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Ancestors of Matthew Duane Miller

Generation No. 6

       32. Johann Peter Muller, born 11-May-1810 in Ergeldingen, Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died 10-Feb-1894 in Boardman Twsp, Clayton Co., Iowa. He was the son of 64. Johann Peter Muller and 65. Katharina Molitor. He married 33. Katharina Hoschette 23-Mar-1838.
       33. Katharina Hoschette, born 12-May-1814 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 27-Jan-1854 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg. She was the daughter of 66. Johann Hoschette and 67. Katharina Thillen.

Notes for Johann Peter Muller:
Matt Miller (5/15/97): During my visit to Luxembourg in April, 1997, I was unable to find pertinent birth ecords on Johann Peter Muller in Eschweiler. Eschweiler holds the records for Erpelgange, which is referenced as possible Erpaldingen in Johann's marriage record. The record was difficult to read, and the birth place is especially difficult. The secretary in the Eschweiler community center is young and wasn't very much help.

Copies of vital records obtained in Luxembourg in 1993 indicated that the
original family name was Muller (with 2 dots over the "u") and must have become
anglicized to Miller after emigration to the United States. The tendency to
adjust the name to suit changing culture is evident in the Luxembourg documents
where "Johann Peter" (Germanic form) is usually used in the official sections
of the document, but he consistently signs documents as "Jean Pierre" (French
form)

1870 Census (23 Jun 1870) for Boardman Twsp, Clayton Co., Strawberry Point
P.O.(microfiche roll #383, pg 36) shows the following records:

LINE       NAME              AGE       SEX       OCCUPATION       BIRTH PLACE

Record #260
10 Peter Miller              28       M       Farmer              Holland
11       Josephine       30       F       Keeping House       Holland
12       Peter              3       M                     Iowa
13       Dominic              1       M                     Iowa
14       Joseph              1/12       M (Mar 1870)              Iowa
15       Peter John       60       M                     Holland

Record #262
23 Michael Miller              25       M       Farmer              Holland
24       Catherine              23       F       Keeping House       Holland
25       John Peter       2       M                     Iowa
26       Josephine       10/12       F (Aug 1869)              Iowa
27       George              29       M       Farm Laborer       Holland
28       James              12       M       Farm Laborer       Iowa

Because of the closeness of the homes (i.e., proximity on census roll), in all
probability Peter (line #10) & Michael (line #23) were brothers and Peter John
(line #15 was their widower father. All of these were born in "Holland".
(Ignorance in the U.S. regarding the geography and shifting political boundaries
of western Europe and similarity in languages & accents could easily cause
census taker to ascribe Luxembourg to Holland or Germany as the country of
origin, as indeed they did list the country of origin later in Shelby County as
"Germany".)

Mary Miller Gross located Baptismal records at St. Joseph's Catholic church in
Elkader, Iowa for Josephine (24 Aug 1869), sponsored by a Mr. & Mrs Peter
Miller, and another for John Rudolph (11 July 1871), sponsored by Mr. & Mrs.
John Miller (or Melner). No baptismal records were found for John Peter. As
indicated earlier, the records for this church began in 1868. The next child in
line (Mary) was born in Westphalia, Shelby County 27 Aug 1873. Thus, Michel
Miller and family moved from Clayton to Shelby county Iowa sometime between 11
July 1871 and 27 Aug 1873.

The 1880 census records for Shelby County (21 June 1880) finds the Michel
Miller family living there. However, the Peter Miller family could
not be found in the Clayton County records for 1880 for some reason.

Comments on page 162 of N. Gonner's "Luxembourgers in the New World" indicates
an influx of Luxembourgers in 1857 & 1859 and more in the early 1860's to a
settlement in Clayton County near Elkader. It goes on to comment that many
"including MILLER......have moved on, especially for Shelby County".

The 1900 Census for Shelby County identifies (for the first time) the date of
immigration of Michael Miller as 1863, and that he was a naturalized citizen.

It is likely that Johann Peter (age 53), Jean Pierre (age 22), & Michel Muller
(age 19), and possibly sister Josephine (age 21), all arrived in the U.S. on the
same boat together in 1863. Further research needed to search immigration and
naturalization records on the Muller name. (Prior searchs in this area on the
Miller name have not been fruitful.)

Keith & Marsha Miller visited Elkader in June 1994 and located the graves of
Johann Peter, his son John Peter, daughter Josephine, and many of their
descendents in St. Joseph's Cemetary. They also located a Great Granddaughter
of Johann Peter, Margaret Miller Hoover, daughter of Michael Miller (son of
John Peter). They found the following obituary for Johann Peter in a copy of
the "Elkader Register" dated Thursday, February 15, 1894:

"John Peter Miller"......."Another aged resident of Boardman twp., has
succcumbed to the ravages of the grippe, and departed on Saturday last.
Deceased was born in Luxemberg, Germany, in 1810. His children having
preceded him to this country and his wife having died, he came to America and to
this county in 1863, and has resided here since, honored and respected. He
leaves two sons and one daughter, Peter Miller and Mrs John Wilmas, of this
township, and Michael Miller, of Shelby County, besides numerous grandchildren
and relatives. The funeral Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church was largely
attended, and in his sermon Rev. Father Reilly spoke of the honor and
veneration due the aged, whose sojourn with us is short at best."

Notes for Katharina Hoschette:
Could not find her birth record in the Bavigne community center, which holds the records for the village of Kaundorf.

       Children of Johann Muller and Katharina Hoschette are:

Michel Muller, born 26-Oct-1844 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 19-Sep-1915 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa; married Cathrina Schumacher Abt. 12-Jul-1867 in Elkader, Clayton Co., Iowa.

ii.

Jean Pierre Muller, born 01-Feb-1841 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 26-Feb-1923 in Boardman Township, Clayton County, Iowa, USA; married Josephine Willmes 03-Jul-1865 in Dubuque, Iowa.

Notes for Jean Pierre Muller:
!Obituary as printed in the "Elkader Register": "Peter Miller, Sr died
February 26, 1923. He was born February 2, 1841 at Kaundorf, Luxembourg. He
married Josephine Willmes on July 3, 1865 at Dubuque, Iowa. He came to this
country in the pioneer days of 1860 and through hard labor became the owner of
a fine farm."

!There is a 1 day discrepancy between his birth date in this obituary vs that
obtained from the record of his birth at the Bavigne, Luxembourg Community
Center of Records. The official record date is assumed to be correct.

iii.

Anne Muller, born 06-Feb-1851 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 01-Apr-1859 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg.

iv.

Catherine Muller, born 18-Jan-1839 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 31-Jan-1839 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg.

Catherine Muller, born 10-Dec-1839 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 10-Jan-1841 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg.

Notes for Catherine Muller:
!In obtaining the birth and death record information for this family group
at the Community Center in Bavigne, Luxembourg in Sept. 1993, I expressed
surprise that Katharina gave birth to two children in the same year (less than
11 months between the births of the first two Catherine's). The very helpful
clerk smiled and commented, "You must remember, there was no television in
those days."

vi.

Catherine Muller, born 02-Jun-1848 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 24-Jan-1855 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg.

vii.

Jean Pierre Muller, born 19-Apr-1843 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 08-Jan-1845 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg.

viii.

Josephine Muller, born 11-Apr-1842 in Kaundorf, Luxembourg; died 1922 in Clayton Co., Iowa; married John Willmes.

Notes for Josephine Muller:
!It appears that Josephine Muller married the brother, John Willmes, of her own
brother's wife, Josephine Willmes. Therefore, Josephine (Muller) Miller
became Josephine Willmes, and Josephine Willmes became Josephine Miller.
So......, if you are confused by all this, you are probably not alone!!!

!Note: It is probable that they were both named for the French Empress
Josephine, wife of Napolean, under whose rule Johann Peter was born. There is
a strong French influence in Luxembourg to this day.

       34. Johann Wilhelm Schumacher, born 17-Mar-1820 in Arsdorf, Luxembourg; died 25-Apr-1887 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg. He was the son of 68. Peter Schumacher and 69. Margueretha Loring. He married 35. Elizabeth Strainchamps 25-Apr-1844 in Arsdorf, Luxembourg.
       35. Elizabeth Strainchamps, born 14-Feb-1820 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg; died 27-Jan-1854 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg. She was the daughter of 70. Nicolas Strainchamps and 71. Catherine Reinert.

Notes for Johann Wilhelm Schumacher:
Arsdorf records changed to Biggonville records from 1817 to 1833. Records are then found under Biggonville for that time period.

Notes for Elizabeth Strainchamps:
Other date of birth info: March 17, 1820 ???
Other date of death info: 1846

       Children of Johann Schumacher and Elizabeth Strainchamps are:

Cathrina Schumacher, born 26-Feb-1846 in Arsdorf, Luxembourg; died 04-May-1895 in Westphalia, Shelby County, Iowa, USA; married Michel Muller Abt. 12-Jul-1867 in Elkader, Clayton Co., Iowa.

ii.

Anna Catharina Schumacher, born 22-Dec-1850 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg; died 18-May-1851 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg.

iii.

Maria Catharina Schumacher, born 26-Aug-1848 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg.

iv.

Johann Schumacher, born 03-Sep-1846 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg.

Notes for Johann Schumacher:
Questionable if this Johann Schumacher is really the son of Johann Wilhelm Schumacher and Elisabeth Strainchamps. He may be the son of Johann Peter Schumacher, who is Johann Wilhelm's brother.

Compare the date of birth to Catherina, it is the same year. This leaves only 6 months at most for the pregnancy, unless this Johann was born premature, and most likely died at birth. I did not find a death record of the same time period, however.

Nikolas Schumacher, born 24-Jul-1844 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg; married Elisabeth Heitz 21-Jan-1863.

vi.

Johann Nicolas Schumacher, born 30-Mar-1852 in Arsdorf, Luxemberg.

       36. Francios Goeres, born 16-Jul-1820 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died 08-Nov-1884 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg. He was the son of 72. Pierre Goeres and 73. Eva Krantz. He married 37. Anne Marie Schlechter Dec-1844 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg.
       37. Anne Marie Schlechter, born 15-Nov-1820 in Consthum, Luxembourg; died 26-Feb-1880. She was the daughter of 74. Nicolas Schlecter and 75. Elisabeth Wallesch.

Notes for Francios Goeres:
Religion Catholic.

Sources: LDS film #1143513 and 1141671, "1800 - 1922 Civel Registration of Birth, Death and Marriage Records from Eschweiler (Wiltz), Luxembourg,"

1844 French Military document for Francois Goeres, son of Pierre Goeres and Eva Krantz.

Enregistre No. 758

Article 200 de la loi du 8 janvier 1817
------------------------
Milice Nationale
Grand-Duche de Luxembourg CERTIFICAT

Le Gouverneur du Grand-Duche de Luxembourg, Certifie que le Sr. Goeres, Francois ne a Eschweiler, le 17 Juilles 1820 de profession Domestique fils de Pierre and de Krantz Eva demeurant a Eschweiler, a ete inscrit pour la Milice nationale dans la commune de Eschweiler en 1839, qui lui est echu au triage le No 7, lequel n'ayant pas ete appele jusqu'a ce jour, ne l'a pas oblige au service.

Don a Luxembourg, le 18 Decembre 1844
LDS film #1143513
He married Anna Marie Schlechter, 6 Jan 1845. Born 15 Nov 1820 in Consthum. Died 26 Feb 1880.
Marriage certificate in German
"1844 - Heriaths-Berfundigung zwichen Francois Goeres trylofnan Erschweiler wohnhaft zu Erschweiler gross jahriger Sohn des ? Peter Goeres und Eva Krantz und Anna Maria Schlechter wohnhaft (born) zu Consthum (daughter of Nicolas Schlechter and Elisabeth Wallesch) December 1844.

Three of the sons settled in the Midwestern United States. Theodore went to Raeville, Nebraska, John to White Lake, South Dakota and Peter to Earling, Iowa.

       Children of Francios Goeres and Anne Schlechter are:

Adam Goeres, born 17-Feb-1846 in Eschweiler,, Luxembourg.

Notes for Adam Goeres:
!Twin brother to Peter. Migrated to U.S., but settlement unknown.

Donald Goeres' father remembers family stories telling about the Francios family talking about going to the US. Adam was nearly old enough to serve in Kaiser Wilhelm's army. He disappeared on eevening. The family suspected he went to the US. When the younger brothers came they tried to find him but never succeeded.

ii.

Peter Goeres, born 17-Feb-1846 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg.

Notes for Peter Goeres:
Larry Miller: Migrated to U.S., but settlement unknown. ???

Where he went or when he died is unknown. He probably died before 1849 as another son named Peter was born in 1849. There is a birth certificate for another Peter Goeres born 1845. Perhaps he died also.

iii.

Johann Goeres, born 22-Feb-1847 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg.

Notes for Johann Goeres:
Whereabouts unknown.

iv.

Peter Goeres, born 17-May-1849 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died 10-Oct-1937 in Earling, Shelby Co., Iowa; married Elizabeth Koch 02-Mar-1875 in Luxembourg.

John Goeres, born 08-Apr-1853 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died 24-Sep-1943 in White Lake, South Dakota, USA; married Lena.

Notes for John Goeres:
!Migrated to U.S. in 1872 and settled in White Lake, South Dakota.

Also known as Jean Goeres.

Germans to America, Vol 31
Jean Goeres, age 21, male, farmer, Luxembourg
Ship Cybelle from Antwerp to New York arrived 2 April 1874.

He settled in Caledonia, MMinnesota, and later moved to White Lake, South Dakota. He married Lena.

vi.

Johann Peter Goeres, born 23-Oct-1855 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died 15-Feb-1912 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; married Anna Sassel.

Notes for Johann Peter Goeres:
!Stayed in Luxembourg. His Grandson, Camille, still lives in the Goeres family
home in Eschweiler, Luxembourg that was built in 1767.

Camille Goeres (Wife: Agnes)
Eschweiler/Wiltz
Luxembourg
Tel. 95334

Children:

Nicholas (b. abt 1952), "Nicol" (Wife: Germaine), postman, Tel 95904
Duerfstroof #9 Children: Tessie (1981), Alain (1983),
Eschweiler/Wiltz Romy (1991)

Annette Jans (b. abt 1954) (Husband: Guy) - speaks good English
Have 1 Son: Ralph (b. 1976)
Clervaux
Tel. 011 352 929555

Eliann (Elisabeth Ann, b. abt 1959)
(Lives with parents)

vii.

Catherine Goeres, born 08-Jul-1857 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; married Peter Hubsch.

Notes for Catherine Goeres:
!Migrated to U.S.

viii.

Theodore Goeres, born 26-Oct-1858 in Eschweiler, Luxembourg; died Jan-1941 in Nebraska; married Mary Schroeder 10-Oct-1884.

Notes for Theodore Goeres:
!Migrated to U.S. at age 12 (abt 1870). Settled in Osmond, Nebraska. Diane Gardner has info that he came to the US at age of 18 and settled in Boone County, Nebraska.

!Peter (105), John (429), & Theodore (432) are believed to have immigrated to
the U.S. together. Probably 1875 based on story that Peter left Luxembourg
right after his wedding.

Better lands were available in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In the spring of 1885 Theodore and Mary set out for South Dakota in a new Studebaker covered wagon, pulled by a team of oxen weighing one ton each. They acquired land 18 miles from Rapid City and built a sod house. In 1890 they returned to Raeville, then moved to David City. In 1894 they moved to Osmond where Theodore did carpentry and farming. IN 1920 they opened a filling station. "The Osmond Centennial Book", p. 299.

Naturalized in Iowa in 1870 per immigration records. He married Mary Schroeder, 10 OCt. 1846. Born 20 Jul 1864 in Price, Germany. Died 13 Aug 1950. Religion Catholic.

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