Relationship 3: Peter John (Pete) Miller & Evelyn Mae Baldwin

Relationship Record 3

Male/Husband} Miller, Peter John (Pete)

Family History} Olson

Female/Wife} Baldwin, Evelyn Mae

Relationship Type} Marriage

Marriage: Date} Exa 30 Nov 1918

Place} Rahway, Union, New Jersey

Ended: On Date} Exa 19 Nov 1967
By} Death of husband

Source 1}	12 = Family notes
Source 2}	13 = Funeral record
Source 3}	39 = Address list
Source 4}	50 = Family hstry
Source 5}	52 = Interview
Source 6}	161 = Photograph
Source 7}	179 = Cemetery rec
Source 8}	251 = Marriage rec
Source 9}	469 = 1920 USA cen
Source 10}	556 = Newspaper
Source 11}	567 = Newspaper
Source 12}	570 = Newspaper
Source 13}	610 = Newspaper
Source 14}	622 = Postcards
Source 15}	628 = Church record
Source 16}	630 = Photograph
Source 17}	1333=1930 USA cen
Source 18}	1334=1940 USA cen
Source 19}	2114=1950 USA cen
Source 20}	2053=City directory
Source 21}	1249=Photograph
Source 22}	1251=Insurance
Source 23}	1253=Photograph
Source 24}	1258=Letter
Source 25}	1265=Photograph
Source 26}	1517=Genealogy

1st Household No.} 222 = Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey

Photographs} Peter & Evelyn in 1953 and 1965

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 17 Sep 2023
Date Created} 26 Sep 1997

Notes: On 30 Nov 1918, Peter John Miller and Evelyn Mae Baldwin were married in an evening ceremony performed at 18 Bryant Street, Rahway, Union, New Jersey. The two witnesses present were Elizabeth Fax and William T. Gillis. It may have been the home of the pastor of the First Baptist Church, G. Merrill, who performed the wedding ceremony. They are pictured at left about three months before their marriage.

In the 1920 U.S. census, Peter and Evelyn, with their oldest son John Leslie(Jack), were living at 228 Sherman Road, Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey. Also living with them were Chris Miller, his wife Anna, and son August. In 1921 their second son, Robert Alfred (Bob) was born, followed by a daughter, Frances Dorthea, born in 1923. Two more sons followed. All of the children were born in Perth Amboy.

In 1922, Peter and Evelyn were members of the First Presbyterian Church, Perth Amboy, living in South Plainfield. At some time they changed their membership to the South Plainfield Baptist Church.

The family moved to Georgia for one year, and in the 1930 U.S. census, Evelyn and the five children were living on Farmington Street in Atlanta, Fulton, Georgia. Pete is found in the 1930 U.S.census, listed as an inmate in the U.S. Federal Penitentiary, Atlanta, Georgia, located in South Bend. The reason is currently unknown. They returned to New Jersey, and in January 1931, when they were readmitted to the First Presbyterian Church in Perth Amboy, they were living at 205 Patterson Street, Perth Amboy. The 1931 Perth Amboy City Directory lists Peter as a credit manager for Reynolds Bros Inc.

On 5 Oct 1935, during the depression, the family left New Jersey and traveled by car, with all of their possessions, to California via the Southern route. They settled in what is now Rosemead, Los Angeles County. In 1939 their address was 2912 Stevens Avenue, Wilmar. Their last child, a daughter, was born in California.

In the 1940 U.S. census, the entire family was living at the Stevens address. Pete was working as a drug store accountant They owned their home, valued at $2,500. In December 1942, Pete and Evelyn returned to Perth Amboy with their young daughter, age 3, to celebrate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Pete's parents, Christian and Dorthea Miller. Pete returned immediately, but Evelyn and daughter stayed a few weeks to visit her mother, Frances Baldwin, in Rahway, New Jersey.

After several moves, documented by the addresses on postcards they received, Peter and Evelyn eventually settled in Alhambra at 101 East Adams, Alhambra. It was here that they presided over the annual Christmas Eve family party, that gradually grew to include 18 grandchildren.

Peter owned the Pete Miller Paint Company, located at 223 East Valley Blvd., Alhambra. They both were active in the First Presbyterian Church of Alhambra, with several of their children, and even grandchildren, married and baptized there. One of their major contributions to the church was the establishment of the Jack Miller Memorial Library, in memory of their son Jack, who was killed serving in the U.S. Air Force in World War II. They received small monthly payment for their respective lifetimes from the National Service Life Insurance policy on Jack following his death.

In 1958, Pete and Evelyn semi-retired and moved to the high desert. Evelyn had heard about Hesperia and had talked Pete into "taking a drive up to the hi-desert to see 'what all the shouting was about'". Hesperia was an old town, but in the early 1950's development for housing began with lots going for about $50.00. They bought two lots, and built houses on both, living in one. They also had a five acre "ranch" in Summit, which had its own well. Their last residence was 17681 Cajon Street, Hesperia, San Bernardino, California. Pete opened a new paint store in 1961, located at 16165 Main Street, Hesperia.

Both Pete and Evelyn were active in the community, and in the Hesperia Congregational Church. Pete was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Kiwanis. Evelyn was active in the Hesperia Federated Women's Club. Pete died of a heart attack on 19 Nov 1967 in Hesperia. Evelyn continued to live in the desert until June 1969, when she sold the house and returned to Alhambra. Here she took up residence at 1236 South Garfield Avenue. Her last residence was a rest home in Alhambra. She died 27 Feb 1983. Both are buried in the Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, in the Parkview Lawn section, with their son Jack lying between them.

Children:

Total # of Children} 6

Seq. # of Primary} 3

1st Child}	Miller, John Leslie (Jack)
2nd Child}	Miller, Robert Alfred (Bob)
3rd Child}	Miller, Frances Dorthea (Fran)
4th Child}	Miller, son
5th Child}	Miller, son
6th Child}	Miller, daughter

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