George, Where Were you?

The photo is a well known old family photo from about 1910 or so. It's the four generations of George Miller's: Grossfather, G.L, G.E., and Bob. I think that it was taken at the family homestead at Gaslyn, Wisconsin.


The story of Grossfather's early(?) years follows.
George Miller was born in France (probably the Alsace region) in February, 1823.
He came to America on the ship, Parachute, leaving from Havre, France, and arriving in New York on May 14, 1828. He was five. The ship's passenger list shows a family group that included Jean Miller 35 (farmer), Jacon Miller 40, Marie Elis Miller 18, Marie Roni Miller 11, and George Miller 5.
He married Harriet C. Bowen (or Brown) from New York in Steuben County, Indiana, on March 13, 1844. The marriage was performed by Hannibel Frink J. P. (I think this means Justice of the Peace) [from Steuben County records]. Harriet was born November 30, 1824, in New York and thus was 19 when she married George. They lived in Indiana and perhaps Ohio for a time before they moved to Wisconsin.
They had at least 6 children: Will (William W.), who was born in January, 1845, in Ohio (1910 Crawford county census) or New York (1900 Crawford county census) or Indiana (1870 Crawford county census); George Lafayette (G.L.), who was born March 28, 1848, in Steuben County, Indiana; and Emma J., who was born in Wisconsin about 1865 and who later married Edward Grant Maxwell.
From "The History of Vernon County," published 1884. Chapter 42, "The Town of Kickapoo", "George Miller came in 1853, lived in Readstown a few years, then left his family and returned to Illinois, from whence he came." page 603.
Family legend says that Grossvater deserted his family in Crawford county and that he was gone for a very long time. He returned as a old man and was taken in by his son, G. L. Miller (who had become a prominent citizen) in Prairie du Chien. The story suggests that he may have had another family somewhere else.
His return is recorded. According to the item in the "Crawford County Journal" of September 10, 1888, page 3, column 2, local district attorney, G. L. Miller, was being visited by his father, George Miller, of Missouri. It reported that his father's whereabouts were unknown for 28 years. The Crawford County Journal was published in Soldier's Grove, Wisconsin.

There is more to the story, but this establishes his credentials as a guy not to be emulated. I'm sure that he had a good explanation for his 28 year absence. I just wish that I knew what it was.

There was also some good mixed doubles tennis tonight at Wooddale with the hardcore girls. I thought that jerry and Becky would bury us,because they started so fast, winning the first set 6-1, but we rebounded, winning the next two 6-2, 7-5 and reclaiming the mythical world championship of Narnia. I was not very inspired at first and I had to wear off the Christmas cookies that I ate over the weekend, but after a while it felt like a normal tennis night, not the last match of the year. Except for men's doubles on Saturday.