JOHN J. MILLER FAMILY

John J. Miller was born in 1887 in a small town of Radojevo, Yugoslavia, which is about 75 miles north of Belgrad, close to the Romania border. He came to America in 1906. He did not know a soul, nor a word of English. His name was changed from Yovan Milosev to John Miller.

His first job was in the stone quarries of Pennsylvania. He then migrated to Naperville and found a job on the Dewey Barnard farm on Hobson Road, east of Naperville. He later married a neighbor’s daughter, Gertrude Kling, who was the daughter of Eugene Kling, on a farm located on Rt. 53 and Hobson Road. He then rented a farm from Mr. James Nichols, mayor of Naperville, his friend, his inspiration, and encouragement. In 1926 he bought a farm in partnership with James Nichols known as the Old Royce Farm south of Naperville now known as the Lenore McDonald farm.

John was president of the Crosier school board in the mid 1920’s and of the Hillside school board during the 1930’s. He was one of eight farmers who enlisted other area farmers to buy the first rural fire truck for the Naperville area in the 1930’s. John was also instrumental in organizing the area farmers’ donation of their surplus milk, which they brought to the fire station for free distribution during the Great Depression. He was a deputy sheriff and thistle commissioner for a number of years. He continued to farm, maintain his dairy herd and deal in cattle sales until his death in 1941.

Gertrude and John parented thirteen children who all grew up in the Naperville area. Two of the thirteen remained in farming, Anna Kling and Paul J. Miller who reside in Wheatland Township.

Paul J. Miller married Agnes Reichl of Westmont, Illinois, who was an office worker at Prince Castle, Naperville, Illinois. They started their farming career in 1955 in Marywood near Aurora, Illinois. In 1957, the Millers moved on a farm near Naperville that is now Cress Creek and remained there until 1977 when they purchased a farm in Wheatland Township and are still engaged in farming. They reared eight children – David, Tom, Paulette, Mark, Joel, Patrick, Eric, and Lisa. Patrick and Eric are part-time farmers and are also employed by the City of Naperville.

Eugene Kling, father of Gertrude Kling, was born in 1866 in Alsace, Germany and came to America in 1872 with his parents. They settled on a farm near the city of Naperville. After his marriage to Anna Herbert of Naperville, Eugene farmed on Rt. 53 and Hobson Road. In 1915 he loaded all his farm machinery and belongings on a train and purchased a farm in Montevideo, Minnesota. Eleven children moved with him. Only Gertrude remained in Naperville. She died in 1967.

Anna Kling married George Kling, son of Albert Kling of Lemont, Illinois. The Klings started farming in 1938 in Naperville. In 1947 they purchased a farm on 248th Avenue in Wheatland Township. George served the area farmers trucking livestock, limestone, and grain. He died in 1974. They had one daughter, Anna Mae, who now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 1992 WPMA Pig Roast was held at the Miller-Kling Farm.