John William Miller

20. John William Miller, son of Nathaniel and Margaret A (Gentry) Miller, was born 1 October 1860 in Edgar County, Illinois..  He died 10 January 1925 in Coffeyville, Montgomery, Kansas and was buried in the Butner Cemetery, Wilson County, Kansas. He married, first, 3 December 1880 in Wilson County, Kansas, Laura E Butner. He married, second, 18 February 1914 in Fredonia, Wilson, Kansas, Almira Srepta Sprague.

According to the death certificate for John William Miller, he was born 1 October 1860 in Dayton, Ohio to N M Miller and Margirete Gentery.  The birth place is likely recorded incorrectly. The marriage for record for Nathaniel Miller and Margaret Gentry in Edgar, Illinois in 1859 and the 1860 census in Edgar, Illinois makes that a better place.  Plus, on every census Illinois is listed as John's birth place.  

Between 1860 and 1862, Nathaniel moves his family to Jay Co., Indiana which was about 200 miles. 

On 1 July 1862, Nathaniel Miller signs up for the Civil War draft in Jay Co., Indiana.  

The first official record that John is found on is the 1870 census.  At this point he is 9 years old and living in Wayne, Jay, Indiana.  His birth place is listed as Illinois.  His father is Nathaniel Miller, mother Margaret Miller and children in the home: John W Miller age 9, Cleori J Miller age 7, Ravilla J Miller age 5, and Lutian E Miller age 1.  (To note: there is a large gap in children between Ravilla and Lutian--there possibly could be a child that died).  

The 1880 census has the family now living in Fall River, Wilson, Kansas.  John is still living in his parents home.  He is 20 years old and birth place Illinois.  His father is listed as Nathaniel Miller (birth place Ohio) and mother Margaret A Miller (birth place Kentucky).  John is currently a farm laborer.  In the home is also Cleoria age 17, Lution age 11, and Oliver age 5.  (To Note: Ravilla is not on this census.  Where is she? She may have died between 1870 and 1880.)

On 3 December 1880 John married Laura E Butner in Wilson County, Kansas.  

 By 1900 with over 19 years of marriage, many changes took place for John and Laura.  On the 1900 census they are living in Verdigris, Wilson, Kansas and have 9 children.  James E Miller age 18, William J Miller 17, Corie A Miller age 18 (typo Cora would have been 16), Irvin N Miller 13, Alvo O Miller 11, Edna A Miller 7, Ora M Miller age 5, Flora B Miller 2, and Florance S Miller 2 months old.