Miller, Hilma

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Hilma Miller was born on January 25, 1893 in Joutsa, Finland, which is located in the central part of the country. Her parents were Gusta and Rikkina Laitinen, and Hilma had one sister, Anna. Gusta also had five other children and Rikkina had another daughter from their previous marriages. Hilma's family did not have a lot of money, and Hilma went to work when she was eleven years old. For seven years, she worked at various farms with her sister. When Hilma was nineteen, she met her husband and was married. They immigrated to America one week after their wedding, settling first in Virginia, Minnesota. Hilma's husband found work at a sawmill, and they remained there for eight years. During that time, their first daughter, Lila, was born. The family then moved to Lost Lake, North Dakota, where Hilma's husband took care of a farm for three years and their second daughter was born. In 1922, they moved to Astoria, Oregon, where Hilma's husband had hoped to go fishing but became a longshoreman instead. Hilma, on the other hand, worked as a short order cook, making Finnish food. She also became involved in Peace Lutheran Church and the Finnish Brotherhood. She returned to Finland once in 1960.

Lineage

Full Name: Hilma Miller. Maiden Name: Hilma Laitinen. Father: Gusta Laitinen. Mother: Rikkina Laitinen. Maternal Grandmother: Liisa. Brothers and Sisters: There were nine children. Children: Lila Miller.

From the guide to the Hilma Laitinen Miller Oral History Interview, 1981, (Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Archives and Special Collections Department)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Hilma Laitinen Miller Oral History Interview, 1981 Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Collection Archives and Special Collections Department
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ellis Island Immigration Station ( N.J. and N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Laitinen, Anna person
associatedWith Laitinen family family
associatedWith Laitinen, Gusta person
associatedWith Laitinen, Rikkina person
associatedWith Miller family family
associatedWith Miller, Lila person
associatedWith Peace Lutheran Church (Astoria, Or.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Virginia (Minn.)
Astoria (Or.)
Joutsa (Finland)
Subject
Finnish Americans
Occupation
Sawmill workers
Activity

Person

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SNAC ID: 72354766