Paul James Miller (1919 - 1988)

Born 20 Sep 1919 in Kennett, Dunklin, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Son of Evan James Miller and Bessie Mae (Hutchinson) Miller

Husband of Sarah Mae (Davidson) Miller — married 15 Oct 1938 in Kennett, Dunklin, Missouri, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1988 at age 69 in St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anita Turner-Ayres [send private message]

Biography

Paul James Miller was born in September 1919 to Evan James Miller and Bessie Mae Hutchinson. His birth family was a fairly large one and when he was in the third grade he went to work with the CC Camps to add income to the family. He was allowed to keep a small portion and the rest was automatically sent to his parents. During the depression, he was grateful to have a job and they also helped him keep up with his lessons.

Paul married Sarah Mae Davidson in a double wedding with his brother, John Daniel Miller, and her sister, Grace Davidson. The wedding took place on October 15, 1938 in Kennett, Missouri. The couple had four children: Joe, John, Shirley and Jim. These children all lived into adulthood, married and produced 9 grandchildren.

During World War II, Paul served in the Navy in the Pacific theater but I do not know which ship - only that he shipped out of California. I believe he and his brothers volunteered for service when America entered the war. I believe I remember one brother was unable to serve due to a heart condition, one died while serving (drowned) and one was saved from a fatal wound by his Bible which was in a tin case.

Papaw, as he was known to the grandkids, loved to go fishing and would take us every chance he got. He enjoyed trying to catch bass and once he caught a sting ray that covered the hood of my dad's truck. Another time he hooked a shark that jumped 'clean out of the water like a bass before twisting and snapping the line'. I honestly think he was happy to lose that fish.

Paul died just before Thanksgiving in 1988. He and Lady (Sarah Mae) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while he was in the hospital. He is buried in Frieden's Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sources

• first hand knowledge from his grand-daughter

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:A_Gathering_of_the_Aunts

Census Reports:

• 1920 US Federal Census: Missouri, Dunklin County, Independence; Sheet 5-A, Family 100, Lines 30-34; Evan J Miller, Head of Household

• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M84H-DJD : accessed 30 November 2020), Paul J Miller in household of Evan J Miller, Kennett Ward 2, Dunklin, Missouri, United States; citing ED 80, sheet 5A, line 34, family 100, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 910; FHL microfilm 1,820,910.

• 1930 US Federal Census: Missouri, New Madrid County, Anderson Township; Sheet 3B, Lines 26-33, Image 1131; Evan J Miller, Head of Household

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHN7-5XQ : accessed 30 November 2020), Paul J Miller in household of Evan J Miller, Anderson Township, New Madrid, Missouri, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 2, sheet 3B, line 30, family 54, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1213; FHL microfilm 2,340,948.

• 1940 US Federal Census: Missouri, New Madrid County, Anderson Township, District 72-3; Page 6B, Family 92, Lines 42-43; Paul Miller, Head of Household

• "Missouri, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLXB-MWJ1 : 3 March 2020), Paul James Miller, 16 Oct 1940; records extracted by FamilySearch, images digitized by Ancestry; citing Draft Registration, Gideon, New Madrid, Missouri, United States, NARA NAID 5833895 "Draft Registration Cards for Missouri, 10/16/1940 – 3/31/1947", National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri, FHL microfilm .

Marriage License:

• "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WGP5-XL6Z : 1 October 2019), Paul Miller, 15 Oct 1938; citing Marriage, Dunklin, Missouri, United States, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City; FHL microfilm 007425161.

Military Records:

• "Missouri, Reports of Separation Notices, 1941-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3C-RG54 : accessed 30 November 2020), Paul James Miller, 24 Oct 1945; citing Military Service, St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City.

Death Index Record:

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1P1-76Y : 22 August 2020), Paul J Miller, 22 Nov 1988; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Find A Grave:

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/203773755/paul-james-miller

In Wife's Obituary:

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKTC-TQRC : accessed 30 November 2020), Paul James Miller in entry for Mrs Sarah Mae Bridget Davidson Miller, Georgia, United States, 08 Feb 2001; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Savannah Morning News, born-digital text.

• Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confirmed by an autosomal AncestryDNA test match between Anita (Miller) Turner-Ayres and Connie Miller, her 1st cousin 1x removed. Their most-recent common ancestors are Evan Miller and Bessie Hutchinson, the great grandparents of Anita (Miller) Turner-Ayres and grandparents of Connie Miller. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 1st Cousin once Removed, based on sharing 295 cM across 16 segments.