Miller, John, Wallace, Billy

John Miller
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)


John William Miller
John William Miller, whose entire life has been passed in southern Wisconsin, numbers his stanchest friends among those who have known him from his boyhood - a fact which indicates that his entire career has been straightforward and honorable else he would have forfeited the warm regard which is now tendered him.
He was born in Racine, Wisconsin, November 16, 1870, a son of John and Helen (Watson) Miller.  The father, John Miller, was born on the isle of Aland, in the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Sweden, in 1827, and acquired a common school education but started out to earn his own living when fourteen years of age.  He sailed the seas until 1843 and in that year made a trip around the Great Lakes in the United States, after which he was identified with fresh water navigation.  He became the owner of several vessels on the lakes and continued sailing until 1886, becoming widely and prominently known in connection with shipping interests.
In 1887 he arrived in Kenosha County and purchased one hundred acres of land, after which he devoted his energies to farming until his death, which occurred in 1891.  At different periods he owned several islands in the Great Lakes, and at one time he built a shingle mill at Whitehall, Michigan, which he operated for several years.  His was a busy and useful life, and his interests brought him wide acquaintance, while his salient traits of character gained for him the confidence and goodwill of those who knew him.
John Miller married on the 1st of January, 1870, Miss Helen Watson, a daughter of William and Helen (Loch) Watson, who were natives of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Montrose, England, respectively.  In early life they crossed the Atlantic, becoming residents of Montreal, and in 1892 Mr. Watson arrived in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, where he passed away the following year.  In the Miller family were five children:  John W., who names introduces this review; Charles F., who married Carrie Cook and has four children, Marjorie, Kenneth, Olive and Jane; Oliver, who married Sadie Crouch and has two children, Eleanor and Dwight; Helen May, who passed away and was laid to rest in the Somers Cemetery; and Daniel Webster, who married Nellie Laukoff and has two children, Virginia and Robert.
William Miller (father) was a Democrat and connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge at Racine and with the Royal Arcanum.  In early life he adhered to the Presbyterian Church, while later he attended the Congregational Church, of which the family are members.

More about the Miller family
John William Miller, the son
John William Miller attended the common schools and the business college and has since made his home in Kenosha County, devoting his attention to general agricultural interests.  He was married on the 10th of June, 1897. to Miss Nellie Reid, a daughter of William A. and Helen (Nixon) Reid, who were natives of the States of New York and Wisconsin.  They became the parents of five children, of whom four are living:  Helen, who is attending college in Rock Island; William Wallace, deceased; Hester olive, a high school pupil in Racine; Ruth, at home; and John William, three years of age.
Mr. Miller is identified with the Woodmen of Somers and with the Royal Arcanum at Racine.  He attends the Presbyterian Church.
(Source:  The City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Vol. II., Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co., 1916).

William "Wallace" Miller

William "Wallace"  Miller
son of John William (Jr.) and Nellie Reid Miller
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

John William "Billy" Miller

"John William "Billy" Miller, son of John Miller (Jr.) and Nellie Reid Miller
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)