Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Platt S. Miller's Magazine Cover


Platt S. Miller married Catherine Kimmerly on New Year's Day in 1854. The marriage took place in Napanee, Lennox and Addington County, in what is now the Province of Ontario, Canada. Catharine was my wife Ellen's first cousin, four times removed.

Although I had information about Platt and Catherine, Platt again came to my attention when I discovered his photo on the cover of the Ontario Genealogical Society's quarterly magazine, Families, Vol. 32, No. 2 (pictured to the right) from May 1993, while I was doing some volunteer proofreading work for the OGS.

This find was a stroke of luck! Although the information about the cover photo of Platt is not sourced, it nonetheless provides several leads about Platt, Catharine and their family. The following is the information provided about Platt and his photo:

"This photograph of Platt S. Miller, metal moulder, shown with the tools of his trade, comes to us from Margaret Jane Snider of Ocean Springs, MS.

Platt S. Miller was born in Napanee, Canada West, on 17 December 1830. He was the son of Garrett Miller, tailor, and Eleanor Wright.

Platt married Catherine Kimmerly on 1 January 1854 in Napanee. Their known children are: Margaret A. Eleanor, born 20 Novemeber 1854; Henry, born c.1856; George Maitland, born c.1860; Alice Felindann, born 5 May 1862 in Napanee; Catherine Adelaide; Francis Augustus; Aseneth, died at 6 or 7 years.

Platt and Catherine lived in Napanee through the 1860s then moved to the village of Almont, township of Almont, Lapeer County, Michigan, where Platt worked at the Lockhurd Foundry.

Catherine Kimmerly was born 1 July 1828/9 in Canada West, the daughter of Henry Kimmerly and Margaret Fretz, and the granddaughter of Andrew Kimmerly, UEL. She died 25 October 1906.

Platt S. Miller died 24 September 1900 in Almont and was buried there in the Ferson cemetery with his wife.

The original of this photo is a tintype, and is unusual in that Mr. Miller is pictured in his work clothes and with his tools. People of that period are usually photographed in their finery, so this picture is to be valued."

Platt and Catherine can be found living in Almont in the 1870, 1880, and 1900 US Federal Census records. In 1900, they reported that they had nine children but that only four were still living at the time. Thus far, I have been able to find eight of the nine children. More work is obviously need to track down their missing child.

The collection of Families can be found in the 'Members Only' section of the Ontario Genealogical Society's website at http://www.ogs.on.ca/.


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