Miller Family History, 9th Generation
(John Walter Miller Children)

William Leland Miller (1893-1947)

118274231. William Leland Miller was born on February 11, 1893, in Arroyo Grande Township, San Luis Obispo County, California. He served with the infantry in France and Belgium during in World War I. He was married briefly around 1928 and divorced, and later married Bessie Cristena (Terrell) Zursmith sometime in the early 1940s.

William's parents and siblings all moved to Kings County, California, to work in the oil fields, by 1917; but William moved 100 miles farther south to the oil fields at the south end of the Central Valley at Maricopa, Kern County. There he worked as a tool dresser for Kern Lading and Oil Company. His draft registration described him as tall, medium build, with blue eyes and light brown hair.^{[Draft 1917]}

The Great War

William enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army on March 29, 1918, and was assigned to Company “B” of the 363rd Infantry Regiment.^[Vet] The 363rd served under the 182nd Infantry Battalion, under the 91st Infantry Division, which was dubbed the “Wild West Division” because its 25,000 men came from western states. Californians largely comprised the 363rd and 364th regiments. The 91st Division was formed in 1917, at Camp Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington. It left Camp Lewis in June 1918 by train for Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and then shipped out aboard the Briton from Brooklyn, New York, on July 6 bound for Europe.^{[Army 1918]}

The division eventually reassembled around its headquarters in Montigny-le-Roi in northeast France in August and trained for the month in preparation for the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, which is named for the Meuse River to the east and the Argonne Forest to the west. It was the largest United States military compaign in history and involved 1.2 million American soldiers. The 91st Division took up its position at the front on September 25, 1918, and went over the top, up the middle, and across “No man's land” the next morning under cover of cloud and mist. The Allied Powers slowly wheeled the German line back to the northeast roughly 13 kilometers over the course of a bloody week. The 91st Division casualties were 1,109 killed and 3,916 wounded. Only 11 men were captured by the Germans but the 91st Division captured 2,371 Germans.

Next, the 181st and 182nd Brigades boarded trains north to northwest Belgium and arrived at Ypres on October 20, 1918, where they prepared for the Ypres-Lys Offensive and pushed the Germans southeast across the Scheldt River. During action between November 9 and 11, the 91st Division suffered 215 men killed and 714 wounded.

After the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, the 91st Division advanced across Belgium and crossed the Belgian-German border to Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) where a victory celebration was held on December 7 before the cathedral and the tomb of Emperor Charlemagne. The 91st afterward withdrew north to the area of Dunkirk for most of December. The division departed Belgium on December 28 for La Ferté-Bernand, near Le Mans, France. They stayed there until transported to Saint-Nazaire on the west coast where they shipped back home to New Jersey and New York. From there the 363rd Infantry traveled to the Presidio of San Francisco where Corporal Miller was discharged on April 24, 1919, and the regiment was demobilized eight days later.

William checked into Community Hospital in Long Beach on December 13, 1946, and later underwent surgery on December 23, 1946, for an anterior polya gastric resection (surgery on the duodenum, the first section of the small intestine that connects to the stomach). A week after surgery, his blood pressure increased and he died on January 10, 1947. He was 53 years old. William was buried at Sunnyside Memorial Park (which was later renamed as Forest Lawn Memorial Park) on Tuesday, January 14.^{[Dth 1947, Obit 1947, Grave]} His death was also recorded by the Westminster Community Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles County.^{[Chu 1947]}

After William's death Bessie reportedly remarried to Edwin W. Schirman (1893-1980) on December 18, 1959, in Los Angeles County, whose marriage she had witnessed 43 years earlier back in Snohomish County, Washington. Edwin's wife had died earlier that year in May.

Bessie Christena (Terrell) Schirman died on July 9, 1985, and was buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Los Angeles County.^[Grave] She was 86 years old.

Clarence Walter Miller^Δ (1895-1965)

118274232. Clarence Walter “Dusty” Miller^Δ was born in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, California, on June 5, 1895.^{[Draft 1917]} He served in the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I, working the lumber industry for warplane construction.^[Vet] Clarence married Ouida A. Sechrest, a native of Kansas, on January 1, 1925, in Santa Ana, Orange County, California; he was 29 years old, she was 21.^{[Cen 1930]} They had two children:

Before Clarence married, he lived in Hanford, Kings County, and worked as a fireman for Associated Pipe Line Company at Macks Station. He was described as tall, slender, with dark blue eyes and brown hair, when registering for the draft on his 22nd birthday in Fresno.^{[Draft 1917]}

The following year, Clarence enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 12, 1918, three months after his elder brother William enlisted and right about the time William was crossing the Atlantic on his way to France. Clarence was assigned to the Air Service 24th Spruce Squadron^[Vet] at Vancouver Barracks in Clark County, Washington. Facing labor shortages in the lumber industry in the Pacific Northwest, because of the draft, the Air Service formed the Spruce Squadrons to supplement spruce production and shore up warplane construction. The 24th Spruce Squadron at Vancouver Barracks worked a “cut-up” plant that milled specialty airplane lumber.^[Swanson] Clarence served the squadron for six months and was discharged on January 18, 1919, when the squadron was mustered out after the war.^{[Vet, Swanson]}

Clarence and Ouida were married by clergyman Rev. Will A. Betts in Santa Ana, Orange County, on January 1, 1925. At the time, Clarence was living at 1451 Rose Avenue in Long Beach, and Ouida was living a mile to the west at 1355 Olive Avenue; he was an oil worker and she a beauty operator. The recorded witness to their marriage was Ouida's next younger brother, Loren E. Sechrest, and his wife Martha (Balstad) Sechrest, of Long Beach.^{[Mar 1925]} Interestingly, Clarence had served as witness to the marriage of Loren and Martha Sechrest a year earlier on December 15, 1923.

The Millers started their family in Los Angeles County, California, and moved to Hutchinson County in the Texas Panhandle by 1930. There Clarence worked in the oil fields and took on two boarders from the oil fields. They rented a home for $7.50 per month.^{[Cen 1930]}

Later they moved back to California and lived in Oakland, Alameda County, by 1934. A few years later they rented 5913 Lime Avenue in North Long Beach, Los Angeles County. There Clarence worked as a superintendant for a transportation company. He earned $3,000 in 1939 and rented the home for $30.^{[Cen 1940]}

The Millers moved 3 miles south to 3814 Brayton Avenue, Long Beach, by 1950. Clarence worked in oil production and Ouida did alterations at a retail department store.^{[Cen 1950]}

Clarence Walter “Dusty” Miller died on April 2, 1965, in Los Angeles County at the age of 69. He was buried at Green Hills Memorial Park, Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles County.^[Grave]

Ouida A. (Sechrest) Miller died 31 years later on June 10, 1996, in Los Angeles County. She was 93 years old. Ouida was also buried at Green Hills Memorial Park.^[Grave]

James Roy Miller (1898-1978)

118274233. James Roy Miller was born on January 31, 1898 in Arroyo Grande Township, San Luis Obispo County, California. He married Florence M. Swanson, a teacher and native of Kansas who grew up in Texas, on December 17, 1924, in Santa Ana, Orange County, California. They are not known to have had any children.

During World War I, James lived with his family in Hanford, Kings County, California, and worked as an engineer for E. A. Hackett, 30 miles west in Huron, Fresno County. His draft registration described him as tall, with a slender build, blue eyes, and light-colored hair.^{[Draft 1918]} The 1930 census recorded that James had served in the World War, but if he did serve he apparently enlisted after his draft registration in September 1918.

James and Florence wed on December 17, 1924, in Santa Ana, by the Rev. Will A. Betts of Santa Ana. Witnesses to their marriage were Mr. and Mrs. James H. Sherman of Long Beach, Los Angeles County. At the time of their marriage, James lived at 1451 Rose Avenue in Long Beach, where he worked as an oil driller; and Florence lived in Glendora, Los Angeles County, and worked as a teacher.^{[Mar 1924]} The 1940 census later noted that she had completed three years of college.^{[Cen 1940]}

James and Florence lived with James's parents at 237 Willard Street in Long Beach by 1930. James and his father worked as oil pumpers.^{[Cen 1930]}

James and Florence purchased a home 8 miles west at 2760 Pioneer Boulevard in Artesia, Los Angeles County, by 1940. It was valued at $6,500. James worked as a self-employed gasoline deliveryman.^{[Cen 1940]} By the time of the World War II draft in 1942, James was self-employed (occupation not stated) and was described as having blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. (Height and weight were omitted.)^{[Draft 1942]}

The Millers (or at least Florence) moved to Florence's childhood home of El Campo, Wharton County, Texas, southwest of Houston by 1943.

Florence developed a malignant brain tumor (glioblastoma) in late 1943, and on December 5, 1943, she checked into Methodist Hospital in Houston where she died a month later on January 9, 1944. She was two weeks short of her 42nd birthday. Florence was buried with her parents at Garden of Memories in El Campo.^{[Dth 1944, Grave]}

James Roy Miller died in April 1978 while living in Avenal, Kings County, California.

Meynard S. Miller (1900-1992)

118274234. Meynard S. Miller was born in February 1900 in California, mostly likely in Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County. He served with the Army as a corporal in World War I. Meynard married Ethel Bernice Payne on January 25, 1922, in Hanford, Kings County, when he was 21 years old and she was 18.^{[Cen 1930]} They are not known to have had any children.

After the war, Meynard returned home to his parents in the oil fields of Paddock, Lucerne Township, Kings County. There he worked as a tractor driver.^{[Cen 1920]}

About the following year, Meynard married Ethel. Meynard, his parents, and siblings all moved south to Long Beach, Los Angeles County, to work the oil fields. Meynard and Ethel rented part of a house at 2351 Chestnut Avenue, which was also occupied by two other households: the owners, Gordon R. and Jennie V. Baird, and John E. and Charlotte M. Miller. (John E. Miller was from Minnesota and is not suspected to be of any relation to Meynard.) Meynard worked as a pumper at an oil field.^{[Cen 1930]}

Meynard bought a home about 5 miles north at 5623 Cerritos Avenue in Long Beach, by 1940 and stayed there through at least 1950. It was valued at $3,700 in 1940. Meynard continued to work in the oil production business, and had earned $1,900 in 1939.^{[Cen 1940, 1950]}

The Millers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on January 22, 1972, at the home of Ethel's niece, Norma (Davis) Brolsma, in Long Beach.

Ethel Bernice (Payne) Miller died on December 19, 1991, in Los Angeles County, age the age of 88. She was buried at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, Orange County, California.^[Grave]

Meynard S. Miller died a year and three days after Ethel on December 21, 1992, in Los Angeles County. He was 92 years old. Meynard was also buried at Westminster Memorial Park.^[Grave]

Orval A. Miller (1902-1983)

118274235. Orval A. Miller was born on August 19, 1902, in California. He married Isabella Dorothy Hill, a native of Washington State, on July 22, 1928, in Glendale, Los Angeles County. He was 25 years old and she was 21.^{[News 1928, Cen 1930]}. They divorced by 1955 and were not known to have had any children.

At the time of their marriage, Orval worked in Colton, San Bernardino County, for Macmillan Petroleum Company and Isabella lived with her parents, Alexander & Ida Hill, at 1442 Rose Avenue, in Long Beach, Los Angeles County. The newlyweds planned to drive to northern California for a two-week trip (which may be when and where the above photograph was taken). Afterward they were to live in Colton^{[News 1928]}, but by 1930 they rented room with Isabella's parents in Long Beach. Orval worked as a driver for an unspecified oil company.^{[Cen 1930]}

Orval and Isabella afterward moved 220 miles north to Hanford, Kings County, where they rented a home at 520 West Malone Street and Orval worked as an oilworker for a petroleum company.^{[Cen 1940]} They remained there through 1950 when Orval was working in the production department of a petroleum company and Isabella kept books at a bakery.^{[Cen 1950]}

Not long after the Millers moved to Hanford, Isabella's parents and brother, Wesley Hill, sold three bakeries in Long Beach and moved to Hanford where they opened a bakery on the 100 block of West 7th Street. They later moved around the corner to the 200 block of North Irwin Street where they ran the bakery for about 25 years before returning to the original location. After Wesley's death in 1975, Isabella closed the business.^{[Obit 1988]}.

Orval and Isabella divorced between 1950 and 1955.

Orval obtained a license to marry Mrs. Dorothy Amanda (Bristol) Casmero, also a divorcée, in Hanford, on February 17, 1955.^{[News 1955]} That same year he moved 40 miles southwest to Avenal, Kings County, in 1955, to work for Standard Oil Company.^{[Obit 1983]}

Orval and Dorothy divorced 10 years later on January 10, 1966, in Hanford.^{[Div 1966]}

Orval later moved 60 miles northeast to Fresno, Fresno County, in 1978.^{[Obit 1983]}

Orval A. Miller died on Wednesday, December 28, 1983, in Fresno, Fresno County, at the age of 81 years. He was buried on Friday, December 30, at Grangeville Cemetery in Armona, Kings County, four miles west of Hanford.

Isabella Dorothy (Hill) Miller died four years later on Sunday, March 27, 1988, in Kings County, Washington. She was 81 years old. Isabella was also buried at Grangeville Cemetery on Thursday, March 31, 1988.

Burneice Dorothy (Miller) Givens (1904-1992)

118274236. Burneice Dorothy Miller was born on October 28, 1904, probably in Arroyo Grande Township, San Luis Obispo County, California. She married Thomas Franklin Givens by 1940.^{[Cen 1940]}

Burneice and Thomas lived with her parents at 3625 East 15th Street in Long Beach and paid her parents $12 rent. Thomas was a general construction laborer who had been unemployed for 12 weeks during the previous 12 months.^{[Cen 1940]}

The Givens moved about 5 miles west to 2346 Easy Avenue by 1950. Tom worked as a longshoreman.^{[Cen 1950]} Burneice's widowed mother moved in with the family before her death in 1960.^{[Obit 1960]}

Burneice Dorothy (Miller) Givens died on April 11, 1992, in Los Angeles County. She was 87 years old.^{[Dth 1992]}