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| Ervin Nathaniel Miller about the time he was married in 1909. |
10. Ervin
Nathaniel Miller,
son of John William and Laura Elizabeth (Butner) Miller, was born 7 September 1888 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas.[1] He
died 15 August 1948 in Wichita, Sedwick, Kansas and was buried 18 August 1948
in Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas.[2] He
married 25 January 1909 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, Martha Annette
“Nettie” Couk.[3]
Ervin Nathaniel Miller was the 4th of 9 children. John, his father, was 27 and Laura, his mother, was 26 years old at the time of his birth.
His siblings:
#1 James Emery Miller
#2 William Joseph Miller
#3 Cora Ann Miller
#4 Ervin Nathaniel Miller
#5 Alva Oscar Miller
#6 Edna Adaline Miller
#7 Ora M Miller
#8 Flora B Miller
#9 Florence S Miller
 |
| The Miller Sisters |
Ervin married Martha Annette Couk on 25 January 1909 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas. He was 20 and Martha was 19.
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| Martha Annette Couk in 1909 |
11. Martha Annette “Nettie” Couk, daughter of
Robert Thomas and Almira Srepta (Sprague or Spriggs) Couk, was born 2 January 1890 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas.[4] She
died 31 May 1943 in Neodesha, Wilson, Kansas and was buried 3 June 1943 in
Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas.[5]
She married 25 January 1909 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, Ervin Nathaniel
Miller.[6]
Robert, her father, was 49 and Almira, her mother, was 26 years old at the time of her birth. She was the 5th out of 9 children. She is often listed as Nettie in records which makes me believe that she went by that.
#1 Alice May Couk
#2 Charles Couk
#3 Alva Elbert Couk
#4 Claude S Couk
#5 Martha Annette Couk
#6 Robert Homer Couk
#7 Cecil Vivian Couk
#8 Walter L Couk
#9 Ralph Amel Couk
Ervin and Martha had 5 children
#1 Raymond Miller b. 1909 Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas (d. about 1911 in Fredonia)
#2 Thelma Alberta Miller b. 1913 Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas
#3 Leonard Quinn Miller b. 1917 Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas
#4 Leda Jean Miller b. 1925 Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas (My relation)
#5 Rex Gaylord Miller b. 1927 Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas
Things to note:
#1 died around the age of 2. He is buried in the Butner Cemetery, Wilson, Kansas. There is no headstone. What did he die from? There is a 4 year gap between child #1 and #2. 4 year gap between #2 and #3. 8 year gap between #3 and #4. Is there a possibility that Martha lost children whether as infants, stillbirths, or miscarriages?
Ervin was well off with his painting business
called Miller Brothers. His brother
James Emery Miller was also a painter and brother, William Joseph Miller was a
plasterer. Because of his business success, he was able to have a few luxuries
such as the first house in the area with an indoor bathroom.[7]
He filled out the World War I draft card on 5 June 1917 in Fredonia. It is reported that he had blue eyes, light colored hair, rather tall, and slender build. He claimed exempt from the draft due to a child and wife needing his support. The child at home would have been Thelma since Leonard was born on 17 June 1917, right after Ervin filled out this form.
From Census records we learn:
1900-Ervin-living with his parents in Verdigris, Wilson, Kansas. Lists his birth as September 1886 and he is 13 years old.
1900- Martha--living with parents in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas. Lists birth as January 1890. She is 10 years old.
1910- Ervin & Martha living in Fredonia with son Raymond. He is a painter and rents his house. He can read and write and has been married for 2 years.
1920- Ervin & Martha-living in Coffeyville on W 12th St, He owns his home with no mortgage. He is still a painter and living with two children Thelma and Leonard.
1930- Ervin & Martha- living in Fredonia on South 8th St. He owns his home with no mortgage. Home is values at $1200. They do not own a radio. Still a painter. Living in the home is Thelma, Leonard, Leda, and Rex.
1940-Ervin & Martah- still living in Fredonia at the house on South 8th St. (And the same house in 1935). He is listed as a painter and interior decorator. He completed the 8th grade.
Real Estate:
Ervin had interest in real estate. The first known transaction was on 22 December 1905 when Ervin purchased a lot from a D. Hartzog when the deed was filed. He paid $75 for lots five (5) and Six (6) in block three (3) in Kuhnkis Addition to the City of Fredonia; the same having been platted as Kuhnkis Subdivision of W 1/2 of W 1/2 of SE 4 of NE 4 of Sec. 12 Tp. 29 Rge 14. Currently the address for this lot is: 809 N 12th Street, Fredonia, KS
On 15 June 1914 Ervin sold part of this same lot (lot 6 of the above) to J.W. Miller for $1. This could be his father, John William Miller.
On 1 March 1918 Ervin sold the rest of the lot (lot 5) to Walter Cobb for $500.
27 March 1916 Ervin bought his next investment from a W. B. Culberstson. Lots One (1), Two (2), and Three (3) in Block Four (4) in the Cahn R Davis Addition to the City of Fredonia for $42.
On 18 March 1918, only two years after the purchase, Ervin sold this entire lot to William Brook for $401. $1 paid directly to Ervin at the time of the sale and $400 from a third party. Mr. Brook took a mortgage for $400 from a C.H. Pierce.
When I looked up the address for this lot at 1133 Quincy, Fredonia Kansas (around the corner from the 12th Street property), there is a newer house there built in 1997. I'm not sure if it has always been an empty lot or if the house has been torn down.
6 June 1921 Ervin purchased a small piece of land from J.D. Gilson for $1. This is a stripe of land tweleve feet wide off the South side of lot seventeen (17) in Block Eleven (11) in Garfield Park Addition to the City of Fredonia Kas.
The following month on 18 July 192, Ervin purchased from J.W. Scott for $1. This is lot sixteen (16) in Block Eleven (11) in Garfield Park Addition to the City of Fredonia. It also notes there was a .50 cent U.S. Revenue Stamp attached.
This lot is 214 N 12th Street, Fredonia, Kansas. It has a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom house, 1120 square foot house on 0.36 acres of land. The house was built in 1922.
On 4 February 1927 Ervin sold these two lots. The description says, Lot sixteen and a strip of land twelve feet wide off the South side of lot seventeen (17) in Block eleven (11) in Garfield Park Addition to the City of Fredonia. He sold this to The Southeast Kansas Fire Baptized Holiness Association.
His next investment was purchased on 25 August 1921 from Perry J Lamb for $1. This was lot One (1) in Block ten (10) in Mound Park Addition to the City of Fredonia Kansas. This also had a .50 cent U.S. Reserve Stamp attached. He also took out an $800 mortgage held by the Wilson Co. Bank in Fredonia Kansas and a 2nd mortgage of $200 payable to C.R. Cantrall of which he assumes in part payment.
This lot is located at 503 S 8th Street, Fredonia. This is also the house that he lived in at the time of his death. It wasn't his last purchase though according to his obituary. I will be trying to obtain the deed for that property in Wichita.
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| 503 South 8th St, Fredonia Kansas. This house was built in 1930--Ervin is listed as living in this house in 1930 so I believe he was the original owner of this home. It has 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, and a little over 1500 square feet. |
Martha died on 31 May 1943 at the age of 53 in Neodesha, Wilson, Kansas. She is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Coffeyville, Wilson, Kansas. Cause of death from Aortic stenosis which is a narrowing of the aortic valve. The aortic valve allows blood to flow from the heart's lower left chamber (ventricle) into the aorta and to the body. Stenosis prevents the valve from opening properly, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood through the valve.
Her obituary reads:
Martha Annette Couk was born January 2, 1890, in Fredonia, Kansas and passed away at the Wilson County Hospital in Neodesha, May 31, 1943 at the age of 53 years, 4 months, and 29 days.
Funeral services were held Thursday, June 3, at Carson Funeral Home in Fredonia, with Rev. C.H. Lemon, Christian Church pastor, officiating. Interment was in Fairview Cemetery at Coffeyville. Music was furnished by Mrs. Burke Ramsey and Miss Juanita Tracey accompanied by Mrs. C.H. Lemon.
Mrs. Miller is survived by her husband, two daughters, Thelma, and Leda, of the home; two sons, Rex of the home and Leonard, of the US Army, now stationed at Camp Clairborne, La., her mother Mrs. J.W. Miller, of Coffeyville; five brothers, Claude, Ralph, and Homer C., of Coffeyville, Walter Couk of Cherrryvale and Alva Couk of California.
From: Wilson County Citizen June 8, 1943
His obituary reads:
Ervin N. Miller was born September 7, 1888, to John and Laura Miller at Fredonia and passed away at the St. Francis hospital at Wichita, August 13, 1948, aged 59 years, 11 months, and 11 days, from injuried seceived while working on his newly purchased home at Wichita. He was preceded in death by his wife and one son.
He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. L. J. Reynolds of Fredonia, Miss Thelma Miller of the home in Wichita; two sons, Rx of the home and Leonard of Wichita; one grandson; five sister, Mrs. C. O. Harshfield and Mrs. Ben Tolson of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. R.D. Kuhlman of Solvany, Calif., Mrs. Flora Arnold and Mrs. Joseph Brad of Los Angeles; three brothers, A.O. Miller of Kansas City, Mo., J.E. Miller of Coffeyville and W.J. Miller of Wichita.
He was a member of the First Christian Church of Fredonia.
Funeral services were held Monday morning at nine o'clock at the Cason Funeral Home conducted by Rev. Curtis Tull of the Christian church. Burial was at Coffeyville.
Known
children of Ervin Nathaniel and Martha Annette “Nettie” (Couk) Miller:
i. Raymond Miller,
born 1909 in Wilson County, Kansas;[9]
died about 1912 in Wilson County, Kansas.[10]
ii. Thelma Alberta Miller, born 16 October 1913 in Fredonia,
Wilson, Kansas;[11]
died 6 September 1984 in Peabody, Wilson, Kansas;[12]
married, Fred Lour.
iii. Leonard Quinn Miller,
born 17 June 1917 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas;[13]
died 23 December 1976 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma;[14]
married Pauline. Children: (a) Jerri
Miller. (b) John R Miller. (c) Anne M Miller. (d) Teresa I Miller.
+5. iv. Leda Jean Miller alias Whitney Peri Worth[15], born 17 October 1925 in Fredonia,
Wilson, Kansas;[16]
died 7 May 2009 in Clearfield, Davis, Utah;[17]
married, first, about 21 October 1947 in Independence, Sedgwick, Kansas,
Lawrence Joseph Reynolds.[18]
Children: (a) Larry Gene Reynolds (b)
Gayle Ann Reynolds (c) Dale Joseph
Reynolds (d) Linda Beth Reynolds. Leda married Second, 2 August 1985 in Salt Lake City, Salt
Lake, Utah, Floyd Luke.[19]
v.
Rex Gaylord
Miller, born 6
September 1927 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas;[20]
died 5 June 2015 in Kansas City, Wyandotte, Kansas; married, Tina. Children: (a) Regina Avery Miller. (b) Dana P Miller. (c) Miles D Miller. (d)
Leah K Miller.
Footnotes/Citations:
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Verdigris, John W Miller; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016), Roll: T623_503; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 176.
[2] Find A Grave, database, Find A Grave (www.findaggrave.com : 15 July 2016), Ervin N Miller.
[3] Kansas Vital Records, Wilson County, Kansas, Marriage Licensees, Entry for Ervin N Miller and Nettie Couk, 25 January 1909.
[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Fredonia, Robert Couk; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016), Roll: T623_503; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 162.
[5] Kansas Vital Records, Kansas Death Certificates, Entry for Nettie Martha Miller, 31 May 1948.
[6] Kansas Vital Records, Wilson County, Kansas, Marriage Licensees, Entry for Ervin N Miller and Nettie Couk, 25 January 1909.
[7] Gayle Ann Reynolds (Clearfield, Utah), interview by Nicol Montero, July 2016; transcript privately held by Nicol Montero, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 2016.
[9] 1910 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Fredonia, Eram N Meller; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016).
[10] Find A Grave, database, Find A Grave (www.findaggrave.com : 15 July 2016), Raymond Miller.
[11] 1920 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Fredonia, Ervin N Miller; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016); Roll: T625_541; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 178.
[12] “Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016), entry for Thelma Miller.
[13] 1920 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Fredonia, Ervin N Miller; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016); Roll: T625_541; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 178.
[14] “Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014,” database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016), entry for Leonard Miller.
[15] Social Security Cards, Leda Miller Reynolds and Whitney P Worth; privately held by Nicol Montero, [address for private use] Eagle Mountain, Utah
[16] Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Vital Records, Birth Certificate Wilson County, Kansas, No. 103 7103, Leda Jean Miller, 17 October 1925.
[17] Utah State Board of Health, Davis County, Utah, death certificate no. 2009018002 (2009), Whitney P Worth.
[18] Dale Joseph Reynolds, interview, July 2016.
[19] “Utah Select Marriage Index, 1887-1985,” database, Ancestry.com (ancestry.com : viewed 12 July 2016), entry for Leda Jean Miller and Floyd Luke, 1985.
[20] 1930 U.S. Census, Wilson County, Kansas, population schedule, Fredonia, Ervin N Miller; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed 13 July 2016); Roll: 726; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 216.0.
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