889.  He is shown as a self-employed stock buyer in Harris.  He is shown as single, Caucasian, with no prior military service.  He is shown as medium height, medium build, with light eyes and light brown hair.  He is not shown as having a disability and appeared before L. J. Hagerty, registrar, in Fairview Township, Osceola County, Iowa on June 5, 1917.

In the 1920 Iowa census is shown George Miller, 26, born in Iowa, living in Harris, Osceola County as a boarder with Catherine Putney.  Catherine Putney has one other boarder, Gladys Nichol, born in Nebraska, age 30, with "high school" marked in her occupational category.  George, shown as 26, born in Iowa, is shown with both his parents born in Denmark.  He is shown as a dealer in live stock.  His father is shown three pages later.  This is likely the George that was Oscar and Anna's son, particularly given the obituary reference -- but his age in this census listing does not appear to be correct.

I have obtained an Osceola County marriage record for George L. Miller and Viola Kieffer (also spelled Keifer in the same document), which took place on February 24, 1925 at Harris, Iowa.  George was shown as age 35, and Viola as age 27.  It was the first marriage for both.  He was listed as a businessman, His parents were listed as Oscar Miller and Ida [sic] Christensen.  Her parents were listed as Mike J. Kiefer and Sadie Klett.  They were both residents of Harris, Iowa.  He was born at Aurelia, Iowa, and she was born at Hartley, Iowa.  They were married by George Hutchings, a minister of the Methodist E. Church.  Witnesses were Mike Kiefer and Mrs. M. Kiefer. 

[NOTE: There is a burial record in the Pleasant View Cemetery, in Hartley – in neighboring O’Brien County – for Michael J. Kieffer, 1872-1933.  Furthermore, there is an obituary in the Lake Park News of June 29, 1933 – indicated that Harris Farmer Michael J. Keifer, 61, living two miles south and one half mile west of Harris, was killed when hit by a train at a crossing one mile north and one half mile east of Ocheyedan.  In the obituary, he was shown to have had six children with Sadie Klett, who he married on February 11, 1896 – five of the children surviving him.  One was listed as Mrs. Viola Miller of Harris.]

George J. Miller is shown in the 1930 U. S. Census in Harris, Fairview Township, Osceola Township, Iowa.  He is shown as 41, which matches the age of his birth as Oscar and Anna’s child, and as shown in the 1895 and 1900 censuses.  He is shown as the owner of his residence, which was valued at $2500.  He is shown as having been age 35 at the time of his marriage, and was born in Iowa with both his parents born in Denmark.  With him was his wife Viola, 32, age 27 at the time of her marriage, born in Iowa with both her parents born in Iowa.  With them are two sons Lyle at three years, four months, and Dwight at two years and ? months, both born in Iowa with both their parents born in Iowa.  George is shown as manager of a rendering plant. 

In Oscar’s 1931 obituary George is listed as a son of Harris.  Given that there was no other George but this in the 1930 census in Harris, and this one is the right age and with his parents both shown as being from Denmark, this seems to be Oscar’s son.  The marriage certificate listing for George’s parents also confirms this. There are newspaper articles showing that George and his wife and children were in Harris during 1931.

In the 1972 Centennial History of Harris, Fairview Township is the following paragraph, which includes a George Miller reference: “Most of the settlers in Fairview have come at a recent date, and but few reach back any number of years.  Among its leading farmers at the present time are S. Wright, Samuel Peterson, John Ward, Frank Palmer, Levi Coyour, Charles McLagen, S.C. Palmer, Fred Barneking, Fred Hindt, Ed Ward, Thos. Jackson, W. E. Proper, D.A. Hall, John Hanna, Ed Severence, Matthew Walling, William and Samuel Hanna, E. S. Webster, George Miller, Jerry Bean, Milton Woodrow, George Shepherd, Steinkuehler, W. D. Hendrix and William Mowthorpe.”

The Social Security Death Index shows the following Viola Miller, the one that seems to fit the Viola above: Viola Miller, social security number 483-22-4728, issued in Iowa before 1951.  She was born on January 29, 1893, and died in January 1983 in Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota – right across the state line from Harris (in fact, where Viola’s father-in-law, Oscar Miller, passed away in 1931).  There is a George Miller who matches the same facts.  George was born on March 7, 1889 (matching his World War I draft registration), had a card issued in Minnesota in 1953-54, and died in July 1975.  His last residence was the same as Viola’s, Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota.  There is a death record for Viola Margaret Miller, having died on January 28, 1983 in Nobles County, Minnesota, and was born on January 29, 1898.  Her mother’s maiden name was shown as Llett (her marriage certificate said Klett).  There is a death record for George G. Miller, born on March 7, 1889, and died on July 6, 1975 in Nobles County, Wisconsin.  His mother’s maiden name was listed as “Christiansen”.  This matches the fact that he was still alive in December, 1974 at the time of his brother Fred’s death – and was listed as living in Artkin, Minnesota at that time.