Ray Miller, teacher, principal, county officer, and a second generation Fair Board member, was born on April 26, 1891 in Williamson County to John Goodall Miller and Mary Ellen Krantz on a farm in Southern Township.
Nine years after Ray was born, according to the 1900 federal census, the family was living in Southern Precinct on the Miller family farm which they owned free of mortgage. Southern Township/Precinct starts just north of the Marion City Lake and included the villages of Hudgens and Chamness, extending south to Pulley’s Mill where Johnson County starts. Ray’s parents were farmers and were both in their mid-30’s. Children present in the home at the time were Ray aged 9 and daughter, Jessie M. aged 6. Ray’s mother indicated that she had birthed three children with two surviving indicating the loss of one child already in their marriage.
There were two other Miller families in proximity to their farm, Carol and Emma Miller and James and Caroline Miller. Both men, including Ray’s father, John, were born within years of each other through the Civil War era indicating that they were likely family.
In the 1910 census, Ray had reached the age of 18 and was helping his father work the family farm as a laborer. Ray and Jessie were still the only children in the home, but space was being shared by his mother’s sister, Emily A. Morgan and her husband, Jessie E. Morgan, and their children Ova A. and Marshall Morgan. Andrew and Emily Miller, both in their 60’s, were occupying a farm nearby.
Ray was married to Ruth Kilbreth on August 2, 1914 at the home of Dr. W.P. Throgmorton in Marion.
From 1908 to 1914, Miller was a school teacher and principal at the North Side School in Herrin prior to coming to Marion in 1915 to become a Deputy County Clerk for County Clerk E.H. Scobey, a position he held until 1919, when he became Deputy County Treasurer.
By the 1920 census, Ray 28 and Ruth 22 were living in a home at 602 S. Court Street which they owned free of mortgage. Ray was listed as a clerk by occupation. The couple had two children named Mary A. aged 4 and John K. Miller aged 1 year and 10 months.
In the early 1920’s, after 1922, but before 1927, Ray and his uncle, Sandy Miller, bought the title abstract business of J.C.B. Smith, a prominent Marion attorney.
When the 1930 census was taken, the couple still lived at the same home on S. Court which they valued at $3,000. Mary A. and John K. were still the only children. Ray’s occupation was listed as insurance salesman, undoubtedly referring to title insurance with his abstract business.
It was reflected in the 1940 federal census that the couple had changed homes by 1935 and moved out of their home at 602 and into a home at 407 S. Court Street, which they valued at $5,000. Ray was then aged 49 and his wife, Ruth, was 43. Their daughter Mary Anna had been married to Albert Kaeser of Kaeser Lumber Co. in 1939 and was out of the home. Their son, John K. Miller had racked up 2 years of college and according to the census was working at a wholesale lumber place, possibly related to his brother-in-law, Albert Kaeser.
On April 27, 1942, when Ray went to the local draft office on the square in Marion to register for the WWII draft, he was 51 years old and listed abstractor of land titles as his occupation with an office at 204 ½ Public Square. He was physically described as 5’ 11” tall, grey eyes, black hair with a light complexion.
In 1946, his son, John K. Miller, joined him in the abstract business which they continued as a partnership. Somewhere between 1955 and 1965, Miller Abstract was moved from 204 ½ Public Square to the basement floor of the Bank of Marion with an entrance at 107 N. Market Street, which had previously been occupied by the Marion Abstract Co.
They occupied this location until illness forced Ray to retire in November, 1975 due to illness. John K. Miller, then continued operating the business until his death in October 1993.
For about 35 years, Ray was Secretary of the Williamson County Fair Association of which his grandfather J.C. Miller, was one of the founders more than 150 years ago and served as Vice President for the Agricultural Society in 1875. Ray continued to serve as an agricultural department superintendent of the fair for many years even after leaving the office of Secretary.
Miller was known to have attended every Williamson County Fair since his birth in 1891. He was quoted in a 1971 Southern Illinoisan article to say that his parents took him and his sister, Jessie, 10 to 12 miles to the fair every year. In those days, folks came to the fair in hacks, buggies and street cars.
Miller said a street car came to the corner of the fairgrounds carrying fair goers around the turn of the century. “All my people have been fair people,” Miller said. Ray was Secretary in the 1930’s and now his son, John K. Miller, was then vice president. Even his wife, Ruth, was superintendent of culinary exhibits for over 40 years.
The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 2, 1964.
A member of the Christian Church since 1924, he served in many capacities. At the time of his death he was a trustee, and he had served as deacon, financial secretary and teacher of a Sunday school class.
Ray Miller, 85, of 1000 N. Market St., died at the Marion Memorial Hospital at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, 1977 after a long illness.
Surviving his death were his wife, one daughter Mrs. Albert (Mary Anna) Kaeser, one son, John K. Miller, both of Marion, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Mrs. Jessie Pearce, and a granddaughter, Anetta Kay Miller.
Funeral services were held Friday at 1 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home by the Rev. J. Earl Miller, pastor of the First Christian Church.
Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Sam’s Notes:
John Goodall Miller, Ray’s father, was born in 1866 and died on April 25, 1943, Burial was at Rose Hill.
Mary Ellen (Krantz) Miller, Ray’s mother, was born on Dec. 5, 1867 in West Marion Township, a daughter of William and Nancy Robertson Krantz. She married John G. Miller on May 19, 1869, who died on April 25, 1943. Mrs. Miller died at 92 in the Creal Springs Nursing Home where she had been a patient for eight months but had previously lived at 1000 N. Market. Burial was at Rose Hill.
Ruth (Kilbreth) Miller, Ray’s wife, was born in 1898 and died on March 23, 1988. Burial was at Rose Hill.
Jessie Mae (Miller) Pearce, Ray’s sister, was born on Sept.26, 1893 in Southern Township. She was married to Blaine Pearce in Marion, Feb. 20, 1915 and was a member of the First Christian Church. She died Aug. 23, 1963, at the age of 69 while living at 610 S. Court Street. Her husband Blaine survived her as well as two sons, Marshall Pearce of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Carl Pearce of Chicago.
Mary Anna Kaeser, Ray’s daughter, was born on October 31, 1915 in Marion. She married Albert G. Kaeser on June 25, 1939 in Marion; he preceded her in death on September 24, 2000.
She passed away at 6:55 PM, Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at Herrin Hospital. Mrs. Kaeser was the longest continuous member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
Survivors include her daughters, Julie Everett of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Theresa Kaeser of Marion; grandchildren, Eric Everett, Aneliese and Gerald Parker, and Elaine and Steve Beitelspacher; great granddaughter, Hazel Beitelspacher; sister-in-law, Venita Miller; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Marion with Reverend Bill Rucker officiating. Blue Funeral Home in Marion assisted with the arrangements. Burial was at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Marion next to her husband.
She was a longtime Sunday school teacher, member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship, and was the churches first Lady Elder. She was a member of the original Marion Little theatre Troupe, life member of Beta Sigma Phi, member and past president of Clio Club and a longtime Girl Scout leader.
Mrs. Kaeser taught for Marion Unit 2 school system for many years. She was a graduate of Southern Illinois University.
John K. Miller, Ray’s son, was born on March 3, 1918, and was very active on the civic level. He was an active Shriner, member of the Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite and a member of the Krazy Klowns Motor Patrol. He was chosen Shriner of the Year in 1985. He was awarded “Public Citizen of the Year” by the Marion Lions Club in 1965-66 after being a member for 20 years. He was a member of the Marion Park District for several years and was active in the Williamson County Fair Association like his father and father’s father. His wife’s name was Venita, a school teacher, and they had two children. He passed away on October 25, 1993. See post, John K. MIller
(Extracted from the Marion Daily Republican obits; Southern Illinoisan articles; Federal Census Records; Marion City Cemetery Records; WWII Draft Registration; Marion City Directories; Williamson County Fair 1956 Souvenir booklet; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 02/04/2014)