Lieutenant Franklin G. Miller, U.S. Naval Air Force

[ph0ebus]

Hi all,

I am just beginning to research this fellow; he survived the war only to be killed in an anarchist's bombing in NYC in 1920. I am starting with the New York State Archives but wanted to hear from more experienced researchers into the air forces if there are other resources I should check into? Researching flyers is something I know precious little about.

Thanks,

Daniel

[Carmania]

Daniel

Not really answering your question but in case you haven't seen this, it comes from the Cornell Alumnii News of September 30th, 1920:

'Franklin Gouvenier Miller, a member of the class of 1921 in Sibley College, was one of the victims of the Wall Street explosion on September 16; he died of his injuries soon after being removed to the Broad Street Hospital. Miller was born on January 21, 1898, the son of Mr and Mrs David H Miller, of Brooklyn; he prepared at the Hamilton Institution in New York and entered Sibley College in 1917. During the war he served as a lieutenant in the Naval Aviation Service and since recieving his discharge had been a salesman with the Elliott-Fisher Company. He was an amateur athlete, and a member of the New York Athletic Club.

The funeral was held on September 18, from the home of his parents, 700 West 179th Street, Brooklyn.'

Aled

[ph0ebus]

Aled,

Thanks for that....some new bits of information there. Many thanks!

-Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Hi all,

I am having a hell of a time finding where he was buried. I'll keep searching, but if anyone else wants to give it a go or has ideas on finding Franklin that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Hi all,

I am having a hell of a time finding where he was buried. I'll keep searching, but if anyone else wants to give it a go or has ideas on finding Franklin that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Daniel

Still searching.......ugh. No luck finding his parents either.

-Daniel

[josquin]

Daniel,

Ancestry.com has a Cornell University yearbook that includes Franklin Gouvenier Miller. It may include more information or a photo.

I am not an Ancestry member so I cannot access it for you, but perhaps a Forum pal can.

Trelawney

[ph0ebus]

Daniel,

Ancestry.com has a Cornell University yearbook that includes Franklin Gouvenier Miller. It may include more information or a photo.

I am not an Ancestry member so I cannot access it for you, but perhaps a Forum pal can.

Trelawney

Hi Trelawney,

Thanks for that...I have access and now have a copy. Unfortunately it does not shed any light on his funeral arrangements.

I found his death notice in the New York Tribune and that does not help either:

I also tried the national Veterans Grave Locator without success...also tried Find-A-Grave and Ancestry without any luck.

-Daniel

[Airshipped]

If it's any help the draft card also included a former workplace address in addition to the address of his parents:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-26586-12564-49?cc=1968530&wc=M9SG-4VZ:n1893641042

If he worked in Jersey City during the pre-war years it's possible that he had some further attachments there post-war.

[ph0ebus]

If it's any help the draft card also included a former workplace address in addition to the address of his parents:
https://familysearch...4VZ:n1893641042
If he worked in Jersey City during the pre-war years it's possible that he had some further attachments there post-war.

Thanks! It is quite possible he is buried in New Jersey...several bombing victims were. Let's see where this leads.

-Daniel

[jdoyle]

family info may be the way to track down his burial.

Some census records possibly for the family

1900

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSKS-QWT

1910

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M5H8-D3F

1920

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJ1P-7LN

1930

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X4KP-4NL

The brothers baptism record possibly

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FDYV-SJG

[ph0ebus]

family info may be the way to track down his burial.

Some census records possibly for the family

1900

https://familysearch...M9.1.1/MSKS-QWT

1910

https://familysearch...M9.1.1/M5H8-D3F

1920

https://familysearch...M9.1.1/MJ1P-7LN

1930

https://familysearch...M9.1.1/X4KP-4NL

The brothers baptism record possibly

https://familysearch...M9.1.1/FDYV-SJG

Very helpful. You and I are of the same mind about this...I think if we can find where the family is buried, we can find our man.

Off to chase down more leads!

-Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Folks:

I have a possible contender for Franklin Miller, albeit with a slighly different spelling:

Franklyn Govenier Miller

The Year of Birth and Year of Death are an exact match. I noted that I also found references to this fellow in other wartime Cornell publications with the name Franklin Gouverneur Miller, so I am wondering if this perhaps is not the correct spelling of his name after all?

I am going to contact the cemetery on Monday and see if this is the right man.

Wish me luck!

-Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Folks,

Success! This is the correct man. While the gravestone oddly spells his name with a Y, in the cemetery register his name is spelled Franklin, and the date of interment is a spot-on match to the death notice. Franklin G. Miller is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Hastings-On-Hudson, New York, Section 65, Lot 297.

Thanks all!

-Daniel

[ph0ebus]

Just a quick footnote to his story, Franklin's home at 700 West 179th Street in Manhattan was demolished in the late 1950's with the construction of the Trans-Manhattan Expressway and the Metropolitan Transportation Administration's George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is situated directly over this main approach to the George Washington Bridge.

-Daniel

[Carmania]

Well done Daniel.

Aled

[Airshipped]

Excellent detective work, well done!

[ph0ebus]

Thanks, all. It took nearly three years (on and off) to crack this one, but crack it I did, with your help. I have updated his information on my website dedicated to the twelve Great War veterans killed together in the 1920 Wall Street bombing, as well as the other civilians who perished that day.

-Daniel