Edwin "Murphy" George Leopold Miller, Sr. 

By Michael R. Reilly, great-nephew 

Last Revision 11/08/07

    Edwin "Murphy" George Leopold Miller, Sr. born November 15, 1883/4 in West Bend, Washington, Wisconsin, the son of William "Burgermeister" Jacob Henry Miller, Sr. and Apollonia (Appolonia Apolonia) Immel. He was their 4th child but only the second to survive after his older brother William, Jr. On June 3, 1908, he married (West Bend M7943) Josephine Petronilla Jansen, daughter of John Jansen and Magdalena Searing. 

    The couple had six children; Marcella Johanna Miller, March 12, 1909; Roman William (Jimmy) Miller, July 27, 1911; Leroy "Lee" Herbert Miller, April 25, 1913; Lucille Hildegard "Tootie" Miller, December 02, 1914; Edwin George Leopold Miller, Jr., December 24, 1916, and Harvey Henry Miller, born June 18, 1921.

From the West Bend Pilot (Joel Cook contributor plus Mar 14, 1994 interview with Edwin Miller, Jr.)

Dec 14, 1910. " William and Edwin Miller visited Mrs. William Miller who is ill at Milwaukee."
Jan 25, 1911, something about Edwin Miller falling.
Feb 8, 1911, "Edwin Miller is back at work."
Mar 26, 1913, "Ed Miller is injured."
May 6, 1914, "Murphy Miller purchased a Ford touring car."
Nov 4, 1914, something about Edwin Miller printed.
August 03, 1917, WB Pilot Fri issue - Edwin Miller will open his BE SURE buffet Saturday evening (BE SURE Buffet , under several owners, was on the east side of Main St. opposite the end of Hickory St. This had been the location, in 1903-07, of Michael Immel's saloon -Joel Cook)
September 11, 1919, WB Pilot and Joel Cook - Edwin "Murphy" Miller, Proprietor of "WEST PARK" (saloon and ballroom on Cherry St. now West Washington - south side, west of 11th Ave.) 

    About 1916 - Edwin and family move to Jackson, Washington, Wisconsin working at the Jackson Hotel/Saloon. From here Edwin moved back to West Bend to operate his "Be Sure Buffet" (Note: Ed Miller, Jr. says he was born in Jackson at the Hotel, when his father first moved to Jackson isn't known). "West Park" was located on Hwy 33, and actually had a park-like surrounding. To the west of it lay only scattered farms. Today the YMCA sits on the site. According to his son, Edwin, Sr. played his harmonica at dances held at the ballroom.

    Prohibition probably shut down Edwin's West Park operation forcing him to work as a salesman for the White Trucking Co. (?) selling trucks to milk haulers in the area. If this was the next job he held, it probably led to the General Field Manager position later with the White House Milk Co., a subsidiary of A&P. His job was to buy milk from the farmers to keep the condensaries producing canned evaporated milk.

    About the same time the "West Park" business closed the family moved to what Ed, Jr. called the "Bungalow Inn". This was a home across the road from his grandparent's farm in Barton.

    About 1926, Edwin moved to Manitowoc where the White House Milk Co. had it's headquarters. The family lived on Philipine (?) Street about 4 or 5 blocks from Lake Michigan. Ed, Jr. said the children first went to St. Boniface church and school, but later the family assisted in clearing some land and building a church (and school ?) close to their home called St. Andrews. Marcella being older worked in a laundry, while Jimmy and Leroy went to Lincoln High School. Leroy used to bring a saxophone home from school, but his brother Ed played around it more often than Leroy did.

    Edwin died May 01, 1965; Josephine, who was born on May 09, 1887, died April 06, 1979.