Where did Fred Miller come from?

From the 1916 census it would appear that Fred Miller was born about 1885 in Ontario, that he is a Methodist with Scotch ancestry. 

Year: 1916; Census Place: Manitoba, Winnipeg North, 16: Roll: T-21933; Page: 76; Family No: 762; Fred Miller, 1000 Main, Suite 6, head, male, married, aged 31, born Ontario, Methodist, Canadian, Scotch, speaks English, does not speak French, English, can read and write, Operator with railroad

From the Henderson directory of the same year in Winnipeg, we see him listed with a middle initial as ’A’.

Miller Fredk A opr GNW Tels h 6, 1000 Main

Search Ontario births for Fred, turns up a late birth registration as follows:

Frederick Alfred Miller, February 2nd 1883, male, Cornwall Township, County Stormont, Ont., Father: Hugh Miller, Address of Father at time of birth: South Branch Cornwall Township, Occupation: Farmer; Maiden name of mother: Elizabeth Allan; no physician.

The registration is sworn to by a sister Anna May Fraser: “I, Anna May Fraser of the Post Office of Cronsfield in the count of — in the Province of Alberta do solemnly declare as follows: 1.  That I am the sister of the aforesaid: Frederick Alfred Miller.  2. That I have personal knowledge of the matters herein set forth, and the information herein is  true in substance and in fact; 3. That both parents of the said person are dead; that I am the older sister of such person; that I am 15 years his senior in age; that at the time of his birth, I was present in the house in which he was born, and have a distinct recollection of this occurrence of the said birth.  And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and by virtue of THE CANADA EVIDENCE ACT.  Declared before me at the village of Cronsfield in the county of — in the province of Alberta this 27th day of October 1934.  Signed Anna May Fraser.

Looking at this possibility for Frederick born in Stormont, we see that his mother’s maiden name was Allan which is the name given to Fred and Josie’s child born 1914.  Further, looking at the 1891 census, we see that Fred’s mother (Elizabeth shows born 1844)  was from Scotland, his father born in Ontario (in 1829) but his father’s father was from Ireland.   Children listed were David (1864), John (1871), Lena (1873), Hugh jr (1875), William (1879), Alexander (1881), Frederick (1883) and Daniel (1884).

When we look at what seems to be the same family in 1871, we see the sister Annie, born about 1867 which is 15 years prior to 1883.   In this census, Hugh’s (b 1833 in Ontario) ancestry is shown as Scottish along with his wife, Elizabeth’s (b 1843 in Scotland).  Children are David (1863), Annie, (1867) and John (1869).

From the Drouin Collection, we see a marriage between Hugh Miller and Elizabeth Fans Allan in Montreal at the Methodist church in Mountain Street on 12 June 1862 by special license.  The entry in the register refers to Hugh Miller of Cornwall, Canada West and Elizabeth Fans Allan of Montreal (a minor).

Alternatively, there is a birth of a Frederick Miller in Renfrew: April 21st 1885 to a Martin Miller and Anna Wiuthe, farmer, informed “by letter”, from Martin Miller on July 16th, 1885.  There is a Martin and Anna Miller in the 1891 census in Blandford, ON but no sign of a son named Frederick.  The fact that the birth of Frederick was registered by letter indicates a rural abode so possibly this family was not enumerated?

Or possibly Frederick Miller born in Elgin: 31 October 1884 to Wm Henry Miller and Margaret Amelia Hanna, farmer, informed by Wm Henry Miller of Southwold on Nove 19th, 1884.

In this case, in the 1891 census, this Frederick is shown with an initial H which is different from the A in the Henderson directory.  Also nationality of the father William is Irish and the mother (shown as Eveline? is shown as born in Ontario)  The family religion is stated as Methodist.  Children are Kate (1880), Frederick H (1885), Mary L (1887) and father Henry Miller, b about 1809 in the USA, ancestry Ireland.

Or possibly Frederick Miller born in Peterborough: January 10 1886 to Finch Miller and Mary Ephgrave, shoemaker, informed by Finch Miller, father of Peterborough, on Feby 8, 1886.

In this case, the family shows in Peterborough in 1891 as being from England and of Methodist religion.  Oldest child George was born in England in 1873 and the rest in Ontario: Thomas 1875, William 1877, Lilian 1882, John 1884,  Frederick 1886, Walter 1888, Herbert 1890.

Where is Fred Miller in 1911?

From the Winnipeg Henderson Directory (compliments of the Winnipeg Library):

1909
Miller Frederick checker frt sheds CPR lvs 84 Lorne
Miller Frederick tel opr CNR rms suite 54 Steele blk
(nothing for Frederick A)

1911
Miller Frederick A opr dispatcher’s office CNR lvs Frontenac Hotel
Miller Frederick J (John) h 410 Selkirk
Miller F J h (over) 410 Selkirk

1912
Miller Frederick foreman local frt CPR (Higgins Ave W)
(nothing for Frederick A)
Miller Frederick J. car foreman CPR h 70 Charles

1916
Miller Fredk A opr GNW Tels h 6, 1000 Main
Miller Fredk J loading foreman CPR frt h 142 Lisgar
Miller Mrs F J corsetiere Spirella Corset Shop r 44 Furby

The entry for  ”Miller Fredk A opr GNW Tels h 6, 1000 Main” is clearly MY Frederick in 1916 since it jives with the census record for Fred and Josie, which means that I now know that his middle initial was ‘A’ and that he worked for the GNW.  GNW probably stands for “Great Northern Western”, a telegraph company that was incorporated in 1880 and acquired Montreal Telegraph Co in 1881 (perhaps explaining how Fred met Josie).  GNW was purchased by Canadian Northern Railway in 1915 which explains why the census states Fred’s occupation as “operator with railroad”.

In 1911, the most likely entry in the directory is “Miller Frederick A opr dispatcher’s office CNR lvs Frontenac Hotel”.  However, upon finding this Fred Miller by address (it is transcribed as Meller), he appears to be a single man, living alone.  Where are Josie and son Leonard?  One possibility that presents itself is that Leonard was not the son of Fred.  His DOB in the 1916 census shows 1908 and the next child Allen is not born until 1914, a gap of six years which seems rather odd.  However, I can find no likely possibilities for Josie or Leonard under any last name or in any place between Montreal and Winnipeg.