Hans and Augusta Miller (son John buried here)
Hans Kristian Miller was born in 1866 in Denmark. His father died when he was a young boy and his mother remarried. At the age of fourteen Hans began his career as a sailor. He had heard much of America and made up his mind to see it -- in 1890 he decided to give up his life as a sailor and head for the interior of the United States. An uncle lived near Beulah, Wyoming, which was probably the deciding factor in bringing him to this area. He came to Whitewood by train, on to Spearfish on the stage coach, and from there to Beulah. He went to work in the mines at Terry where he was employed for thirteen years. During that time he returned to Sweden for Augusta Nelson (“the girl he had left behind”) and brought her to America in 1895. They were married at Spearfish in 1897.
Thora Augusta Nelson was born in Sweden. Her father passed away leaving her mother to care for two small children, Augusta and a son Will. She used to speak of swimming in the ocean and that the Lutheran religion was taught in the schools she went to. Her mother came to this country and married the uncle of Hans and lived in Deadwood in her later years.
Four children were born to Hans & Augusta. While they lived in Terry Johanna Caroline (or Lena as she was known) was born in 1898, John Christian in 1899, Carl Thorval in 1901. Their last child, Clara Augusta was born in 1909 on the ranch near Aladdin.
In 1904 they moved to a ranch about seven miles east of Aladdin, in what was referred to as “the brakes”. Hans was a hard working man and believed those around him should work too. He worked part time in the mines at Aladdin to supplement his income. They milked cows and sold butter in Aladdin, too. Augusta made head cheese from the meat on the pigs head, which was put in crocks in the cellar. As much of the food would be stored in the cellar she had crocks of all different sizes and shapes. She was a good cook, always having a snack ready and the coffee pot on.
Hans loved music and played for dances. During the summer on the ranch they would build a pavilion and have outdoor dances.
The children grew up and moved away, but Hans & August remained on the ranch. Lena married Art Bunney and had two children, one of them Margaret Moline. John Christian married Mabel Riesland and had 2 children, Thomas & Beverly Jean. Carl and his wife Susie had 6 children. Clara married Ross Butts and her children were Myrna Mae and LeRoy.
Hans died in 1945 at the home of his daughter Clara Butts, south of Sundance. After his death the ranch was sold to Ted Sager and then in later years to Dick Mosely. Augusta lived with John, then Lena – she had an accident, falling and breaking her leg right after Christmas Day, and died in February of 1963.
Hans and Augusta are buried in Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.
Son John Christian and daughter Clara Butts are buried here in Mt Moriah.
Hans Kristian Miller was born in 1866 in Denmark. His father died when he was a young boy and his mother remarried. At the age of fourteen Hans began his career as a sailor. He had heard much of America and made up his mind to see it -- in 1890 he decided to give up his life as a sailor and head for the interior of the United States. An uncle lived near Beulah, Wyoming, which was probably the deciding factor in bringing him to this area. He came to Whitewood by train, on to Spearfish on the stage coach, and from there to Beulah. He went to work in the mines at Terry where he was employed for thirteen years. During that time he returned to Sweden for Augusta Nelson (“the girl he had left behind”) and brought her to America in 1895. They were married at Spearfish in 1897.
Thora Augusta Nelson was born in Sweden. Her father passed away leaving her mother to care for two small children, Augusta and a son Will. She used to speak of swimming in the ocean and that the Lutheran religion was taught in the schools she went to. Her mother came to this country and married the uncle of Hans and lived in Deadwood in her later years.
Four children were born to Hans & Augusta. While they lived in Terry Johanna Caroline (or Lena as she was known) was born in 1898, John Christian in 1899, Carl Thorval in 1901. Their last child, Clara Augusta was born in 1909 on the ranch near Aladdin.
In 1904 they moved to a ranch about seven miles east of Aladdin, in what was referred to as “the brakes”. Hans was a hard working man and believed those around him should work too. He worked part time in the mines at Aladdin to supplement his income. They milked cows and sold butter in Aladdin, too. Augusta made head cheese from the meat on the pigs head, which was put in crocks in the cellar. As much of the food would be stored in the cellar she had crocks of all different sizes and shapes. She was a good cook, always having a snack ready and the coffee pot on.
Hans loved music and played for dances. During the summer on the ranch they would build a pavilion and have outdoor dances.
The children grew up and moved away, but Hans & August remained on the ranch. Lena married Art Bunney and had two children, one of them Margaret Moline. John Christian married Mabel Riesland and had 2 children, Thomas & Beverly Jean. Carl and his wife Susie had 6 children. Clara married Ross Butts and her children were Myrna Mae and LeRoy.
Hans died in 1945 at the home of his daughter Clara Butts, south of Sundance. After his death the ranch was sold to Ted Sager and then in later years to Dick Mosely. Augusta lived with John, then Lena – she had an accident, falling and breaking her leg right after Christmas Day, and died in February of 1963.
Hans and Augusta are buried in Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.
Son John Christian and daughter Clara Butts are buried here in Mt Moriah.