Notes indicated this is the C.D. Hayner homestead in Oak Grove, circa 1885. They also indicate “now owned by J. Miller.” We met Mr. Hayner a couple of times before.
J. Miller was John Miller. He came west and took out government land in the Wasco/Moro area. How it came about, I don’t have a clue, but in 1895 he traded his land in Sherman County, for the farm that Hayner had about 7 miles outside of H. R. on the west side. Hayner and his wife Ruby then moved up to Sherman County where they remained the remainder of their lives. Hayner died in 1939 and Ruby in 1942.
Miller raised both apples and strawberries and one year shipped out about 800 crates.
Miller’s wife’s name was Hannah. Their children were: Virginia Ausdal, Maud, William, Ephriam, Irma Ellis, and Ivan
Ben M. Angel
Irma was my great grandmother.
I think the reason that John I. Miller (whose first patent in Sherman County, east of Monkville, dated back to 1886 – and was extended in 1891) was able to trade was because he had a larger plot of land than Charles Dewitt Hayner (and wife Ruby Dee Moore Hayner) did (both Illinois-born, Charles and Ruby were 33 and 29, respectively, and according to my notes, they had three young daughters at the time of the trade). When the Millers took over the Hayner plot in 1894, they rechristened it "Stumpy Orchard Farm" (or "Stumpy Fruit Farm" as one Hood River Glacier reporter on Aug. 8, 1902, wrote).
The Miller family was as follows: John I. Miller (some say the I. stands for Isaiah, others Isaac, a few suggest Ivan – 1868-1932, also born in Illinois) Hannah Badger Miller (1853-1933, born in Indiana) and children: 1. Virginia Belle or "Jennie" (1882-1919, born in Pierce City, Missouri) who married Thomas A. Van Ausdale (she survived her husband by about 11 years, but died in the Influenza pandemic of 1918-19). Two children, one of whom survived to adulthood. 2. Maud Margaret (1884-1904, born in Lawrence, Kansas) who died unmarried of sudden stomach trouble that came about one evening, following her having "driven some visitors back to their homes" (probably coincidental). 3. William Abraham or "Willie" (1887-1920, born in Monkland on April 7), who married Leona Ethel Hunt (1886-1951, born the eldest of her family in Springfield, Missouri). Five children. 4. Ephraim Ashley (1888-1967), who first married Cora M. Carter (1891-1911, died shortly after childbirth of her first born), and then later Marion N. Hollinshead (1893-1976). He worked as a lumberman, a citrus farm laborer in California, and a pipefitter for a steamship company in Seattle. He served in the US Army, entering 5 months before the end of the war. Eight children born, 5 survived to adulthood (all of which were from the second marriage). 5. Irma Hannah (sometimes spelled Orma in some sources, but I only knew her as Irma – 1893-1975, born in Sherman County). Married Guy Speight Ellis (1883-1952, transplant from Cincinnati, Arkansas). They obtained ownership of the house after John and Hannah’s death in the 1930s. Four daughters (I descend from her youngest). 6. Ivan John (1893-1910, Irma’s twin, didn’t quite make it to adulthood).
The 1902 HR Glacier article is probably a good way to close out, and would make a good caption for the photo (many thanks for sharing the image, btw):
J. I. Miller, who bought the Charles Hayner place seven or eight years ago, is a successful fruit grower. He has good orchards and big strawberry patches. This year, in connection with his own place, he had charge of Bob Wright’s strawberry patch adjoining. His strawberry crop averaged him $1.85 a crate. Mr. Miller uses the following brand on his fruit boxes: "Stumpy Fruit Farm, J. I. Miller & Co., proprietors". His wife and children compose the "Co." He claims to have 900 apple trees and 1,000 stumps. The stumps will be handy to pick fruit from when the trees grow tall. Mr. Miller’s son Willie broke the record as a strawberry picker this last season, leaving out the big days’ work of Lee Buskirk with the wonderful berries on the Jones place. Willie Miller picked 244 boxes of strawberries in one day. His sisters, Jennie and Maud, for several seasons were champions at strawberry picking, but this season their 15-year-old brother distanced them. Mr. Miller has a good farm, a good home, intelligent and industrious children, and is well satisfied with his lot.
Arthur
Thanks, Ben, that’s a great story. I like the name "Stumpy Fruit Farm." I wish I had one of those boxes!
Jana Miller Mehlhorn
I remember this as Aunt Irma’s house when I was a child. We had many holiday dinners there. I also remember when Glen, Irma’s grandson drowned when he was about 16. The funeral was so painful as he was a beautiful young man.
Jana Miller Mehlhorn
My grandfather was William Miller. My dad was also William. Grandfather died when my dad was about six years old. I remember Gramma very well.
Charlott
J. Miller was John Miller. He came west and took out government land in the Wasco/Moro area. How it came about, I don’t have a clue, but in 1895 he traded his land in Sherman County, for the farm that Hayner had about 7 miles outside of H. R. on the west side. Hayner and his wife Ruby then moved up to Sherman County where they remained the remainder of their lives. Hayner died in 1939 and Ruby in 1942.
Miller raised both apples and strawberries and one year shipped out about 800 crates.
Miller’s wife’s name was Hannah. Their children were: Virginia Ausdal, Maud, William, Ephriam, Irma Ellis, and Ivan
Ben M. Angel
Irma was my great grandmother.
I think the reason that John I. Miller (whose first patent in Sherman County, east of Monkville, dated back to 1886 – and was extended in 1891) was able to trade was because he had a larger plot of land than Charles Dewitt Hayner (and wife Ruby Dee Moore Hayner) did (both Illinois-born, Charles and Ruby were 33 and 29, respectively, and according to my notes, they had three young daughters at the time of the trade). When the Millers took over the Hayner plot in 1894, they rechristened it "Stumpy Orchard Farm" (or "Stumpy Fruit Farm" as one Hood River Glacier reporter on Aug. 8, 1902, wrote).
The Miller family was as follows:
John I. Miller (some say the I. stands for Isaiah, others Isaac, a few suggest Ivan – 1868-1932, also born in Illinois)
Hannah Badger Miller (1853-1933, born in Indiana)
and children:
1. Virginia Belle or "Jennie" (1882-1919, born in Pierce City, Missouri) who married Thomas A. Van Ausdale (she survived her husband by about 11 years, but died in the Influenza pandemic of 1918-19). Two children, one of whom survived to adulthood.
2. Maud Margaret (1884-1904, born in Lawrence, Kansas) who died unmarried of sudden stomach trouble that came about one evening, following her having "driven some visitors back to their homes" (probably coincidental).
3. William Abraham or "Willie" (1887-1920, born in Monkland on April 7), who married Leona Ethel Hunt (1886-1951, born the eldest of her family in Springfield, Missouri). Five children.
4. Ephraim Ashley (1888-1967), who first married Cora M. Carter (1891-1911, died shortly after childbirth of her first born), and then later Marion N. Hollinshead (1893-1976). He worked as a lumberman, a citrus farm laborer in California, and a pipefitter for a steamship company in Seattle. He served in the US Army, entering 5 months before the end of the war. Eight children born, 5 survived to adulthood (all of which were from the second marriage).
5. Irma Hannah (sometimes spelled Orma in some sources, but I only knew her as Irma – 1893-1975, born in Sherman County). Married Guy Speight Ellis (1883-1952, transplant from Cincinnati, Arkansas). They obtained ownership of the house after John and Hannah’s death in the 1930s. Four daughters (I descend from her youngest).
6. Ivan John (1893-1910, Irma’s twin, didn’t quite make it to adulthood).
The 1902 HR Glacier article is probably a good way to close out, and would make a good caption for the photo (many thanks for sharing the image, btw):
J. I. Miller, who bought the Charles Hayner place seven or eight years ago, is a successful fruit grower. He has good orchards and big strawberry patches. This year, in connection with his own place, he had charge of Bob Wright’s strawberry patch adjoining. His strawberry crop averaged him $1.85 a crate. Mr. Miller uses the following brand on his fruit boxes: "Stumpy Fruit Farm, J. I. Miller & Co., proprietors". His wife and children compose the "Co." He claims to have 900 apple trees and 1,000 stumps. The stumps will be handy to pick fruit from when the trees grow tall. Mr. Miller’s son Willie broke the record as a strawberry picker this last season, leaving out the big days’ work of Lee Buskirk with the wonderful berries on the Jones place. Willie Miller picked 244 boxes of strawberries in one day. His sisters, Jennie and Maud, for several seasons were champions at strawberry picking, but this season their 15-year-old brother distanced them. Mr. Miller has a good farm, a good home, intelligent and industrious children, and is well satisfied with his lot.
Arthur
Thanks, Ben, that’s a great story. I like the name "Stumpy Fruit Farm." I wish I had one of those boxes!
Jana Miller Mehlhorn
I remember this as Aunt Irma’s house when I was a child. We had many holiday dinners there. I also remember when Glen, Irma’s grandson drowned when he was about 16. The funeral was so painful as he was a beautiful young man.
Jana Miller Mehlhorn
My grandfather was William Miller. My dad was also William. Grandfather died when my dad was about six years old. I remember Gramma very well.