Sarah Cornell Brinkman Miller

Sarah Cornell, my great grandmother, was born in Ohio in 1852. Her first marriage was to E.B. Brinkman. Sarah and E.B. had three children, Peaio, Myrta, and Arthur. Within a few years after Arthur's birth, E.B. died. Sarah then married William Miller, who is shown with his team of horses in the first blog and in the family photo with their children, Thirza and Fred.

Sarah is sitting in the doorway of their home on the farm in Cherry Valley, Ohio. This home had no electricity and did not have an indoor toilet. In 1900 the kitchen was the most important room of the house. The stove was heated with wood or coal and during the winter it was kept hot continually to provide heat for the home. Sarah would only know if the oven was the right temperature for cooking if she tested it with her hand.

Sarah hoeing the corn.

At this time in American history, one half of families lived on farms such as Sarah and William's. Farming was hard work and was essential to the family's survival. Farmers grew wheat, corn, and other grains. The Millers grew fruit and nut trees and raised chickens and pigs and sheep. The farm family's typical day began early. The husband milked the cow and brought in the milk as the wife cooked breakfast. The husband then tended the fields and cared for the animals. After breakfast, the wife would clean the kitchen, tidy the house, and empty the chamber pots. Chamber pots were used by families during the winter when it was too cold at night to visit the outhouse. She would feed chickens, gather eggs, and work in the garden. Chickens were killed and plucked for dinner. Butter was churned. Clothes were washed by hand and hung on the line. The 1900 farm wife made the family's clothes. It is likely Sarah owned a foot-powered sewing machine. In the fall, the food they grew would be stored in the root cellar so that it might remain fresh longer through the winter months. In the picture below of William feeding the chickens, you can see the door to the root cellar on his right.

Sarah had five children, four of whom survived to adulthood. Here is a photo of Sarah with her sons. Fred Miller is on the left and Arthur Brinkman on the right.

This picture is of Sarah (center) and her family. Fred, and his daughter Thelma kneel on the right. Ella, Fred’s wife, is standing behind Fred. Thirza is kneeling beside Sarah on the left, holding her hand, and one of Sarah’s daughters from her first marriage stands behind Thirza.

Sarah died in 1919. Fred chose to leave the farm to work in the city and Thirza moved to California. William sold the farm and lived with Fred and Ella for the rest of his days.