Jacob & Harvey Miller

MILLER HUFNAIL SMITH WILCOX

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/7/2010 at 00:01:51

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Jacob and Harvey Miller
By Hessel R Roorda

Jacob Miller, the son of Aaron Miller and Polly Hufnail, was born in Montgomery County, New York, on July 16, 1849. His father was a blacksmith. Jacob’s great-grandfather, Jacob Miller, fought in the Revolutionary War Battle of Orinsky under General Herkimer.

On August 19, 1869, Jacob married Isabel Smith. She was born December 23, 1849.

As a young man, Jacob helped out in his father’s business and engaged in farming. During this time a son was born on December 9, 1783, and died January 5, 1878.

Around 1877, Jacob and Isabel moved to Jones County, Iowa, where they farmed. Two children were born to the Millers during their years in Jones County, they being: Florence May Miller, born February 7, 1878, and Arthur J Miller, born November 28, 1881.

In 1882, the Jacob Miller family located on a farm near Woodbury County, Iowa, near Rock Branch, purchasing 120 acres for approximately $14.00 per acre.

Isabel Smith-Miller died on March 13, 1886, and is buried in the Rock Branch Cemetery.

On August 31, 1887, Jacob Miller married Elizabeth Wilcox. Elizabeth Wilcox, the daughter of John Wilcox and Ellen May was born near Wheatland, Iowa, on January 25, 1864. The Wilcox family moved to a farm a few miles southwest of Rock Branch by covered wagon. Four children were born of this union: Harvey Ray on August 12, 1890; John Alfred on March 29, 1893; Maudie Hazel on June 4, 1898 and Elmer Lee on July 4, 1900.

Jacob Miller was active in church work and was a charter member of the Rock Branch United Methodist Church in 1890.

In 1917, Jacob and Elizabeth retired from farming and moved to the town of Correctionville, where they remained until their deaths, Jacob on May 29, 1922, and Elizabeth on January 10, 1926.

Harvey Ray Miller took over the operation of the family farm in 1917 when his parents retired to the town of Correctionville.

Harvey attended rural school as a youngster and helped his father with the farm work. At the age of twenty, he bought a gasoline-powered corn sheller in partnership with his brother, John.

Recreation was baseball, parties in homes of neighbors, entertainment at rural schools and box suppers. Decoration Day services, 4th of July celebrations, occasional balloon ascensions, circus and carnivals were all special events.

On February 17, 1917, Harvey married Blanche Wenbourne. Blanche, the daughter of William G Wenbourne and Emma Sophia Harrison, was born on January 3, 1891, on the family farm near Rock Branch, Iowa.

Married life on the farm began with two hired men; sixteen or more horses to be fed, curried and harnessed; cows to be milked; and hogs to be fed. Harvey took good care of his stock, doing most of the work a veterinarian would be called on to perform today.

The first car was a Ford with side curtains, purchased in 1919. A Dodge truck was bought in 1920 for hauling grain to town and hogs to the Sioux City stockyards. Harvey went into partnership with a neighbor on a threshing machine and did his own threshing and some for his neighbors. In 1924, Harvey purchased the Jacob Miller Estate farm, which had been increased to 280 acres, for $152.50 per acre. Around 1928, he fixed up a blacksmith shop and fixed most of his machinery.

Harvey was good at building, painting and repairing his buildings. He built the wash house at the age of twenty-nine years and it is still standing firm today. He also built the garage for his father’s car and later added the wings when he wanted the garage for a blacksmith shop.

Harvey wanted his children to have a better education than he had and always worked to make things better when he was school director for over twenty years. He was faithful in his attendance at the Rock Branch United Methodist Church, to which he belonged for over fifty years, until he transferred his membership to the Correctionville United Methodist Church in 1957.

Harvey passed away July 16, 1963, at his home near Rock Branch and is buried in the Rock Branch Cemetery. Blanche Wenbourne-Miller passed away in Correctionville on March 5, 1979, and is buried in the Rock Branch Cemetery.

Harvey and Blanche had five children, namely: Jacob Lee, born December 24, 1917 and died at birth; Frances Ruth, born March 2, 1919; Ray Leonard, born June 27, 1920; Blanche Lorraine, born May 1, 1923; and Joan Louise, born April 8, 1927.

Frances Ruth taught rural schools and grade schools in Pierson, Spencer, and Grand Meadow, Iowa. On October 28, 1945, she was married to Melvin C Treplow at the Rock Branch United Methodist Church. Ruth and Melvin have two children: Alan, born on June 24, 1952, and passed away June 13, 1971; and Marilyn, born July 4, 1955. Ruth continues to reside in Pierson.

Ray taught rural schools before becoming involved with the family farm operation following World War II. On February 7, 1942, Ray was united in marriage with Mary Jane Worthan. Ray and Mary Jane have five children: Patricia, born on October 1, 1946; Robert, born on November 28, 1947; Charles, born on March 22, 1950; Deborah, born on September 4, 1952; and Steven, born August 6, 1955. Ray took over full responsibilities for maintaining the family farm following his father’s death in 1963. Ray’s son, Robert, joined the farm operation in 1977. Following Blanche-Wenbourne-Miller’s death in 1979, Ray and his son, Robert, purchased the Harvey Miller Estate farm which had grown to 360 acres. With this purchase, the Miller farm entered into the third and fourth generation of ownership. Ray and Robert continue to farm the home place.

Blanche Lorraine taught rural and community schools at Correctionville and Rock Valley, Iowa. On August 17, 1952, she was married to Hessel J Roorda at her parent’s home near Rock Branch. Lorraine and Hessel have four children: Helen, born March 18, 1954; Lois, born June 19, 1955; Hessel, born August 7, 1956; and Joan, born September 26, 1961. Lorraine continues to reside in Rock Valley, Iowa.

Joan taught at various schools in Iowa and continues to teach in southeastern Iowa. She was married to William Cameron on June 10, 1951, at the Rock Branch United Methodist Church. Joan and Bill have four children: Mary, born September 1, 1952; John, born December 21, 1953; Laura, born May22, 1956; and Ann, born October 12, 1957. Joan resides in Keokuk, Iowa.

A milestone for the Miller family was reached in 1982, as the Miller farm had been held by the same family for over one hundred years, and had been utilized in a family farming operation the entire period. Ray Miller and his son Robert hosted a celebration of this centennial with family and friends returning to the home place for a joyous reunion.