Wendel Anthony Miller

#### **Birth**

Wendel Anthony Miller was the oldest child of Johann Müller and Mary Clifford. He was born on July 18th, 1896 in San Francisco, California.

Wendel Miller was baptized on July 26th, 1896 at St. Boniface Church by Reverend Maximilian Hermann. His godparents were Peter Mueller and Margaret Clifford.

#### **Family**

Wendel Anthony Miller married Lucy M. Boegershausen on June 4th, 1921 in San Francisco County, California.

Children of Wendel Anthony Miller and Lucy M. Boegershausen:

1. Lucy Marie Miller

At the time of Lucy's birth, the Millers lived at 3132 Washington Street in San Francisco. Wendel was working as an advertising manager for International Harvester Company.

Wendel Anthony Miller married Kathryn Lois Kelly on April 24th, 1929 in San Francisco.

Children of Wendel Anthony Miller and Kathryn Lois Kelly:

1. Peter Wendell Miller
2. John Michael Miller

The family finances improved considerably after 1945 when Wendel was able to sell several trucks. He was a good salesman and extremely frugal since he was raised in extreme poverty. The only thing that Wendel and Kathryn disagreed about was spending money. Kathryn came from a much more affluent background.

#### **Employment**

Wendel Miller worked as a stenographer for H. W. Johns-Manville Company in 1915 while living at his parents house on Alta Street. His occupation remained the same through 1917 but his employer was unspecified. By June 5th, 1918, Wendel was employed for International Harvester Company at 201 Portrero Avenue in San Francisco.

##### **World War II**

Wendel worked five days a week for International Harvester Company, a dealership that sold used trucks during World War II. He would find trucks that were not being used, some which were in disrepair. Sometimes Wendel would purchase the trucks himself with a partner, Jim Porter, who was the manager of the dealership. This was their own enterprise and was separate from the actual company. Instead of selling these trucks, the partners would lease them to shipyards.

##### **Post World War II**

Following the war, the dealership was relocated to a larger facility where Wendel became very successful on commission selling to companies such as Montgomery Ward. With only a grammar school education, supplemented by night classes, he made more money than many high school graduates. He often worked from home after dinner by making phone calls to prospective buyers.

Wendel was a member of the Oakland Rotary and Athens Club.

#### **Death**

Wendel Anthony Miller passed away on May 22nd, 1957 in his home at 3997 Oakmore Drive in Oakland, California. He died from metastatic melanoma in the liver for 5 months and melanoma in his right eye for 4 years. His funeral was held at Gantner, Felder, Kenny Chapel on Saturday, May 25th, 1957 at 9:00am and continued to St. Anne's Church, where a Requiem High Mass was celebrated at 9:30am. Wendel was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.

#### **References**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Certificate of Baptism for Anthony Wendelin Miller, Obtained from the Baptismal Register of St. Boniface Church on 01 June 1918. Document in possession of John Michael Miller (2016).
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, *FamilySearch* (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZK3-VLH : 12 December 2014), Wendell A Miller, 1917-1918; citing San Francisco City no 13, California, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,544,265.
3. ↑ A Father's Legacy by John Michael Miller, What were your family finances like? In the possession of Marilyn (Hagerman) Miller on 13 March 2016.
4. ↑ "Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory For Year Commencing April 1915", online images, *Archive.org*(https://ia801406.us.archive.org/9/items/sanfranciscocali1915polk/sanfranciscocali1915polk\_bw.pdf : accessed 22 August 2016).
5. ↑ "Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory For Year Commencing April 1917", online images, *Archive.org*(https://ia800203.us.archive.org/26/items/crockerlangleysa1916sanfrich/crockerlangleysa1916sanfrich\_bw.pdf : accessed 22 August 2016).
6. ↑ "Crocker-Langley San Francisco Directory For Year Commencing April 1917", online images, *Archive.org*(https://ia600206.us.archive.org/5/items/crockerlangleysa1917sanf/crockerlangleysa1917sanf\_bw.pdf : accessed 22 August 2016).
7. ↑ A Father's Legacy by John Michael Miller, Where did your father go to work every day? In the possession of Marilyn (Hagerman) Miller on 11 March 2016.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Record of Funeral for Wendell A. Miller, 22 May 1957, Gantner, Felder, Kenny Funeral Home.