Picture-Immigrant's Daughter

Group:

The picture is of Bernardine Teresa Miller (woman) and Herman Witt. Bernardine was born in America, but her father, Anton Miller, was an immigrant from Warburg, Germany. Anton was born in 1840 and came over in 1860 when he was 20. He left Germany in October, 1860 and arrived in New York in December 1860. He left New York soon after for Chicago and became a butcher. He then married Helena Reka in September, 1867 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Chicago. Anton and Helena had six children, three sons and three daughters- Bernardine, Mary, and Anna. Bernardine was born in April 1872 and died in February 1900 at the age of 28. Soon after the picture was taken, Bernardine married Herman and they had three children, one of them named Anna. After she died at only 28, Herman remarried and had three more children. The picture was taken in America, most likely in Chicago. My grandmother, Bernardine Margaret, who was named for her grandmother, Bernardine Teresa, told me about the photo, which was in her possession after her mother Anna passed away. The picture is fragile and about 6 inches long. This object is important to me because it reminds me that we are all immigrants, no matter how long ago they immigrated. 

Place(s): Warburg, Germany. Chicago, Illiniois
Year: 1860

– Brenlee Adamson

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more