Katherine Miller in America

Catharina Müller was baptized in the city of her ancestors: Temmels (German Empire). In 1921 she married Albert Blees in Mankato, Minnesota (U.S.A.). What do we know about her years between Germany and her marriage?

Coming to America

Catharina may have felt the push to leave Germany because she was 24 years old and yet unmarried. According to family lore, she reportedly left her home to detach herself from an amorous pursuer.

She may have yearned to experience the America that her brothers (Adam and Michael) and her Beck cousins described in their letters. When she decided to travel to the United States, she had the best possible immigrant experience.

I imagine that as soon as Catharina expressed the de­sire to cross the ocean, her brother Adam and his wife Martha volunteered their travel expertise and also agreed to ac­company her. Adam arranged all the details.

Knowing that third-class (steerage) passage was uncomfortable, over­crowded, and unclean, Adam purchased second-class tickets aboard the fast steam­er Vaderland.¹Adam, Martha and Katharina Miller entry. S.S. Vaderland Passenger Manifest. October 6, 1913, list 11, lines 9-11; New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. NARA Microfilm roll: T715_2194.

• 9: Miller, Adam; 30; carpenter; can read/write; German; last residence USA Maickado [sic]; parents Nicholas Miller, Temmels, Germany; destination Minn. Mickado [sic]; Non Immigrant
• 10: Miller, Martha; 36; housewife; can read/write; German; last residence USA Maickado [sic]; nearest relative in country from whence came = father in law, Temmels, Germany; destination Minn. Mickado [sic]; Non Immigrant
• 11: Miller, Katherine; 24; [no occupation]; can read/write; German; last residence Germany Temmels; nearest relative in country from whence came = father, Temmels, Germany; brother Adam Miller; destination Minn. Mickado [sic]

• No tickets to final destination; passage paid by Adam; $180 between the three of them; going to 814 North Broad St. Mankado [sic] Minn; all in good physical condition
• Adam: 6′ tall, dark complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, born in Temmels
• Martha: 5’3″ tall, fair complexion, brown hair, green eyes, born in Breslan
• Katherine: 5’4″ tall, fair complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, born in Temmels

The three travelers departed Antwerp, Belgium on September 27, 1913. Nine days later, the group eagerly watched as the ship passed through the narrow water­way between Brooklyn and Staten Island and beheld the Statue of Liberty.

A small boat brought a doctor on board to inspect all the passengers for contagious diseases. After the inspection, the Vaderland docked at a wharf where the first- and second-class passengers disembarked. Again, Adam’s experience proved to be invaluable, as the happy party cir­cumvented the steerage passengers’ ferry barges bound for Ellis Island and hours of waiting.

Catharina to Katherine

When Catharina came to the United States, she Americanized her name to Katherine Miller.

In 1918, all unnaturalized aliens were required to register with the Minnesota Commission of Pub­lic Safety. This is her signature from that document:²Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. “Alien Registration Correspondence and Other Records.” 1918, Blue Earth County, Catherine Miller. February 26, 1918. She is indexed as Catherine, lists her occupation as housework, resides at 211 Clark Street, Mankato, Minnesota and signs her name Miss Katherine Miller.

Work in Mankato

Family tradition states that Katherine worked with her brothers in Mankato until she found employment as a housekeeper.

In 1918, she lived at 211 Clark Street in Mankato.³Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. “Alien Registration Correspondence and Other Records.” 1918, Blue Earth County, Catherine Miller. February 26, 1918. She is indexed as Catherine, lists her occupation as housework, resides at 211 Clark Street, Mankato, Minnesota and signs her name Miss Katherine Miller. I assume that she was a live-in servant in this 5-bedroom home. To date, I have not been able to determine the name of the owner when Katherine was there. The 3-story, 5-bedroom, brick house was built in 1910 and is now addressed as 211 E. Pleasant Street.⁴https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/211-E-Pleasant-St_Mankato_MN_56001_M84751-77382. Accessed February 16, 2023. 211 Clark Street became 211 East Pleasant Street.

In 1920, Katherine resided in the home of George and Olivia Palmer.⁵1920 U.S. Census, Minnesota, Blue Earth County, Mankato Ward 5. SD 2, ED 23, Sheet 6A, line 25. George M. Palmer household. Mr. Palmer was a prominent miller and businessman.

The 2-story house was built of native stone in 1861 by Morton Wilkinson, a Minnesota Territorial Legislator. When built, the residence offered an expansive view of the Minnesota River valley to the west.⁶Photo from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church collection. The church purchased the residence in the 1950s.

Stories

One day, as Katherine worked, the lady of the house was entertaining several ladies with a card party. As the woman chatted with her friends, she made disparaging remarks about Katherine. Indignant, Katherine challenged her mistress in front of the guests and threatened to quit. The woman would not recant, and so Katherine walked out of the house.

In another home, Katherine was sent to the attic to clean and, there, discovered a pistol. Walk­ing onto the porch, she squeezed the trigger. Boom! She fired a shot across the yard! Nervously, she admitted her mistake to the officers who were called to the scene.

Katherine Miller⁷Photographic copy given to Karrie Blees by Edward Blees, April 2007. Ed identified the woman in the photo as his mother. Date of the photo is unknown. Digitally altered to remove scratch spots, 2023.

What do you remember about your grandmother?
Which stories are your favorites?

SOURCES

• 1
  Adam, Martha and Katharina Miller entry. S.S. Vaderland Passenger Manifest. October 6, 1913, list 11, lines 9-11; New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957. NARA Microfilm roll: T715_2194.
• 2
  Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. “Alien Registration Correspondence and Other Records.” 1918, Blue Earth County, Catherine Miller. February 26, 1918. She is indexed as Catherine, lists her occupation as housework, resides at 211 Clark Street, Mankato, Minnesota and signs her name Miss Katherine Miller.
• 3
  Minnesota Commission of Public Safety. “Alien Registration Correspondence and Other Records.” 1918, Blue Earth County, Catherine Miller. February 26, 1918. She is indexed as Catherine, lists her occupation as housework, resides at 211 Clark Street, Mankato, Minnesota and signs her name Miss Katherine Miller.
• 4
  https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/211-E-Pleasant-St_Mankato_MN_56001_M84751-77382. Accessed February 16, 2023. 211 Clark Street became 211 East Pleasant Street.
• 5
  1920 U.S. Census, Minnesota, Blue Earth County, Mankato Ward 5. SD 2, ED 23, Sheet 6A, line 25. George M. Palmer household.
• 6
  Photo from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church collection. The church purchased the residence in the 1950s.
• 7
  Photographic copy given to Karrie Blees by Edward Blees, April 2007. Ed identified the woman in the photo as his mother. Date of the photo is unknown. Digitally altered to remove scratch spots, 2023.