Family Histories
Cochran County, Texas
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LEONARD & NOLA MILLER
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Miller and their children Floyd, Ruth, Bernice, Clyde and Billy Hugh, moved from Nolan, Texas to Morton in the mid twenties. It was in December and late in the afternoon
when we arrived in town. There were a few buildings and the "water trough."
We had raised about five hundred turkeys for market that year and when time came to sell them, my father organized a turkey drive from Nolan to Ft. Chadborne. Several neighbors added their flocks and 1100 turkeys were driven down the road. The trip took several days
and one of Floyd's jobs was to drive the wagon carrying the camp equipment. The money received from the sale of these turkeys made the down payment on approximately 180 acres of land northwest of Morton.
My father came to Morton first and built the barn for us to live in until the house was built. This did not happen for six or seven years and by that time the barn had been remodeled.
Since there was no wood available for fire, we learned that dried cow chips were good for fuel and were plentiful. Gathering chips was a chore to be done after school each day, and it was a time of celebration when Dad
came home with a five burner keosene stove. One day while Mother and Ruth were gathering chips with the help of Moses, our mule, a herd of cattle came running across the prairie in their direction. They took off their coats to wave and the cattle turned
just before reaching them saving them from harm.
Dad worked in Levelland as a carpenter to earn money for necessary expenses. Mother sent us children to school while she rode the turning plow and broke the sod for the crops. We children feel that she was a true pioneer wife and mother.
Our father was a very quiet man of few words. I cannot remeber him ever raising his voice. Our mother a more vocal person. Her dark eyes danced with laughter and flashed with fire when she was angry.
Dad continued his carpenter work after he stopped working in Levelland. Amonth the buildings he built was the Neely Ward school, the Wallace Theater, Charlie Taylor's Drug Store, St. Clairs, and many houses. Our mother
was asked to help many babies into the world, while our father will be remembered by some people for building the casket to bury a member of their family. Later, when the oil boom came, he built Rose and Wallace theaters for his friend, Wallace
Blankenship, in Levelland, Seagraves, and Sundown.
In 1935 they moved closer to town by traiding the farm for one belonging to Mr. Hooper, about one mile north of town.
Bernice married Roland (Slats) Wolfenberger and 1935 moved to Coalinga, California. Floyd moved to Hanford, California in 1938. Ruth came a few years later and is now living in Grover City California. Clyde retired
from the Navy and later Civil Service in 1973 and is now living at Grover City. He was at Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Billy Hugh was an Air Force Captain during World War II. He was killed in an airplane explosion over
Midland, Texas 1948.
Mother and Dad were charter members of the First Baptist Church of Morton. We all attended Sunday School and Church in the Tabernacle with the dirt floor.
Our parents came to Hanford, California in 1946 to be near their children. They moved to Grover City in 1948 where Dad continued his carpenter work, mostly building and selling.
They continued to work in the church and Dad was ordained a Deacon in 1952. He helped build a new church, parsonage, recreation hall and had just purchased a parking lot when he died in 1964. I feel that his work was
finished and since he had been so alone since Mother died in 1962, that God had called him home.
Their later years were full of fishing and enjoying their grandchildren. They had a lot of happiness and some sorrows, but a good full life.
The Miller children have happy memories of their growing up time at Morton. Although they have been away for many years...when they think of home they think of Morton.
Submitted by Bernice Miller Wolfenberger
This family history came from Cochran County Legacy Vol. II Copyright Cochran County Historical Commission. Published with permission. The information contained on this page may not be reproduced or published elsewhere without the express written permission of the Cochran County Historical Commission
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