THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Hedwig Michel; Born: 29
Mar 1892, Frankfort, Germany; entered K.U. 22 Dec 1941.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "Came from Germany to join
some years after Doctor's death. A capable, energetic person who did a great
deal to rebuilding the store's business and engineered turning the Unity
property over to the state to become the "Koreshan State Park."
SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX; United States; Vol 2: Hedwig Michel; Date of
Birth: 29 March 1892; Date of death: August 1982 in Florida; SS#:
265-60-8655; Estero, Florida.
Burial: Buried on the grounds at the Koreshan State Historic Site,
Inscription on stone: "One who made a difference," Hedwig Michel; Born at
Frankfort am Main, Germany, 29 Mar 1892; Died: 5 Aug 1982; Member, President,
Spiritual Leader of the K.U. 1944-1982. "You are building for future
generations" "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for
humanity."; Presented in loving memory by the people of Florida.
MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with
participation by Lovelle McCready: Hedwig Michel arrives in Estero.--Page 90
Laurie Bubbett, Hedwig Michel, Claude J. Rahn and Anne W. Lewis, on motion of
Hedwig, seconded by Laurie and unanimously carried, it was decided to contact
the proper state authorities about having the home grounds perpetuated as a
memorial park.--Page 91.
BIO OF HEDWIG MICHEL: THE AMERICAN EAGLE, October 1993, Estero Florida; The
Koreshan Story Continues--Hedwig Michel--The Last Koreshan by Sara Rea.
"Hedwig Michel was born in Frankfurt, Germany on March 29, 1892, the youngest
of four children born to Ferdinand Michel, a professor of languages and
scholar, and Emma Wertheimer Michel, an educator and historian. The Michels
were devout orthodox Jews, but only their son was raised in the Jewish
tradition. The three girls were not as strictly schooled in religion, but
were well educated nonetheless. The Michels operated a boarding school in
Frankfurt for some thirty years and were actively involved in the music and
art of the city.
Hedwig's brother, Max, was an attorney and associated with the mayor of
Frankfurt and the cultural aspects of the city. Her sister Elsa was a gifted
artist, well-known for her beautiful ceramics, and sister Ida was an X-ray
technician of some note in the early days of that scientific field. Hedwig
had been trained for business, and she was a secretary of a high school for
five years. She then became the manager of a corporation which promoted
Frankfurt's municipal theaters, operas, plays, literature and the fine arts.
She worked with Dr. William Steinberg to reorganize, and then managed, the
Frankfurt Philharmonic Orchestra with from 40 to 60 professional musicians.
Dr. Steinberg was the orchestra's principal conductor and did some conducting
of both the Boston and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras in later years. Hedwig
arranged the orchestra's concert tours in more than 40 cities throughout
Germany.
In her last three years in Germany, Hedwig operated and was headmistress
of a boarding school situated in her own beautiful 19-room mansion. She heard
about the Koreshans from an American teacher of English, Peter Bender, who
Hedwig had hired for her school. He gave her Dr. Teed's book "Cellular
Cosmogony" to read, and it fascinated her.
HEDWIG FINDS ESTERO. In 1940 Hedwig had to flee Nazi Germany. She
attempted to bring her personal possessions with her and sent some twenty van
loads of them on ahead. These were confiscated at the Belgian port of
Antwerp, and Hedwig arrived in America virtually penniless. Her brother, Max,
and his family were already living in New York, but as she and Max were not on
the best of terms, she did not feel welcome there.
In New York Hedwig found a letter addressed to her from the Koreshan
Unity management asking her to come to Estero. Apparently Peter Bender had
notified the Koreshans of her impending arrival in the United States. Hedwig
made contact with the Koreshan Unity soon after she read the letter, and on
May 30th she came to Estero. By then Hedwig had made a vow to herself to be
of help wherever needed without material gain as proof of her sincerest
appreciation for the generosity of the United States Government in allowing
foreigners the benefit of the freedom of their country.
FADING GLORY. At that time the Koreshan Unity membership had dwindled to
35 mostly elderly people. The buildings were in disrepair, gardens full of
weeds, and the Koreshan store was in appalling condition. At first Hedwig
stayed with a former member, and after the requisite six month trial period of
living in the settlement she was accepted as a full-fledged member in
December, 1941.
Hedwig often reminisced about her early days in the Unity. She said her
first duty assignment was to clean the ladies' rest rooms in the
newly-constructed Estero River Trailer Park, a task which she did not refuse.
However, because of the lack of 24-hour electricity, the trailer parker could
not go into operation at that time, so she never really had to follow through
on that particular assignment. She was elected to the board in 1944 and
became treasurer in 1945 and secretary in 1949.
While she did not do "rest room duty", Hedwig turned her energy to
nursing the often-ailing residents. She was a healer, using old-time remedies
and herbs which she had become familiar with in Germany during World War I
days. She also sewed dresses for the three oldest members, Emma Norton (Dr.
Teed's sister), Etta Silverfriend and Ida Fischer. She cared for Etta
Silverfriend through Etta's terminal battle with breast cancer.
ROLLS UP HER SLEEVES. In 1942 Hedwig was asked by the board to
reorganize the general store and put it on a profitable basis. Hedwig said
she found $5.00 in unpaid bills due various wholesale houses and some $700 in
bills owned the Unity by customers. The store was dirty, poorly stocked, and
in total disarray. As she set about putting the store in order, she found
help and support in Estero outside the Unity and mostly opposition from
within. She learned that it was tradition to oppose the storekeeper because
the members believed the storekeeper had access to the best food while they
got "the rotten stuff".
Hedwig said she worked long hours, usually "from 8 in the morning to 10
at night". One of her regrets during those years was that it took so much of
her time and energy she did not have a chance to socialize with the old
members and really get to know them as she would have liked to. However, she
never refused to see sick persons when called upon and treated them as best
she could.
For a while, during a period when they did not have a cook, Hedwig cooked
for 15 members in the back of the store during working hours. She was glad to
be able to put some of her artistic talents to work from time to time. She
was asked to come to the schoolhouse and help children with singing lessons by
accompanying them on the piano. She also started a summer camp in the Trailer
Park, supervising 18 children three times a week for play and exercise from 9
AM to 2 PM, and provided them with lunch.
THE ENTREPRENEUR. The American Red Cross presented Hedwig with an Award
of Merit for conducting some of their fund campaigns during World War II.
Ever looking for ways to earn money for the Unity, Hedwig became an agent for
Tamiami Trail Tours in Estero and also established a Western Union Office
there. She then sectioned off one side of the store building overlooking the
river and put in a restaurant, specializing in fresh trout and hush puppies.
Directly across the road from the store she had Standard Oil put in a gas
station which was operated by the Koreshan Unity for several years.
It was in January, 1944 that Hedwig became a member of the Ecclesia, the
governing council of the Koreshan Unity. She took over the management of the
Planetary Court on March 8, 1944. The building was badly in need of cleaning,
repair and remodeling. For many years various people had lived and died
there, their old belongings left without care to succumb to the ravages of
rats, bugs and the weather (wind and rain blew in). In those years it was
called the "dead house", and the old members refused to live in it. And yet,
when the board decided to install sanitary facilities in the Planetary Court,
the old members were scandalized, declaring it was "immoral to put a toilet in
the House". The remodeling went on, however, and Hedwig informed them the
Planetary Court would be used as a guest house and she was sure that the
"outsiders would not suffer under such an immorality".
In 1946 Allen Andrews, president of the Koreshan Unity, appointed Hedwig
as treasurer when that office became vacant by the death of Frank Lewis. In
August of that year, the store was remodeled, painted, and electric
refrigerators were installed for food storage. The eight rooms above the
store were set up as guest rooms and, with the advent of full-time electric
power, the trailer park was put into operation.
Hedwig had far more vision and energy than the elderly group of Koreshans
cared to deal with. They objected to many of the innovative programs Hedwig
wanted to engage in, but she went ahead with a number of them. She also set
about to restore the botanical gardens and the cultural programs and festivals
that had been the keynote of the early Koreshan lifestyle. She wanted to
revitalize the adult education programs, which Dr. Teed espoused at the turn
of the century when adult education was unheard of.
AGAINST THE TIDE. After several fires which destroyed the publishing
house and corporate offices, and floods which caused great damage, the
Koreshan treasury was in dire straits. Hedwig was the last person officially
admitted as a Unity member. As the old members died off the decline
continued, and even Hedwig's valiant efforts could not stem the tide. In 1952
a directors' meeting was held to determine what would be the final fate of the
Koreshan Unity.
Should the land be sold for development? Hedwig refused to even consider
that. She insisted that some of the grounds be retained as an historical site
open to the public. She felt Dr. Teed's dream of a "New Jerusalem" was not
just a religious place but a peaceful haven in a natural setting where anyone
could enjoy the beautiful, unspoiled land God had created along with the labor
of creative minds. She had found this for herself in this lovely place in
Estero and was eager to share it.
When Hedwig learned that Germany was prepared to make reparations for war
losses, she traveled to Germany in 1954 to arrange for compensation and
possibly a pension. These funds helped give the Koreshan Unity a new lease on
life. They also enabled Hedwig to continue her struggle to have the Koreshan
settlement become a state park. In 1961, during Governor Farris Bryant's
tenure, the Koreshans' gift to the people became a reality. Their history was
kept intact and became the Koreshan State Historic Site. More than 300 acres
were deeded to the state, and it became a state park in 1967.
HER FINAL DAYS. In 1965 Hedwig resumed publication of the American
Eagle, focusing on philosophy and the wise use of land and nature. She also
wrote a column on gardening for the Fort Myers newspaper.
The final project Hedwig undertook was the building of the Koreshan
Library-Museum across Highway 41 from the settlement in 1979. Here the large
collection of books, papers and artifacts left by the Koreshans are stored,
waiting to be made available for review by historians and scholars in years to
come. In these one can find the vestiges of the ideas, ideals and dreams of
these unusual people.
Hedwig was expected to move into the beautiful air-conditioned apartment
on the second floor of the Library-Museum Building when it was completed. But
she could not bring herself to leave the Koreshan Settlement where she had
spent forty years of her life. She wanted to stay in "her garden" which she
had created and so lovingly tended.
A party was given for Hedwig on her 90th birthday with many notable
people and media representatives in attendance. At one point in the
proceedings she was referred to as the "last Koreshan", and she responded
firmly with, "There is no last. We shall continue."
However, later in that year of 1982, Hedwig Michel passed away in her
sleep. Her tour of duty on this plane of life was done. And, as she had not
wanted to leave "her garden" while she lived, she was not taken away after her
death. She is the only Koreshan buried within the settlement, and her marker
consists of a natural rock. Some people claim to see Hedwig's profile in the
stone. She was indeed the last Koreshan officially accepted into the Unity
and to live on the site of Dr. Teed's "New Jerusalem". But, as she said on
her 90th birthday, "We shall continue."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Elum C. Miles.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: "A Civil War Union
veteran."--William McCready
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr
1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number:
Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Elum
C. Miles; Sex: Male; Race: White; Age 78; Married one time; Number of years
married: 42; Place of birth: Connecticut; Place of birth of mother and
father: Connecticut; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Teacher;
Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and
write: yes.
ELECTED POSITION/Estero, Florida: 1 Sep 1904; Elum C. Miles, Council Member
PHONE CONVERATION: On April 12, 2005 I spoke with Mrs. Marjorie Miles, 316
15th Avenue South, Nampa, Idaho who was seeking information on Elum Miles.
She told me that she has pension papers -- Civil War Pension request which has
Annie Orway Graves signature on it. So, he apparently went with Annie when
they broke off from the Unity. She said his son was George Clark Miles and
his son was Harold C. Miles, her husband. She also said Elum wandered all
over the US and that she found him in Ohio in the 1850 census.
I searched the 1870 and 1880 census records and found Elum in Iowa in 1870
and Los Angeles in 1880. See sources for more informtion. [mlw]
April 26, 2005 -- Received in the mail, some information about Elum, including
a photocopy of a photo, circa 1880 See folder for more...
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Alice Miller.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Alice Miller: "Alice and
Jeannie were sisters. While they were still "outside Koreshans" in Chicago,
there was a pageant depicting the battle of San Juan Hill in the
Spanish-American War, and it could be seen free from the long porch of the
Miller's apartment so they invited Unity members to be their guests, including
Lovelle and me."
The Flaming Sword, Community Current Events, April 1933, p. 13: "Our readers
will learn with sincere regret of the passing of Mrs. Alice M. Fox Miller on
March 12 at her home in St. Petersburg after a protracted illness. Mrs. Miller
was one of the early converts to the cause of Koreshanity and had been
associated with the movement for about forty-five years. She was secretary
of the Society Arch-Triumphant after it was organized in Chicago, and later
was a contributor to the "The Flaming Sword" before the Northern division came
to Estero. She resumed contributing to "The Sword" over a year ago, despite
her impaired health. The excellence of her contributions was attested to by
written and spoken expressions of our readers. Mrs. Miller is survived by two
sons and their families, and also a sister, Mrs. Jeannie Miller, a resident of
the Unity."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: C. H. J. Miller married
Mamie (Marie) Weimar.
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Jeanie Miller; Born: 4
Nov 1857, Iowa.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Jeanie, mother: "Alice and
Jeanie were sisters. While they were still "outside Koreshans" in Chicago,
there was a pageant depicting the battle of San Juan Hill in the
Spanish-American War, and it could be seen free from the long porch of the
Miller's apartment so they invited Unity members to be their guests, including
Lovelle and me."
FLAMING SWORD, Vol.51, No.7, July 1937, p.13 -- "Community Current Events"
by D. J. Richards: "We received word from Mrs. Neva Sinclair of Hood River,
Oregon, that her mother, Jeannie F. Miller, died at her home and was buried on
the 24th of May. Mrs Miller or Sister Jeannie, as she was familiarly known to
us was much revered and respected member of the Unity for many years and her
faith in the Master and the ultimate triumph of Koreshanity remained evergreen
with her up to the very last."
FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by D. J. Richards, February 1937: "Mr.
John Miller of Miami arrived in Estero on January 12 with Brother Allen
Andrews. John was in the Unity about eleven years ago and at that time
assisted on the Linotype machine in our publishing house. At present he is
engaged at our gasoline station, a position he is filling in a most
satisfactory manner and we are much pleased to have John with us again."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Neva Miller
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Neva Miller: "Alice and
Jeanie were sisters. While they were still "outside Koreshans" in Chicago,
there was a pageant depicting the battle of San Juan Hill in the
Spanish-American War, and it could be seen free from the long porch of the
Miller's apartment so they invited Unity members to be their guests, including
Lovelle and me."
FLAMING SWORD, Vol.51, No.7, July 1937, p.13 -- "Community Current Events"
by D. J. Richards: "We received word from Mrs. Neva Sinclair of Hood River,
Oregon, that her mother, Jeannie F. Miller, died at her home and was buried on
the 24th of May. Mrs Miller or Sister Jeannie, as she was familiarly known to
us was much revered and respected member of the Unity for many years and her
faith in the Master and the ultimate triumph of Koreshanity remained evergreen
with her up to the very last."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Ruth Miller
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Ruth Miller: "Alice and
Jeanie were sisters. While they were still "outside Koreshans" in Chicago,
there was a pageant depicting the battle of San Juan Hill in the
Spanish-American War, and it could be seen free from the long porch of the
Miller's apartment so they invited Unity members to be their guests, including
Lovelle and me."
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Delia E. Millington;
Born 16 Jan 1825, Onondaga Hill, New York.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1900; Koreshan Community;
Enumeration date: 27 Jun 1900; Enumerator: A. A. Gardner; Precinct 6;
Microfilm number: 1240172; SD: 2; ED: 77; Sheet number: 16; Page number:
26: Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff: Delia Millington; Relation to head of
family: partner; Color: white; Sex: female; Born: Feb 1825; Age 75; Widow;
Mother of no children; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of mother and
father: New York; Occupation: assistant; Can read and write: yes; Can speak
English: yes; No. of months not employed: 0.
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Armstrong; Township:
Brady's Bend Twp.; Series M593, Microfilm Roll No.: 1300; Date of
enumeration: 11 Jul 1870; Enumerator: J. I. Halloleaugh, asst. marshall;
Page 62; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 3 Mar
2004; Line: 12; Name Catharine Mills; Age last birthday: 4; Sex: female;
Color: white; Place of birth: New York. *(Probably daughter of Mary C.
Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Numer: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
Catharine Mills; Relation to head of family: daughter; Marital status:
single; Gender: Female; Race: white; Age: 12; Place of birth: New York;
Occupation: Attending school; Father's birthplace: Maine; Mother's
birthplace: New York. (*Probably daughter of Mary C. Mills, who lived in
Koreshan Unity).
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Number: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
David C. Mills; Relation to head of family: son; Marital status: single;
Gender: Male; Race: white; Age: 3; Birthplace: New York; Father's
Birthplace: Maine; Mother's Birthplace: New York. (*Probably a son of Mary
C. Mills, who lived in the Koreshan Unity.)
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Armstrong; Township:
Brady's Bend Twp.; Series M593, Microfilm Roll No.: 1300; Date of
enumeration: 11 Jul 1870; Enumerator: J. I. Halloleaugh, asst. marshall;
Page 62; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 3 Mar
2004; Line: 9; Dwelling house Number: 320; Family Number: 331; Name: James
E. Mills; Age last birthday: 36; Sex: male; Color: white; Profession ,
occupation or trade: Consulting geologist and mining engineer; Value of Real
estate: $5000; Place of birth: Maine; Male citizen 21 ys. and up: yes.
(*Probably spouse of Mary C. Mills who lived in Koreshan Unity) (Also, living
with the James E. Mills family are two female house servants)
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Number: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
James E. Mills; Relation to head of family: Self; Marital status: Married;
Gender: male; Race: white; Age: 46; Birthplace: Maine; Occupation:
Geologist; Father's birthplace: Maine; Mother's Birthplace: Maine.
(*Probably spouse of Mary C. Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity) (Also, living
in the James E. Mills, home are two female teachers and one female domestic
servant.)
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Armstrong; Township:
Brady's Bend Twp.; Series M593, Microfilm Roll No.: 1300; Date of
enumeration: 11 Jul 1870; Enumerator: J. I. Halloleaugh, asst. marshall;
Page 62; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 3 Mar
2004; Line: 13; Name: Jane Mills; Age last birthday: 2; Sex: female;
Color: white; Place of birth: New York. (*Probably a daughter of Mary C.
Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Number: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
Jane Mills; Relation to head of family: daughter; Marital status: single;
Gender: female; Race: white; Age: 12; Birthplace: New York; Occupation:
Attending school; Father's birthplace: Maine; Mother's Birthplace: New York.
(*Probably a daughter of Mary C. Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity.)
*1900 U.S. Federal Census; State: Texas; County: Hunt; Town: Greenville;
Microfilm Roll No. T623, Roll 1647; SD: 2; ED: 122; Sheet: 3; Page: 96;
Enumeration date: 2 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Andrew S. Marshall; Ward: 2;
Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 15 Feb 2004; Address: 202 South Wesley
Street; Line: 21; Dwelling No.: 43; Family No. 42; Line: 22; Name: Jean
M. Foster; Relation to head of family: Boarder (family lives in boarding
house); Color: white; Sex: female; Month of birth: May; Year of birth:
1868; Age: 32; Marital status: married; No. of years married: 7; Mother of
how many children: 3; Number of these children living: 2; Place of birth:
New York; Place of birth of father: Maine; Place of birth of mother: New
York; Occupation: Landscape artist; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read
and write: yes; Can speak English: yes. (*Probably a daughter of Mary C.
Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1910 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Name of
Incorporated Place: Chicago; Township or other division: Tract AF 24;
Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Julia E. Jones; SD: 1; ED:
1415; Sheet: 7B; Ward: 32; Page: 87; www.HeritageQuest; Transcribed by
Joyce Nelle Ratliff; 15 Feb 2004; Address: 9847 Charles Street; Line: 95;
Dwelling: 149; Family No.: 159; Name: Jean M. Foster; Relation to head of
family: head; Sex: female; Color: white; Age last birthday: 41; Marital
status: Divorced; Number of children born: (?); Number of those children
living: 2; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of father: Maine; Place
of birth of mother: New York; Speaks English or other: English; Trade or
profession: Physician; Employer, employee or works on own: OA; Out of work
Apr 15: No; Can read and write: yes; Home owned or rented: Owned; Free or
Mortgaged: Free; Farm or house: House. (*Probably a daughter of Mary C.
Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1920 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Township: Calumet
Twp, Precinct 100; City: Chicago; Ward: 32; Enumeration date: 13 Jan 1920;
Enumerator: Anna A. Richardson; Microfilm T625 Roll 351; SD: 1; ED: 2030;
Sheet: 13A; Page: 120; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 15 Feb 2004;
Address: 9832 Charles Street; Line: 20; Dwelling: 250; Family: 277; Name:
Jean M. Foster; Relationship of this person to the head of the family: Head;
Home owned or rented: Owned; If owned, free or mortgaged: Mortgaged; Sex:
female; Color: white; Age last birthday: 51; Marital status: widow; Whether
able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: New York; Place of birth of
father: Maine; Place of birth of mother: New York; Able to speak English:
yes; Occupation: None. (*Probably a daughter of Mary C. Mills, who lived in
Koreshan Unity)
THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Mary C. Mills; Born: 11
Jun 1843.
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Armstrong; Township:
Brady's Bend Twp.; Series M593, Microfilm Roll No.: 1300; Date of
enumeration: 11 Jul 1870; Enumerator: J. I. Halloleaugh, asst. Marshall;
Page 62; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 3 Mar
2004; Line: 10; Name: Mary C. Mills; Age last birthday: 28; Sex: female;
Color: white; Occupation: Keeping house; Place of birth: New York.
(*Probably the Mary C. Mills who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Number: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
Mary C. Mills; Relation to head of family: wife; Marital status: married;
Gender: female; Race: white; Age: 38; Birthplace: New York; Occupation:
Keeping house; Father's birthplace: Scotland; Mother's birthplace: Scotland.
(*Probably the Mary C. Mills who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1900 U.S. Federal Census; State: Texas; County: Hunt; Town: Greenville;
Microfilm Roll No. T623, Roll 1647; SD: 2; ED: 122; Sheet: 3; Page: 96;
Enumeration date: 2 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Andrew S. Marshall; Ward: 2;
Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 15 Feb 2004; Address: 202 South Wesley
Street; Line: 21; Dwelling No.: 43; Family No. 42; Name: Mary C. Mills;
Relation to head of family: Boarder (family all living in Boarding house);
Color: white; Sex: female; Month of birth: June; Year of birth: 1841; Age:
58; Marital status: (Looks like a "D", which means divorced); Mother of how
many children: 0; Number of these children living: 0; Place of birth: New
York; Place of birth of father: Scotland; Place of birth of mother:
Scotland; Can read and write: yes; Can speak English: yes. (Probably the
Mary C. Mills who lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1910 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Name of
Incorporated Place: Chicago; Township or other division: Tract AF 24;
Enumeration date: 21 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Julia E. Jones; SD: 1; ED:
1415; Sheet: 7B; Ward: 32; Page: 87; www.HeritageQuest; Transcribed by
Joyce Nelle Ratliff; 15 Feb 2004; Address: 9847 Charles Street; Line: 98;
Relation to head of family: Mother (living with her daughter Jean/Jane); Sex:
female; Color: white; Age last birthday: 67; Marital status: widow; Mother
of how many children: 7; Number of those children living: 4; Place of birth:
New York; Place of birth of father: Scotland; Place of birth of mother:
Scotland; Speaks English or other: English; Trade or occupation: none; Can
read and write: yes. (Probably the Mary C. Mills, who lived in Koreshan
Unity)
*1920 U.S. Federal Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Township: Calumet
Twp, Precinct 100; City: Chicago; Ward: 32; Enumeration date: 13 Jan 1920;
Enumerator: Anna A. Richardson; Microfilm T625 Roll 351; SD: 1; ED: 2030;
Sheet: 13A; Page: 120; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 15 Feb 2004;
Address: 9832 Charles Street; Line: 25; Name: Mary Mills; Relationship of
this person to the head of the family: Mother (Living with her daughter,
Jean/Jane Mills Foster); Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday:
77; Marital status: widow; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of
birth: New York; Place of birth of father: Scotland; Place of birth of
mother: English (?); Occupation: None. (Probably the Mary C. Mills, who
lived in Koreshan Unity)
*http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/GenealogyMWeb/DeathSearchServlet: Name:
Mary C. Mills; Sex: female; Race: white; Age: unknown; Certificate number:
6022917; Date: 7 Sep 1921; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; State: Illinois;
Date of filing: 29 Sep 1921. (*Probably Mary C. Mills, who lived in Koreshan
Unity)
*1870 U.S. Federal Census; State: Pennsylvania; County: Armstrong; Township:
Brady's Bend Twp.; Series M593, Microfilm Roll No.: 1300; Date of
enumeration: 11 Jul 1870; Enumerator: J. I. Halloleaugh, asst. marshall;
Page 62; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 3 Mar
2004; Line: 11; Name: William E. Mills; Age last birthday: 6; Sex: male;
Color: white; Place of birth: New York. (*Probably son of Mary C. Mills who
lived in Koreshan Unity)
*1880 U.S. Federal Census; State: Missouri; County: St. Louis; Town: St.
Louis; Family History Library Film: 1254734; NA Film Number: T9-0734; St.
Louis Enumeration: Second Enumeration; Page Numer: 371C;
www.familysearch.org; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 8 Mar 2004; Name:
William E. Mills; Relation to head of family: son; Marital status: single;
Gender: male; Race: white; Age: 16; Birthplace: New York; Occupation:
Attending school; Father's birthplace: Maine; Mother's birthplace: New York.
(*Probably son of Mary C. Mills, who lived in Koreshan Unity.)