| Notes |
- BIOGRAPHY: http://www.ritger.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I13363&tree=Rittger
BIOGRAPHY: http://www.slahs.org/genealogy/families/lannon/miller/grandpa_salty.htm
Grandpa "Salty"
By Michael R. Reilly, Grandson, December 10, 1995
Revised October 3, 1996
Last Revision 06/04/04
William Jacob Henry Miller Jr. was born on July 4, 1880 in West Bend to parents William Jacob Henry Miller Sr. and the former Appolonia Immel, daughter of John Immel and Elizabeth Weber. William had five brothers and one sister that survived beyond the early period of birth; Louis or "Louie", Edwin G. Sr., sometimes called "Murphy", Steffen (Stephen) or "Steve" or sometimes called "Dick", John, also known as "Feet", Herbert, and sister Melinda. Three other siblings were Louis John (Ludwig Johannes Mueller), Hildegard Emma, and a child daughter of unknown name that died within one day of birth (b. 9/6/1883 - d. 9/7/1883).
For a number of years William worked as a typo, setting print, in the office of the Washington County Pilot (Later the West Bend Pilot). Before he married in 1906 he worked at a malt house, possibly associated with West Bend Lithia Company where his father worked. Until he married, he lived on his mother's step-father's, Jacob Engmann farm outside West Bend.
Occupations of William J. Miller as reported in the West Bend Pilot:
Apr 13, 1898, "William Miller, who was employed in this office (Washington County or West Bend Pilot) as compositor for nearly two years, left us last week to seek a position elsewhere. Willie is a good and willing worker and we hope he will meet with success in his future undertakings."
January 25, 1899, "Wm. Miller quit his job at the Democrat (West Bend newspaper) office last Saturday to become a salesman for Baumann Bros. wholesale grocers of Milwaukee."
February 08, 1899, "Wm. Miller will leave for Port Washington to work as compositor at the Star (newspaper) office."
September 23, 1903, William and brother (?) Albert reported had been working in McCanna (Note: newspaper article printed McCann), North Dakota as farm help but now returned to area to leave on the Van Treek farm in Trenton, rented by his father William. (Note: Follow-up information - McCanna, North Dakota is located in Grand Forks County, Elm Grove Township, Sec 9-152-55. None of the Miller's from the Land Patent Site search live in Elm Grove Township. But, they all live in the area of Elm Grove Township. So, it's still not enough information to easily pin down a Miller family to Albert and William (if it was a Miller family, it could have been relation with a different last name by marriage or ?). Several newspapers existed in this area. One would have to check with the State Archives to see if McCanna had a newspaper during this timeframe. Another city close to McCanna is Larimore, North Dakota. Good luck with your research! Michele Vietz Bismarck, ND) (The info about newspapers in the area concerns the possibility that William may have worked at one while in ND, since he had past job experience in Wisconsin. Mike Reilly)
Bef. August 10, 1906, Worked at malt house in West Bend.
August 10, 1906, "William Miller quit his job in the malthouse last Wednesday and on the following morning began work at Warnkey and Schneiss galvanized iron works."
Aug 14, 1907, "William Miller, employee of Warnkey and Schneiss tin shop was confined to his home for several days (he stepped on a rusty nail)."
January 18, 1911, "Wm. Miller came near to going to "Kingdom Come" last Thursday, receiving a vicious kick from his employer's horse while unhitching the animal. He was down and out for some time, but receiving prompt medical attention he recovered rapidly, and Monday morning he was back to his job in Warnkey's galvanized iron works.
May 31, 1911, "William Miller (Jr?) was badly sunburned while installing lightning rods."
June 19, 1912, "Horse Fractures Man's Leg - Driver Kicked While Seated on Delivery Wagon. William Miller, employed in Warnkey's galvanized iron works, had his right leg broken just above the ankle in a peculiar manner last Monday. Miller and his fellow laborer, John Thorgerson, were about to drive to their shop with their employer's horse when the animal took fright at an automobile. The horse reared up and in doing so broke one of the snaps on the holdback straps. This break allowed the wagon to bump into the animal's legs and it began kicking furiously, one of the blows striking Mr. Miller on the leg, fracturing the bone. The horse then ran away and the men were thrown off their seat. In falling the line caught about Mr. Miller's left leg and he was dragged fully fifty feet before he was released from the line by Mr. Thorgerson. He was taken to his home and the fracture reduced. He received no injuries in being dragged. The animal's legs are badly cut as a result of its vicious kicking. July 12, 1912 - William Miller, who had his leg fractured several weeks ago is now able to move around with the aid of crutches. Nov 13, 1912 - William Miller's leg still bothers. Dec 18, 1912 - William Mueller, who broke his leg, moved to Milwaukee. Mar 12, 1913 - Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller, Sr., visited their sons Wm. and Steve in Milwaukee (See next entry - it appears that it was Wm and Steve in the saloon business.)
Jul 23, 1913 - Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller, Sr., of West Bend visited their son William in Milwaukee. He has about recovered from his fractured leg of over a year ago and is now in the saloon business at Walnut and 18th Street.
Feb 4, 1914, "The Miller Brothers (William and Steve), former West Bend boys, are now in the saloon business at 1803 Walnut St., Milwaukee.
In the Milwaukee City Directory, 1914 volume, there listed a "William, tinsmith, h 835 Muskego Ave". In 1915, a "William, saloon, 629 20th, h same" is listed and later in 1916, "William, bartender, h 387 7th" is indicated. While William J. Miller worked as both tinsmith or tinner and also as a bartender, none of the listing above or in the directories can actually be attributed to him.
On a postcard postmarked September 2, 1915, William wrote to his mother from Templeton (now Sussex), "Hello Ma. This the place I am going to take. Will be in WB (West Bend) in a week." The address was simply, "Mrs. Wm. Miller, West Bend, Wis". The picture on the postcard's front was that of the Mammoth Springs Hotel (presently Dilly's) under the proprietorship of one Thomas McCloskey. The Hotel was both a saloon downstairs and hotel above. It isn't known what William meant by his message to his mother; whether he intended to buy the establishment or to simply work there ( Fred Keller, a Sussex area historian, wrote about the history of the hotel/saloon and nothing mentioned William's ownership.) There further exists a picture ( in the possession of Shirley Ann Arnold, nee Miller) of William standing behind a bar that could be this hotel. It's not sure when or if William began working here because his father, William Sr., suddenly died a few days later on September 5, 1915 while fishing.
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1880 - 1954 (73 years)
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