Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Step Snapshots

I really enjoy black-and-white photographs. I look at many of them when planning blogs or when looking for new photos of family I haven’t seen before. In this one, I find that there’s a quiet beauty on the front steps of the Miller farmhouse in German Valley, Illinois. Perhaps they were just pausing between chores or taking a quick rest outside when the idea of taking a photo came up. Here we have Maye Miller Motter, Wava Miller, and Eunice Kramer Miller sitting together in the soft light of an ordinary day.

In every photo I see of Maye, she reflects a grace and gentleness that you don’t always see. Wava, by being in the middle, bridges the two women together with her youthful energy and curls. Eunice on the right has a smile that reflects the pride she feels in her home and her family. And you can just see into the front porch. When I knew it, there was a couch and chairs, an organ, and other items being stored on it. But it was always open and sunny, allowing a place for us to play, tucked safely away from the adults with toys and books.

In the end, it’s photos like this that remind us how the smallest pauses become the reflections that help hold the Miller family story together. Maye, Wava, and Eunice weren’t posing for history — they were simply sharing a moment on a warm day on the farm. As time moved forward and those steps changed, this photo keeps them alive in a way time cannot erase.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Maye’s Garden of Life

Sometimes are garden grows quietly. You look up and suddenly those little seedlings have blossomed into plants. That is the case here. The garden started with Kermit’s sister Lydia Maye Miller. Maye married Lloyd Motter and they had two girls, June and Lois. Lois married Gordon Grohs and they had two children Tom and Nancy. Not much is known about the Grohs except I believe they are still alive. I’ve found records of both Lois and Gordon still together in Sun Lakes, Arizona just south of Chandler and outside of Phoenix. Lois and Gordon had two children, Tom and Nancy. Unfortunately, I have found out little about the Grohs. But that doesn’t mean I will stop looking.

I just love this photo of them. It’s what I call a stair-step photo. Many times they may occur oldest to youngest, but in this case it’s height with Lois and Maye needing to switch places. But from left to right we have Nancy, Tom, Lois, Maye, Lloyd and Gordon. This photo was taken outside Kermit and Eunice’s home. There’s no date on the photo but a former photo of Eunice’s dated 1960 indicated that Nancy and Tom would be visiting the next summer so we might be looking at a photo taken in 1961.

Both Nancy and Tom are wearing Miller farm appropriate clothes. While Nancy is in a dress I’m sure it didn’t slow her down from finding lots of things to explore. Lois is wearing adorable plaid shorts. I just love plaid. Then we come to Maye. I’ve never seen a photo of her as an adult where she’s not in a dress or skirt. She looks comfortable in her print dress. Lloyd looks formal. Perhaps it was a Sunday and they had gone to church earler or if it was a work day he just came from the office. Gordon looks like he’s on vacation and enjoying the day.

While I know little about Gordon, Lois and their children, I find myself wanting to keep a close watch on them to see what information I can find and what they may do next.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Maye and Lloyd

I never gave any thought to Maye and Lloyd. I usually am focused on other MIllers that I am searching for. Maye is the oldest of Kermits siblings. She was born January 5, 1894 in Adeline, Illinois to Isaac and Lydia Miller. On April 18, 1918 at the age of 24, Lydia married Lloyd, age 27 in Mount Carroll, Illinois. I’m not sure why they chose to travel to Mount Carroll to be married, but I sure would like to know. 

I like the part of this marriage announcement where it says that Maye had taught the Leaf River schools and that’s how she met Lloyd and they became friends. I wonder how long Maye taught schools for as the census’ begining in 1920 state that she was at home. 

Their photo is beautiful to me. It seems like it could have been taken around the time of their marriage. Their clothing and hair styles fit that time frame. You can really tell that Maye had blue eyes. Aren’t they goregous. I love her dress and would have liked to known what color it is. With the sheer sleeves and the silk cuff that goes up the majority of her arm. The buttons on the cuff are exquisite and her pearls and earings just complete her outfit. Once again Lloyd shows how men tend to have it easy. All they need to do is get the suit and tie, wash up and they are good to go. While Lloyd looks happy, Maye seems to me to be melancholy as her smile is absent. One reason why could have been the war. 

On October 4, 1918 Lloyd as part of the Machine Gun Company of the 150th Infantry, NG 38th Division set sail for France. The 38th Division was out of Indinapolis, Indiana and comprised mainly of soliders from Indiana, Kentucky and West Virginia. I’m not sure if he saw combat, but many this Division did. Since he was part of the machine gun unit, I would bet he did as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive was in process when he arrived in France and continued until Armistice was reached. The war ended on November 11, 1918. 

Lloyd and Maye had two children; June born August 25, 1920 and Lois born July 21, 1927. Lloyd worked in the laundry industry throughout his life and had a very successful career. Maye maintained their home, raised their children and also established our ancestor connections within the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

They had 57 years of marriage until Maye died on December 17, 1975 in Rockford, Illinois. Lloyd lived almost 2 months without Maye until his own death on February 18, 1976. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Happy Super Day!

This week has been hard! Come join me as we talk about some of the challenges I faced this week. The HUGE rabbit hole I went down when looking for ancestors and I’m also going to discuss some more free websites for you to use when looking for ancestors. 

If you haven’t subscribed yet I’d love for you to do so. This way you’ll never miss a post! 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Siblings

I love photos with Kermit in them. Here we have him and Maye in Adeline outside their mother, Lydia’s house. I would estimate that it is the late 40’s to early 1950’s. The kodachrome photos we have of Isaac with Lydia seem to be a bit older and the date on them is 1952. 

At any rate, there’s lots to focus on in this photo, so let’s begin. My eye is first drawn to their hands. They hold the hands similarly but with different hands on the top. And i wonder what Maye has in her hands. Then I look at her cute outfit with a pin at the neck and cute snap pumps. I think they are open-toed, but I can’t be sure. And finishing off her look is the cute hat that sits back on the top of her head. 

Complementing Lydia’s look is her brother Kermit, who is smartly dressed in a suit and tie with nice dress shoes. The only thing that’s missing is a hat.  Men have it so much easier when dressing up. What’s not missing is the traces of snow. My yard looks precisely like this currently. But it must not be too cold as they are taking the photo without coats. 

Of her four children, Maye and Kermit were the only of Lydia’s children who lived close to her. So I’m sure this photo is to commemorate a holiday, birthday, or special gathering when they were able to gather as a family and be together. 

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