Hoping that someone in Whiteside County can help me find more information on my ancestor, Christopher MILLER and his wife Mary CARNEY. Christopher was born in Switzerland on 29 June 1840; Mary was born in Ballaghaderreen, County Mayo (now in Roscommon) Ireland on 10 May 1835. They arrived in US in 1863, according to Chris's info in the 1900 census of Whiteside County. Their children were: John F. MILLER (1870-1942), married (1) Harriett ROARK, (2) Ada LINDSLEY LESEMANN; Anna MILLER, married Michael GLEASON; Margaret ("Maggie") MILLER, m. Edward MANNION; and Edward MILLER, m. Lenora TEHAN. Christopher and Mary are buried in Calvary Cemetery in Sterling.
Children of John and Harriett ("Hattie") MILLER were Edward J. MILLER, m. Edna MORRIS; Emma Hazel MILLER, m. Ernest KELLY; Veronica ("Vera") MILLER, m. (1) L. DAWSON, (2) J. KELLY, (3) C. STEVENS; Clarence Leo MILLER, m. Hazel COBB; Harriett MILLER, died as a child; John ("Honus") MILLER; and Mary MILLER, m. L. GARLAND. John and Hattie are buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Harmon.
I am granddaughter of Clarence and Hazel MILLER, who lived in Rock Falls, and would appreciate any information on these families or correspondence from family members. Thanks!

I was checking the 1900 census for people in Whiteside Co. born in Switzerland. I have August Hoover, b. abt 1875 Switzerland who showed up in Whiteside Co. about 1895, and cannot find any other trace of him.

Have you found any other relatives to Christopher Miller, that are in Whiteside Co., or know why he happened to settle in the county? Was he married in the US?

Our August Hoover married Georgiana McNeil and their daugher Florence, married Nicholas Frederick Miller, son of August Ferdinand Miller, b.1852 Hohenfeld, Germany (a different Miller family than yours)

It would be interesting to know why people from Switzerland were coming to Whiteside Co., and if they possibly had relatives already there.

I agree that these are interesting coincidences. I do not have information on any Swiss relations for my Christopher Miller, unfortunately. I certainly wish I knew why he chose to come to Whiteside County. I hope that we both find our answers one day.

Were you able to find --
marriage record for Christopher and Mary
death record

Do you know of any family stories about Christopher and his family in Switzerland? We have some stories we would like to compare.

Have you found any immigration papers?

Were they married in US --I didn't see an Illinois marriage record for them.

I'm going to start trying to track the people listed in Whiteside Co. on the 1900 census, born in Switzerland and see if we get anywhere.

The following is a list of
Jacob Smith, b. 1834 - Rock Fallas
John Hoerler, b. 1869 - Erie
Albert Kuhn, b. 1876 - Fenton
Louise Liechty, b. 1845 - Fulton
Khranbuhl Family - Hananaman
(this family had a son b. Switz 1891)
Christopher Miller, b. 1848 - Montmorency
Mariella Hunder - b. 1817 - Morrison
Terissa Rapp - Portland
Spinden Family - Sterling
Fred Prince, b. 1868 Sterling
Fred Fichter, b. 1880 - Union Grove

Following is a list of people named "Mary Carney" (did not include soundex spelling), whose birth date was about 1840 and arrived approximately 1863:
(ship list can be viewed on ancestry.com.

Name Arrival Date Estimated birth year Gender Port of Departure Place of Origin Ship Name View Ship Image View Passenger List

Mary Carney 18 Apr 1863 abt 1841 Female Liverpool Great Britain Orient

Mary Carney 3 Nov 1863 abt 1842 Female Liverpool Ireland Isaac Webb

Mary Carney 23 Sep 1864 abt 1842 Female Liverpool Ireland Sidon

Mary Carney 23 May 1864 abt 1842 Female
Liverpool Great Britain Belle Wood

Mary Carney 8 Nov 1865 abt 1842 Female Liverpool Ireland Erin

I could not find a "Christopher" Miller, but he could be listed under an initial or a middle name (sometimes people had 4 or 5 names). Also there is a possibility that he was born in Switzerland but relocated later and did not leave from Sitzerland.

Very likely his name was originally "Mueller" or some variation.

These are males listed who have a birthdate abt 1840 and arrived abt 1863:


Name Arrival Date Estimated birth year Gender Port of Departure Place of Origin Ship Name

Fritz Meller 15 Mar 1864 abt 1841 Male Southampton Switzerland Hansa

Jean Mueller 27 Jun 1865 abt 1842 Male Switzerland Borussia

Daniel Muller 29 Nov 1865 abt 1842 Male Le Havre Switzerland Hermann

Fred Muller 23 Jun 1863 abt 1838 Male Le Havre Switzerland Goschen

Gottl Muller 18 Sep 1865 abt 1841 Male Switzerland Cella

Henrich Muller 17 Apr 1862 abt 1840 Male Le Havre Switzerland Windsor Forest

Isaac Muller 1 Mar 1864 abt 1841 Male Le Havre Switzerland Magdalena

Jacob Muller 6 Mar 1863 abt 1838 Male Le Havre Switzerland Wm Nelson

Jacob Muller 13 Aug 1864 abt 1842 Male Switzerland Favorita

John Muller 29 Nov 1865 abt 1842 Male Le Havre Switzerland Hermann

Hi,

My Great Great Grandmother was a Carney. Her name was Winifred and supposedly immigrated in 1867. She came from County Mayo also. I am not aware of a Mary but what I have is pretty sketchy. She married a Timothy O'Rourke (which is sometimes spelled Timothy O Rourke.

Do you have any more info on Mary Carney

I think it's likely we are talking about sisters. My great-great-grandmother Mary Carney's sister was named Winifred, and she married Timothy O'Rourke. Mary was born around 1840 and raised in Ballaghaderreen, County Mayo. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1863, according to census records. Mary married Christopher Miller, who immigrated to U.S. from Switzerland.
Here they are in Whiteside County censuses:
1870 census Montmorency Twp., Whiteside, IL
13/13 Miller Christopher 30 m w Farmer 1200 440 Switzerland
-- Mary 30 f w Keeping house Ireland
-- Ann 1 4/12 f w Ill
-- John 3/12 m w Ill (my great-grandfather)
==========
1880 census Montmorency Township, Whiteside, IL
109/109 Miller, Christopher W M 39 married Farmer Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland
--, Mary W F 37 wife Keeping House cannot write Ireland Ireland Ireland
--, Anna W F 11 daughter At home Illinois Switzerland Ireland
--, John C W M 10 son Attending school Illinois Switzerland Ireland
=================
1900 census Montmorency Township, Whiteside, IL
Miller, Christopher Head W M June 1840 59 m[arried] 32 [years] Switzerland Ireland Switzerland 1863 37 Na Farmer
--Mary Wife W F Feb 1840 60 m 32 4 [children] 4 [living] Ireland Ireland Ireland 1863 37
--Edward Son 24
================
I have a photo of Chris and Mary with their children and Mary's sister Winnifred. Let me know if you would like to see it.

Chris Miller died in 1907. Mary died in 1916. Mary and Chris are buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Sterling, IL, not far from her sister's and brother-in-law's graves.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Coleen

Wow this is great! I wish I had more or any information for you! Do you live in Sterling? My Great Grandmother Winifred O'Rourke married Mark Dean Bickford, son of Joseph and Harriet (Hattie) Bickford there in Sterling.

It is so nice to hear from you! I would very much like to see the picture of Winifred! I have one of her and her family (O'Rourke) if you would like to see

Do you have a bare bones pedigree on Ancestry that I can see of you and your family? I am always wanting to put more relatives and if you have any ancestors of Mary and Winifred that would be awesome too.

Thank you in advance!

Mike Klemm

Hi, Cousin Mike--
I don't live in Sterling, but a lot of my relatives did. My dad was raised in Rock Falls, and I lived there a short time as a little girl. I am in Arkansas now, and I have heard of the Bickford connection to Mountain Home, AR.
I have invited you as a guest to view my Ancestry tree for the Christopher Miller family.
Let's correspond privately. You can write me at this e-mail address, and then we can exchange info, photos, etc.:
coleen@calypsopoet.net
Coleen Miller Barger