An American Family History

John Wilson Miller was born on October 28, 1842. He was born in Queen's County, Ireland. His parents were Thomas Miller and Hester Wilson. He immigrated to Canada about 1847 when he was about five years old.

He married Victoria Zellena Dwinnell in 1867 when he was 25. Their life together and children are described in detail in the section on John and Victoria Miller and in a poem he wrote in honor of his 25th wedding anniversary.

At the time of the 1871 Ontario Census, he was a ship's carpenter. From 1892 to 1893 he was a rancher and from 1895 to 1904 he was shipbuilder/carpenter for Spreckles Brothers. John was a Mason.  He took out his naturalization papers in June, 1895.

In 1897 he wrote in his daughter Hester's autograph book.

He died on February 28, 1905 at age 62. A letter from his daughter-in-law, Nellie Long  said that he died of a ruptured appendix. "He was taken sick on a Saturday, and was taken to the hospital.  Instead of operating then they put it off until Sunday and it proved too late;  the appendix ruptured."

He is buried in lot 20, section I.O.O.F, block 47 in the Mount  Hope Cemetery, 3850 Imperial Avenue, San Diego in the Odd Fellows Plot. The Reverend J. E. Hoick of the First Lutheran church officiated at the service. He is buried with Genevieve Jones who was his wife, Victoria's, sister and his daughter Hester Johnson.

Miller Family Plot
Photo taken 1915

The peak period of Irish immigration to Canada was during the Great Famine between 1845-1849. Most immigrants went to Canada because the fares were lower. Ships that reached Canada lost many passengers and even more died while in quarantine. From the reception station at Grosse-Ile, most survivors were sent to Montréal. The typhus outbreak of 1847 and 1848 killed many of the new immigrants. An economic boom following their arrival allowed many men to work in on the expanding railroad, in construction, in the logging industry, or on farms.

Children of Thomas Miller, Sr. and Hester Wilson John Wilson Miller Elizabeth J. Miller Seale Benjamin Craig Miller Thomas T. Miller, Jr.

Children of John Wilson Miller and Victoria Zellena Dwinnell Gertrude Eveline Miller Eva Edith Miller Van Dusen Fish and sons Wilson Van Dusen and Walter Van Dusen Mildred Daisy Miller Alberta Irene Miller Nora Zellena Miller Herbert Thomas Miller Hester Mabel Miller Johnson and husband William Greenwood Johnson Robert Wilson Miller, Sr. Victoria Louise Miller John Delbert Miller and his daughter Jessie Estelle Miller Finkenkeller Verna Ivy Miller Johnson Mathison