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 WestBend to parents William Jacob Henry Miller Sr. and the former Appolonia Immel,daughter of John Immel and Elizabeth Weber. William had five brothers and onesister 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 LouisJohn (Ludwig Johannes Mueller), Hildegard Emma, and a child daughter of unknown name that diedwithin one day of birth (b. 9/6/1883 – d. 9/7/1883).
For a number of years William worked as a typo, settingprint, in the office of the Washington County Pilot (Later the West Bend Pilot). Before he married in 1906he worked at a malt house, possibly associated with West Bend Lithia Companywhere his father worked. Until he married, he lived on his mother’sstep-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 inMcCanna (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 ForksCounty, Elm Grove Township, Sec 9-152-55. None of the Miller’s from the LandPatent Site search live in Elm Grove Township. But, they all live in the area ofElm Grove Township. So, it’s still not enough information to easily pin down aMiller family to Albert and William (if it was a Miller family, it could havebeen relation with a different last name by marriage or ?). Several newspapersexisted in this area. One would have to check with the State Archives to see ifMcCanna had a newspaper during this timeframe. Another city close to McCanna isLarimore, North Dakota. Good luck with your research! Michele Vietz Bismarck,ND) (The info about newspapers in the area concerns the possibility that Williammay have worked at one while in ND, since he had past job experience inWisconsin. 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, JohnThorgerson, 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 blowsstriking 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 isnow able to move around with the aid of crutches. Nov 13, 1912 – WilliamMiller’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 thatit 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 recoveredfrom his fractured leg of over a year ago and is now in the saloon business atWalnut 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 MilwaukeeCity Directory, 1914 volume, there listed a “William,tinsmith, h 835 Muskego Ave”. In 1915, a “William, saloon, 629 20th, hsame” is listed and later in 1916, “William, bartender, h 3877th” is indicated. While William J. Miller worked as both tinsmith ortinner and also as a bartender, none of the listing above or in the directoriescan actually be attributed to him.
On a postcard postmarked September 2, 1915, William wroteto his mother from Templeton (now Sussex), “Hello Ma. This the place I amgoing to take. Will be in WB (West Bend) in a week.” The address wassimply, “Mrs. Wm. Miller, West Bend, Wis”. The picture on thepostcard’s front was that of the Mammoth Springs Hotel (presently Dilly’s) underthe proprietorship of one Thomas McCloskey. The Hotel was both a saloondownstairs and hotel above. It isn’t known what William meant by his message tohis mother; whether he intended to buy the establishment or to simply work there( Fred Keller, a Sussex area historian, wrote about the history of thehotel/saloon and nothing mentioned William’s ownership.) There further exists apicture ( in the possession of Shirley Ann Arnold, nee Miller) of Williamstanding behind a bar that could be this hotel. It’s not sure when or if Williambegan working here because his father, William Sr., suddenly died a few dayslater on September 5, 1915 while fishing.
The West Bend News indicated in his father’s obituary,dated September 10, 1915, that William resided in Milwaukee. It is thought thatthe family lived above the saloon while he worked there (in Templeton). Nothingyet has been found that tells of the couple’s life until Lena’s death in 1917.
William married Magdalena M. Vogt, also known as Lena, onJune 5, 1906, 9:30 in the morning at the Catholic church by Rev. Stupfel. MissKatie Vogt was the maid of honor, Steve Miller the best man with Lena Jansen andCaroline Thoma as bridesmaids, and Nic Vogt and Edwin Miller as the groomsmen.The bride’s mother, Anna Vogt, held a large wedding reception at her home forthe couple. Lena’s father, Franz or Frank Vogt, had died a number of yearsearlier. The Pilot noted that William, “was a young man of good character,industrious, and of a whole-souled disposition, and will surely prove to be agood husband.” William and Lena then lived with his parents for a time at335 N. 8th Street in West Bend (Note: They would have had to lived with his parents at the Engmann farm)
West Bend Pilot July 29, 1908 – “Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller, Sr., moved from the old Engmann farm to their home in this city last Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller, Jr., on the same day moved to the residence vacated by the former.”
The Pilot reported on Aug 11, 1909 that William Millerand family last Saturday moved into the upper rooms of the Anton Michels(possible relation to Robert John (Corky) Michels who married Marcella Miller)residence, southwest of the courthouse (old ) square.
While living in West Bend, Lena gave birth to their firstson, Erwin E. Miller, on August 27, 1907. About a year later, October 27, 1908,Eugene Stephen Miller was born in the town of West Bend (probably on the formerEngmann farm). Tragedy struck the couple when Eugene died twoyears later on November 11, 1910. (West Bend Pilot November 16, 1910 – ” Eugene, 2 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Miller, died last Friday at the home of his grandmother Mrs. Franz Vogt at Milwaukee; had been ill a year; buried at Holy Angels cemetery.”) He was buried on November14 at Holy Angel’s Cemetery, Row 28, (next to his grandparents, William Sr. andAppolonia) in West Bend. The cemetery is located on the corner of Main Streetand Decorah Road.
A review of the Milwaukee CityDirectories for the time period 1910 – 1915 shows that Lena’s mother’s namefirst appears in the 1911 volume as “Annie, Wid., Frank, h 426 18thSt.”. Looking at other Vogt entries in 1911 reveals she lived with Peter, aplumber, and Margaret, an operator. No where does it show a William or LenaMiller living at this address.
Lena’s obituary reads that she had been sick for a coupleof years before her death but that she was improving. A week before she died,she caught a cold which developed into pneumonia, the cause of her death. Shedied on January 27, 1917 in her mother’s home at 426 Eighteenth Street,Milwaukee. She is buried in Holy Angel’s Cemetery in Row 37, next to herparents, Frank and Anna. (add in comments about her). Lena had first been ill inNovember, 1910 as reported by the West Bend Pilot on Nov 9. William went tovisit her in the hospital in Milwaukee. Lena was sick again in Dec 1910 and hevisited her. She must have been better in Jan of 1912 because she was able tovisit her sisters in West Bend. Sometime after this, she must have moved back toWest Bend to help her husband who had been kicked by the delivery wagon horse(in June). In Aug 1912, she took son Ervin and visited her mother in Milwaukee(WB Pilot Aug 28, 1912). William continued working in West Bend until Dec 1912when he moved to Milwaukee, perhaps the family stayed with Lena’s mother.Sometime after Sept 15, 1915 (perhaps sometime in 1916?), the couple must havemoved to Templeton (Sussex) where William worked at a local saloon. Templeton islisted as Lena’s last place of residence before she must have gotten ill againand moved back to her mother’s home in Milwaukee where she died.
At some time he met Margaret M. Semrow, born on May 14,1883, the daughter of John Semrow and Albertina Hammer. Whether he knew herbefore Lena’s death or became acquainted immediately after isn’t known (it’spossible that William met Margaret through possible contacts he had with herfamily who were in the moonshine business for awhile.). Margaret’s parents alsolived across the street from the Mammoth Springs Hotel (presently Dilly’s) underthe proprietorship of one Thomas McCloskey where William worked as a bartender.
He married her on August 16, 1917 (nearly 7 months afterLena died) at St. James Church inLannon. Father Paul E. Schiedel officiated at the wedding and William’s brotherLouie was a witness. Their Waukesha County marriage certificate #12-417indicated that William’s occupation was saloon-keeper and that their residencewas Templeton. (See photo to the left—–>)
When Prohibition finally shut down the saloon and newowners turned it into an ice cream shop, William and his family possibly movedon to other temporary quarters. A listing in the Rural Directory of WaukeshaCounty for 1919 – 1923 shows William Miller living with a child at a hotel as atenant at Templeton, Lisbon Township.
On September 3, 1919, he purchased lot 72 in the town ofHadfield (now Lannon) from Hattie Hartkopf, a widow living in Milwaukee, for$600. The legal description is in Waukesha County real estate record Vol. 163page 133 that states it’s, in the South one half (S1/2) of the Southeast quarter(SE1/4) of Section number 18 in Township 8 North Range 20 East. The lot is 96feet long by 72 feet wide. Speculation is that there was a house on the lotalready. The present house number is 20467 Main St.
William had four children with Margaret; William JohnMiller born on October 10, 1919; John on December 13, 1921; Margaret on April19, 1925 ,andlastly Marie Rose Miller was born on November 16, 1927. On the birth certificateof their first child in 1919, William’s occupation was “tinner”.
William worked as a volunteer fireman for the town. Thefirehouse was right across the street from the family home, and he became 1stassistant fire chief during the years of 1920, 21, and 23. In 1922 he served as2nd assistant fire chief.
Also during the 20’s, he worked as a tinsmith doing gutterwork and installing tin ceilings, a profession he must have learned as an employee of Warnkey and Schneiss tin shopin West Bend.
(One or more are to exist in the family home). Ray Semrow,a nephew of Margaret, says that he worked for his Uncle in the tinsmith tradeduring the period of 1925-26, but he didn’t know where William had learned theskills (see above). Ed Miller, a nephew in West Bend, remembered that his Uncle Bill built adrain (sink) for Bill’s brother John (“Feet”) when he ran a taverncalled “Mussle’s” (?) on north Main Street in West Bend (now the siteof 1st National Bank).
He also built row boats 12 to 14 feet in length made ofwood and tin out in the back workshop/garage. The boats were soldered andriveted with soft rivets that were set in place with a ball peen hammer. It’ssaid that he made the boats during the winter, often stacking 15-20 boats onwooden 2×4’s, and then selling them in the spring ( would like to find someonewho still has one of his boats).
His grandson Don remembers Dart Ball games &tournaments being held in that garage because of the high ceiling.
During the week of February 8, 1929 William attended ahearing before Judge C.M. Davidson in Waukesha Circuit Court regarding theapplication to incorporate the Village of Lannon. Also present were John J.Flanagan, Edward Vanderboom, Alvin Walter, Tony Quartero, John Wessner, andAlbert Feltes.
On January 25, 1930 William officially submitted hisnomination paper, running for village trustee.
On January, 1930, the town was officially incorporated asthe Village of Lannon and William Miller’s name was on the document. He madesure that all the necessary legal notices were posted for the incorporation voteand forthcoming election of village officers. His name is listed in theMenomonee Falls News dated February 14, 1930 as “Wm. Mueller” one ofthe new elected officers of the Village of Lannon.
Lannon residents did not return William to the Trusteeposition two years later, but he did work as Inspector of Elections earning theamount of $10 for his time at two elections (village and state or national). Healso held a position on the Board of Review in 1932 and received $3 from thevillage.
After Prohibition was over he would pickup and deliverbeer to taverns in the area. Keith Gissal, a former Lannon Postmaster, says hethought one brand was Rahrs which William would drive all the way to Green Bayfor in his old pickup truck. William made a box with sloped sides that sat onthe back of the pick-up that kept the beer cases from falling off. Some of thebeer would be stored in his two-car garage out back. Keith only remembersWilliam distributing case beer and that he may have also brought beer back fromManitowoc.
William also worked at the T.J. Moss Railroad Tie plant inGranville Center (by Brown Deer Road and 76th Street, now Milwaukee) for a whilein the 30’s (?). There they cut the ties to length and creosoted them.
Later or at the same time ( he received $55.20 in 1932 forpainting a hall), he worked as a janitor at the old Lannon school, presently thesite of the Lannon village hall. Besides painting he also did tin work,installed a stove in the hall and painted the school playground equipment a darkgreen.
During 1933 his 12 month salary was listed as $24, priorto this he may have contracted out his services. The money he received for thoseservices don’t indicate if it was for labor only. William also spent threemonths as Village Constable in 1933, filing in for the regular constable who wason leave of absence. After the new Lannon Elementary School was built in1939 near Good Hope and Lannon Roads he worked there. His daughter Marieremembered helping him in his duties at the school. Margaret, his wife, alsoworked at the school with him. This was the only source of income they had andit appears that he worked there up to the time of his death. (Daughter Marie andwife Hattie weren’t the only ones to help Grandpa; grandson Don Miller rememberscutting the school’s lawn with a Toro self-propelled lawnmower, and Grandpagiving him his pocket watch for helping so often. Don’s sister Shirley remembershating to clean the boy’s bathroom, and that she and Don, took turns walkingwith Grandpa to school at night when he had to fill the furnace stoker withcoal.)
William’s nickname (for how long?) was “Salty”.Robert E. Reilly, husband of his daughter Marie, said that he thought thenickname was because of William’s extensive use of very flowery language. Robertlived with his future in-laws for a short time before he married Marie, andrecalls how Salty would meet him at Hagen’s bar (now the Dugout) and tell hisstories. He had one story about going hunting with a friend who had a dog. Forsome reason he ended up shooting off the dog’s rear legs. His language neverappeared to offend anyone because as Robert said, it was done in a comical sortof way. Keith Gissal remembers Salty calling people a “Lockel” butdidn’t know what it meant.
The Miller home had three bedrooms upstairs and downstairsin the kitchen stood a two-burner kerosene stove. On top of that stove Maggie,as she was fondly known, would cook wonderful meals. The bread and pies shealways made were baked in a tin box that sat on top of the burners ( they didn’thave an oven). They may not have had a lot to eat but they always had a fulltable. Salty would always tell Robert to eat up any leftovers.
Granddaughter Shirley recalls sitting under the Mulberrybushes in front of Grandpa’s house and enjoying the berries. She also remembersthat the bedrooms upstairs had tin ceilings and the light switch at the bottomof the stairway was round like the dimmer switches we have today.
Shirley also remembers when living on the hill (beforemoving to Lake St.), going to church at St. James with grandpa, Grandma, AuntMarie, and Aunt Margaret. Grandpa used to drive the car until he had a accidentbacking out of the driveway. Years ago when we went to church, we always sat inthe same pew every Sunday (She asks, ” Did they pay rent back then?) When Iwas very young, I can remember going to Rossman’s Bakery (It was across the roadfrom G&G) and buying hard rolls, and we ate them with lots of soft butter.Also, sometimes on Sunday, they would send me to Frank “Struck’s” forice cream. They would give me a mixing bowl and a little change and I would getscoops of ice cream. That was a Sunday treat!
Salty liked his schnapps and beer. Robert remembers howMarie would drive Salty and Margaret out to Holy Hill in their ’34 Chevy onoccasion to attend church on Sunday (normally the family went to St. James).When services were over he would insist they stop at the Downslope Bar (cornerof St. Augustine Road and Hwy. 167) to have a beer.
During the week of October 12th 1949, Salty’s son John,living in Colgate with his family, was involved in a 13-vehicle accident nearHwys Q and 41, due to “smog”.
After Grandpa retired (he really had trouble with hislegs, probably for many years after having at least one badly fractured in June1912), on nice days he would sit on the enclosed front porch, and when he wouldsee me (Shirley) walking to the store, he would call “Un Gu Leicht”(spelling may be wrong). I always thought he was calling me “Angel”.He also called us kids “mik-mik (mick-mick); never knew what that meant.Anyway, he wanted me to bring him “Cook’s” cooked cheese; he reallyenjoyed the stinky cheese!
William outlived his second wife as well, when Margaretdied on March 3, 1952 (D47-323) of congested heart failure, several weeks beforeher grandson, Michael, was born. She was buried at St. James’ Church/ChapelCemetery down the road on Highway 74 in what is now a part of Menomonee Falls.
Two years later William died of a cerebral hemorrhage onApril 4, 1954 and was laid to rest beside Maggie two days later. The Lannonproperty was passed on to his children and later sold on (enter date and doc #here) to his daughter Margaret’s in-laws, Peter and Rose Nowakowski. Peter andRose had purchased it as a place for their son and daughter-in-law to live.Margaret and her husband Roy Nowakowski had lived there for some time prior toWilliam’s death taking care of him. The house was later sold to Walter andConnie Becker.
Additional Information:
William JohnMiller born on October 10, 1919; d. 1/5/1991; married Florence Jadwick, b.10/25/1924.
John J. Miller was born on December 13, 1921; d. July 6, 1961; married Helen Narr, b. 1/10/21. After John’s death, Helen married Kermit S. Thompson.
Margaret on April 19, 1925; d. January, 1986; married Roy Nowakowski; b.12/28/1923.
Marie Rose Miller was born on November 16, 1927, d. July 21, 1984. MarriedRobert Emmet Reilly (b. 12.27/1925, d. 4/30/1994) on June 30, 1951
Information Sources :
Washington County Register of Deeds; Washington County Pilot; West BendNews; Lannon History – Golden Jubilee 1930-1980; Waukesha County Register of Deeds;the recollections of Keith Gissal, Edwin G. Miller Jr. (West Bend), Ray Semrowand Robert E. Reilly; Shirley Ann Arnold (nee Miller); Donald E. Miller.