The Müller Family
First Generation
1. It is unknown who the parents of the Müller siblings
are. It is believed they lived and died in Germany. Where they lived and when
they were born and died is unknown.
Their children were:
+ 2 M i. Charles E. Miller was born on 7
Oct 1852 in Germany, died on 21 Oct 1923 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa at age 71,
and was buried in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa.
+ 3 M ii. Gottlieb Müller was born on 29
May 1868 in Germany.
+ 4 F iii. Annie Müller.
5 M iv. Unknown first name Müller.
+ 6 F v. Sophia Müller was born about
1871 in Germany.
+ 7 F vi. Rika Müller.
Not sure of order but Charles E.
Miller appears to be in the front center. The rest are Gottlieb Miller, Annie
Miller Quenzer, Sophia Miller Schmalzl, Rika Miller Susenberger
Read all the known details by clicking the Read More link:
Second Generation (Children)
2. Charles E. Miller was born on 7 Oct 1852 in
Germany, died on 21 Oct 1923 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa at age 71, and was
buried in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa. Charles was also known as Karl E. Müller.
Born Karl Müller. According to
stories passed down in the family, Karl entered Germany's army. Karl deserted
the German army and fled to the United States in 1874 and settled in New York
where he lived for a time.
Cecelia Miller, his granddaughter
writes in 1997:
"Though we would often ask
Dad (Leo Miller I) about his ancestors, all he could tell us was that his
father, Charles, ran away from the German army, came by boat to the United
States and changed his name from Müller to Miller. He (Leo) often said that he
thought he still had relatives back in Germany somewhere, but had no idea
where. He said his father never wanted to talk about his German relatives,
afraid that if the German officials found him, he would be treated as a deserter."
Charles E. Miller was naturalized
five years later in 1879. He later moved to Wien, Missouri where he took up
farming. He met Philomena Bixenman who had moved there with her family from
Lake County, Indiana.
The family lived
on Charles' farm for a few years. Although German was their first language,
both Charles and Philomena spoke English as well.
Around 1892, Charles and
Philomena moved to Fort Madison, Iowa and lived there for the rest of their
lives. They belonged to St. Mary's parish.
Charles became a foreman on the
Sante Fe Railroad which is noted in the city directory in 1902. The entry
reads: "Miller, Charle E., wks S Fe, r 1915 Johnson"
The 1910 census for Fort Madison,
Lee County, Iowa lists the family as follows:
"Miller, Charles, head,
male, white, no age given, married 19 years, 5 living children, born Germany,
both parents born Germany, naturalized, speaks English, foreman coal chute
railroad, is working, was not out of work all year, can read, can write, house
rented, farm rented, farm schedule no. 10, 2, not blind, 5
Philomena, wife, female, white,
41 years, married 19 years, 5 living children, born Indiana, mother and father
born Germany, speaks English, can read, can write;
Anna, daughter, female, white 18
years, single, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Indiana, speaks
English, paper-folder at paper mill, works, can read, can write, does not go to
school, no. of farm schedule 2;
Crescence (sic), daughter,
female, white, 16 years, single, born Iowa, father born Germany, mother born
Indiana, speaks English, servant-private family, can read, can write, does not
go to school;
Leo, son, male, white, 14 single,
born Iowa, father born Germany, mother born Indiana, speaks English, can read,
can write, went to school 6 months this year;
Carl, son, male, white, 12,
single, born Iowa, father born Germany, mother born Indiana, speaks English,
can read, can write, goes to school;
Cecilia (sic), daughter, female,
white, 6 years, born Iowa, father born Germany, mother born Indiana, speaks,
English, can read, can write, goes to school;"
The 1920 census for Fort Madison,
Lee County, Iowa lists the family as follows:
"Miller, Charles E., head,
rents house, male, white, 68 years, married, immigrated 1874, naturalized 1879,
can read, can write, born Germany, mother tongue German, both parents born
Germany, both parents mother tongue German, speaks English, no occupation;
Philomena, wife, female, white,
49, married, can read, can write, born Indiana, both parents born Germany, both
parents mother tongue German, speaks English, no occupation;
Leo H., son, male, white, 24
years, single, can read, can write, born Iowa, both parents born Germany (sic -
obviously an error), both parents mother tongue German, engineer-locomotive,
worker;
Carl P., son, male, white, 22
years, single, can read, can write, born Iowa, father born Germany, mother
tongue German, mother born Indiana, can speak English, fireman, railroad,
worker;
Cecelia M.,
daughter, female, white, 16 years, single, attended school this year, can read,
can write, born Iowa, father born Germany, mother tongue German, mother born
Indiana, can speak English, no occupation;
Standing
L-R : Crescence, Annie Miller, Leo Miller;
Sitting
L-R: Philomena Bixenman Miller, Carl, Cecelia, Charles Miller
Charles was buried in the family
plot in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. He still had black hair when he died.
Rootsweb lists his burial as: Miller, Charles E. 10-7-1852, Germany to
10-20-1923; Oakland cem, Ft. Madison.
The Fort Madison "Evening Democrat"
ran this article on October 21, 1923 concerning Charles' death:
Death Calls Well Known Resident
of Ft. Madison Today |
Charles E. Miller, for 33 years a well-known citizen of this city,
answered the final summons at his home, 2132 Des Moines Street early this
morning. The deceased was in his 71st year, having been born in Germany October
7, 1852.
Thirty-three years ago he came to Ft. Madison and has been a resident of
this city ever since. A member of the Sacred Heart Church of this city and of
the A.O.M.W., he is known to a large circle of friends who will be grieved to
learn of his passing.
With his wife the following children survive: Miss Anna Miller of
Mazenod, Saskatchewan, Canada, Mrs. William Deverman of Denver, Colorado, Leo
H., Carl and Cecelia at home.
Funeral Services will be held from the Sacred Heart Church Tuesday
morning at 9 o'clock. Reverend Fr. Peter Hoffman will officiate."
Charles was buried in Sacred
Heart Cemetery in Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa
Charles married Philomena
Bixenman, daughter of Benedict Bixenman and Crescentia Wolfgang,
on 14 Apr 1891 in Wien, Chariton, Missouri. Philomena was born on 27 Apr 1869
in Lawrence, Lake, Indiana, died in 1939 at age 70, and was buried in Fort
Madison, Lee, Iowa.
Charles and Philomina
Bixenman Miller’s Marriage Certificate
The original St. Mary of the
Angels Church entry for this marriage reads: "April 14, 1891, I joined in
matrimony, and Carolum Mueller and Philomenam Bixenman, witnesses: Casper
Bixenman and Helen Kohne.
Children from this marriage were:
8 F i. Anna Mary Miller was born on 11
Nov 1891 in Wien, Chariton, Missouri, died on 3 Sep 1987 in Assiniboia,
Saskatchewan, Canada at age 95, and was buried in Mazenod, Saskatchewan,
Canada.
Anna was baptized in St. Mary of
the Angels Church in Wien Missouri. Shortly after this, her family moved to
Fort Madison, Iowa. They belonged to St. Mary's parish in Fort Madison. She
appeared on the 1910 census in Fort Madison under her father's entry:
Anna, daughter, female, white, 18
years, single, born Missouri, father born Germany, mother born Indiana, speaks
English, paper-folder at paper mill, works, can read, can write, does not go to
school, no. of farm schedule 2;
She attended Sacred Heart School
in Fort Madison. She worked in a paper mill folding paper and in a button
factory, then apprenticed to a dressmaker for one dollar per week. Because
buttons were in big, she made a fashionable dress with seven dozen buttons on
it. They were double rows down the front, on the sleeves and everywhere they
could be put.
Anna and Crescence Miller in about 1893
Mrs.
Seaman is on the left, Mrs. Quenzer is on the right. The names of the children
are unknown.
Anna also packaged shingles for a construction
company. The girls would put their names and addresses on the shingles before
the packages were sent out. She got an answer from one and wrote to him until
he proposed, then she stopped writing.
From Fort Madison, Anna moved to Santa Rosa,
California, probably with friends from Fort Madison. In the early 20's she went
to Saskatchewan. She knew the Kesslars and worked there while Theresa was in
the hospital at Mayos. For a time she worked in Stuart's store in Mazenod while
living with McGurk's. She met Benedict Seemann in Mazenod.
 |
| Benedict & Anna Miller Seeman Wedding Day |
It was probably while Anna was working for Kesslars
that she renewed her acquaintance with Ben Seeman. After they married, they
lived on the farm that Ben had homesteaded.
She took an active part in church life. She played
the organ for church services.
After the death of her husband, Anna remained in the
house for the summers and rented it ot the Kraus family for the winter when she
went to California. Sometimes she stayed with her sister-in-law, Ann Lunceford.
In 1970 she went to the Seniors Home in Assiniboia.
She was visited there by her sister Crescence who came to celebrate her 90th
birthday.
Buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Mazenod,
Saskatchewan
Anna married Benedict Seemann, son of Albert
Seemann II and Theresa
Hoelzle, on 12 Sep 1925 in Mazenod, Saskatchewan, Canada. Benedict was born
on 27 Jun 1890 in Wien, Chariton, Missouri, was baptised in 1890 in Wien,
Chariton, Missouri, died on 26 Dec 1965 at age 75, and was buried in Mazenod,
Saskatchewan.
Marriage Notes: George Bixenmann notes the marriage
date as September 1, 1925
Crescence appeared on the 1910 census in Fort
Madison, Lee County, Iowa under her father's entry:
Crescence,
daughter, female, white, 16 years, single, born Iowa, father born Germany,
mother born Indiana, speaks English, servant-private family, can read, can
write, does not go to school;
 |
| Crescence as a young lady. |
 |
| Crescence Miller First Communion |
 |
|
Anna, Carl, Leo, Crescence
|
She attended the Sacred Heart School and then moved to New York to find work which she did in her uncle's clothes cleaning store. She met William Frederick Devermann who was going to Bentley Accounting School and who worked for the Texaco Gas and Oil Company. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, Crescense Cecelia, they moved to Malden, Massachusetts. Ten years after the death of William, she married Guy Hutchinson, a childhood sweetheart. There were no children of this second marriage. Crescence had a stroke and lived in a home where she could be cared for properly until her death in 1973.
She was listed in her father's obituary as living in
Denver, Colorado.
Crescence married William Frederick Deverman
on 27 Nov 1918 in Brooklyn, , New York. William was born on 24 Aug 1890, died
on 18 Jul 1942 at age 51, and was buried in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa.
Crescence next married Guy Hutchinson on 26
May 1952.
10 M iii. Leo
Henry Miller was born on 3 Oct 1895 in Wien, Chariton, Missouri, died on 26
Aug 1975 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa at age 79, and was buried in Sacred Heart
Cemetery, Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa.
Leo went to work on the Sante Fe Railroad when he
was a boy of 14 years of age doing the heavy work of unloading train coal cars
by hand. Leo worked and studied to become a brakeman, a fireman and a
locomotive engineer for the Sante Fe, where he worked for 45 years. Some of
these years were spent on the Missouri division taking him from Fort Madison to
Marceline, Missouri and back. Some time was spent working on the switch engine
in the Fort Madison shops. The last assignment given him before his retirement
was to deliver an engine to its base for historic preservation in the Riverview
Park area, donated to the city of Fort Madison. As of 2006, this engine can
still be seen in the park there. On June 17, 1925, at 6:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart
Church in Fort Madison, Leo married Julia Cecelia Doran. Their attendants were
Leo's sister and brother, Anna Miller and Carl P. Miller. Their daughter
Cecelia told this story:
"When asked
how they met, they told how Julia would walk to work and often would have to
walk past Leo who was always standing in front of a store or on a street corner
on his day off from his job. He was not much of a talker, but would always say
"Hello". Then one day there was a Telephone Company benefit party
coming up and each employee was to sell tickets to the affair. That time when
they met and said "Hello", Julia asked if he would be interested in
buying a ticket. Leo responded, "I'll buy one if you will go with
me." What a sale! That was the beginning of their courtship.
 |
| Leo Henry Miller - My grandfather, about 18 years old |
SS info:
Leo MILLER
Birth Date: 3
Oct 1895
Death Date: 25
Aug 1975
Social Security Number: 709-18-4109
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Railroad
Board
Leo married Julia Cecelia Doran, daughter of Thomas
F. Doran and Mary Ann Kelly, on 17 Jun 1925 at Sacred Heart Church
in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa. Julia was born on 1 Mar 1891 in New Boston, Lee,
Iowa, died on 10 May 1968 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa at age 77, and was buried
in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa.
 |
|
Leo and Julia Doran Miller, my grandparents, on their Wedding Day
|
11 M iv. Carl
Peter Miller was born on 23 Mar 1897, died in 1952 in Phoenix, Maricopa,
Arizona at age 55, and was buried in 1952 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa.
 |
| Carl Peter Miller in about 1920 |
Carl was a railroad engineer for the Sante Fe
Railroad. He had no children. The following information was from his voter
registration card dated September 1, 1928:
His name was Carl P. Miller, age was 31, date of
birth was March 23, 1897, in Iowa. He was married, male and white. He was in
the United States 31 years, in the State of Iowa 31 years, in the County of Lee
31 years, in this precinct 4 years. He had moved several times: 2407 Avenue J,
ward 4; 2401 Avenue M, ward 5; 2406 Avenue H, ward 5; 2814 Avenue J (his
mother's home), ward 5; 1107 1/2 23rd Street, ward 4; 23 James Block, ward 2
and finally 711 Fifth Street, ward 1. The card was signed by Carl P.
Miller.
Carl retired early with disability due to bad
eyesight and after his divorce, moved with a trailer to Phoenix, Arizona, where
he helped take care of horses on a ranch. He was afflicted with kidney problems
and died in a hospital there. Durning the autopsy he was found to have cancer
of the kidney which had spread. His brother Leo travelled out to Arizona by
train to claim the body and brought it back to Fort Madison where his funeral
was held at Sacred Heart Church and he was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Carl married Ruth Ferris. The marriage ended
in divorce.
12 F v. Cecelia
Miller was born on 1 Sep 1903 in Fort Madison, Lee, Iowa, died in Jan 1992
at age 88, and was buried in San Diego, California.
"Bowen - Miller - The marriage of Lloyd Bowen
of San Diego California and Miss Cecilia Miller of Fort Madison was solemnized
Thursday evening, February 19, 1925 at the parsonage of St. John's Church. The
couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. R. Schmidt, aunt and uncle of the groom.
After the
ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Bowen went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt, 4722 E.
Panorama Street, San Diego where they will make their home for the present.
Mr. Bowen
was formerly a resident of Fort Madison, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. J.G.
Bowen. He left about a year ago for San Diego, where he has a very good
position with the Gas and Electric Company of that city. Miss Miller is the
daughter of Mrs. C. Miller of Fort Madison and until her departure for the
west, was employed as bookkeeper at the J.C. Penny Company store."
 |
| Lloyd and Cecelia Miller Bowen ca 1925 |
3. Gottlieb Müller was born on 29 May 1868 in Germany.
Another name for Gottlieb was William.
This is a possible birth record
for Gottlieb Mueller, "Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898"
name: Gottlieb Mueller
gender: Male
baptism/christening date: 03 May 1868
baptism/christening place: Münchingen, Württemberg, Germany
birth date: 02 May 1868
father's name: Carl Johannes Mueller
mother's name: Anna Maria Hornung
indexing project (batch) number: C91671-1
system origin: Germany-EASy
source film number: 1056691
 |
| Naturalization Index record that is probably for our Gottlieb Müller, but we don’t know for certain. |
In the 1900 Census, he is
recorded as a brewer with a brewery wagon. This naturalization index card lists
Gottlieb as a brewer also. His wife and children are listed the same in the
1910 census are the same names and the correct ages to match those in the 1900
census. In the 1910 census, he is listed as a cleaner, which we know was his
occupation. This leads me to believe this is his correct naturalization index
entry even though it says his arrival was in 1893. He is listed in the 1900 and
the 1910 census as arriving in 1892.
Gottlieb married Rebeca, last name unknown, about 1896.
Rebeca was born in Aug 1867 in Germany.
Children from this marriage were:
13 F i. Katrina Müller was born in May
1897 in New York, New York.
14 F ii. Bertha Ann Müller was born in
Sep 1899 in New York, New York.
15 M iii. Harold T. Müller was born about
1905 in New York, New York.
White Orr's Reference Register, a
1918-1919 New York City Directory lists the following under "Dyers and
Cleaners" on page 164:
Quenzer & Müller, 1401
Madison Ave
Further down the page it lists:
Schmalzle Bros., 322 Lenox Ave
Schmalzl Jos., 421 Grand
A restaurant called "one
fish two fish" was at this location recently but is now closed and the
building is vacant.
Here are two entries from the R. L. Polk & Co.’s
1918-1918 Copartnership and corporation Directory of the Boroughts of Manhattan
and Bronx:
4. Annie Müller
Annie married a man with the last
name of Quenzer, first name unknown, in New York, New York. It is known
that her husband was the partner of Gottlieb Müller in the cleaning business.
6. Sophia Müller was born about 1871 in Germany.
Sophia married Joseph Schmalzl
in New York, New York. Joseph was born about 1866. It appears that Joseph
Schmalzl was also involved in a clothes cleaning business in New York City, New
York due to the cleaning business listed in White Orr’s Reference Register
detailed in Gottlieb Miller’s entry, above.
Children from this marriage were:
16 M i. Otto Schmalzl was born about
1895.
17 F ii. Catherine Schmalzl was born
about 1897.
18 M iii. Joseph Jr. Schmalzl was born
about 1899.
7. Rika Müller. Her full first name might be Fredrika.
Rika married a man with the last
name of Susenberger, first name
unknown, in New York, New York.
I have microfilm of the baptismal records of Münchingen, Baden, Germany on order at the local LDS Family History Center. I expect it to arrive in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to update everyone on what I find.
I plan on making a similar post regarding the Doran/Kelly family soon.
--Matt
I looked at the baptismal records from the church in Münchingen and did not find the Müller family there.
ReplyDeleteI've broken through my Miller brick wall. Here are some posts I wrote about my discoveries:
ReplyDeleteI Say Miller, You Say Muller
Miller Brick Wall Shattered
yDNA Male Miller Ancestors
Descendants of Johan Christian Muller
Ancestors of Johan Christian Muller
Ancestors of Maria Magdalena and Anna Maria Liebrich
Muller Orphan Train Connection
--Matt