Ida Eleanor (Potter) Miller

Ida Eleanor (Potter) Miller

1890-1936


Ida Potter was born on April 7, 1890, in Summit Township, Juneau Co. WI, the second child of Bertram Jerome Potter and Emma Jane Grant. Bertram died when Ida was 11 years old, leaving her mother to raise Ida and her 5 siblings.


Despite the hardship of growing up in a fatherless home, Ida was able to graduate from Wonewoc High School on May 26, 1910. She began her teaching career that fall and taught at various schools around Wonewoc for the next eight years. She is known to have taught at Sheep Pasture Bluff School, District No. 10, Town of Lemonweir, Juneau Co. WI in 1911; Fox Point School Juneau Co, WI in 1912; and Elroy School, Juneau Co. WI year unknown. She may have taught at County Corners School, Woodland Twsp, Sauk Co WI, year unknown.


Ida married John Louis Miller on February 12, 1918. John was the son of Louis L. Miller and Magdalena Geisler of Hillsboro, Vernon Co. WI. At the time they were married, John had two children: Isadore, age 7, and Evan, age 4. John and Ida had two more children together: Ross Potter Miller, born in 1919 and Louis John Miller, born in 1924.


John and Ida lived on a farm on Plum Valley Road in Woodland Township, Sauk Co. WI. The farm was known as “Lone Pine Stock and Dairy Farm”. John was a breeder of pure bred Shorthorn and Durham cattle.


Ida was an active member of Women’s Relief Corps and the Royal Neighbors Lodge. She and her family were also active members and faithful workers of the Wonewoc Methodist Church.


Ida passed away from cancer at her home on April 27, 1936. She is buried in Pine Eden Cemetery, Wonewoc, Juneau Co. WI beside her husband and his first wife, Nellie Ferguson.


Written by: Howard H. Miller-grandson, son of Ross Potter Miller (www.howieandmyra.com)


Sources:

  1. Obituary, Mrs. John L. Miller (Newspaper assumed to be the Wonewoc Reporter or Hillsboro Sentry-Enterprise)
  2. Obituary, John L. Miller (Newspaper assumed to be the Wonewoc Reporter or Hillsboro Sentry-Enterprise)
  3. Ida E. Potter’s diploma from Wonewoc High School
  4. https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wijuneau/JuneauCoTeachrs.html
  5. 1922 Sauk Co. Plat Book published by Geo. A. Ogle & Co. Chicago IL
  6. Caption on family photos