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Iva M. Banks

Iva Banks Miller circa 1909/10 with son Arthur on her lap, son Theron and husband Frank

 

Born: July 22, 1881/1882, Cazenovia, Wisconsin (small community to the northwest of Madison)

 

Parents: Ira O. Banks and Effie Mae Gleason

 

Married #1: 2/5/1899 Frank D. Miller in Ironton, WI; divorced 5/7/1931, “non-support and cruelty”

 

Children with Frank Miller:  Thieron,  Arthur Lee,  Nelly Mae,  Ira,  Alice L.

 

Marriage #2: Colonel Wixom, date unknown

 

Death: 11 Jun 1959, buried Oak Hill Cemetery, Janesville, WI

 

 

Note that the year of death (59) was never engraved in. The tombstone was likely ordered at the time Colonel Wixom died in 1955, so that they would have matching, side-by-side stones.

 

Obituary states she was born 7/22/1882, tombstone lists birth year as 1881

 

From the Janesville Gazette Friday June 12, 1959:
Obituary Mrs. Colonel Wixom

   Mrs. Colonel Wixom, 76, Janesville resident until 6 years ago, died Thursday in Skaalen Sunset Home, Stoughton.
The former Iva May Banks, daughter of Ira and Effie Gleason Banks, was born in Cazenovia, Wis, July 22, 1882. Her first husband, Frank Miller, preceded her in death and Colonel Wixom died in 1955. Mrs. Wixom was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Ingelside, IL.
   Surviving are two sons, Arthur Miller, Beloit, and Ira Miller of California; a daughter, Mrs. Martin Kjortland, Ingelside (IL); 15 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. A. Steinmetz, Madison. A son, Theron, and a daughter, Nellie May, preceded her in death.
Tenative arrangements have been made to hold the funeral Monday afternoon at Reining Funeral Home (Stoughton).

 

Misc. Data:

Living in Stoughton, WI in a nursing home at time of death, age 77 years old.

Notes from step-grandson, Don Hjortland: I never knew Frank Miller, as Alice’s mother (Iva) was then married to Colonel Wixom. We called her Bobby. They lived with us for a number of years in Long Lake, IL.  She was a good hearted women but a tough taskmaster.  Colonel was a big guy, his ring was too big for my thumb. I remenber one instance where my father and I were trying to lift a large concrete flowerpot and could not. Colonel walked over picked it up and said “where do you want it?”

 

Census:

1930 WI Census, Rock Co, Janesville:
Frank Miller, head of house, renting at $55/mo. Owns radio. White male, age 50, married, at age 19, able to read and write. Born in Nebraska, Father born in Indiana, mother WI. Works as “checker” at Chevrolet Motors. Not a veteran.
Iva, wife, white female age 48, married at age 17. Born Wi, both parents born WI.
Arthur, son, age 21, single, not attended school within past year. Born in WI, not currently employed
Ira, son age 14, single, born WI, currently attending school
Alice, daughter, age 12, currently attending school
4 roomers living with them or at same address.

 

1920 WI Census, Rock Co Janesville, Terrace St.
Frank Miller, head of house, renting, age 40, married, able to read, write and speak English, born Nebraska, Father born Indiana, mother born WI. Employed as cook in cafe.
Iva, wife age 38, able to read, write and speak English. Born in WI, both parents born WI
Theiron, son, age 13, single
Arthur, son, age 10, Nelly, daughter, age 7, Alice, daughter, age 1 9/12, Ira, son, age 3

 

1910 WI Censu, Jefferson Co, Fort Atkinson:
Frank D. Miller, head of house, age 30, born Nebraska, Father born Indiana, mother born Indiana. Tinsmith, renting
Iva May, wife, age 28, born WI
Thieron B ?(not legible), age 3, born WI
Arthur lee, son, age 1 ?14/12, born WI

 

1900 Census Richland Co, Westford Twnshp: Ira O. Banks, head of household, born June 1860, age 39. Born in WI; father and mother born NY. Occupation farmer. Able to read and write. married 22 years
Effie, born April 1861 in WI. Father born Mass., mother VT.
4 children born, 3 alive: Ive, age 15, Mila, age 5 and Wm. O, age 8 months; mother-in-law Mila Gleson, age 78, born March 1822 Vermont, father born England, mother born VT

 

Iva and the Colonel, date unknown

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