John Philip Neller     1858-1907

 

 

Born:   August 8, 1858     

Died:   July 17, 1907. 

Place of burial:  Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, Lot 37, Block E.

 

Spouse:          Elizabeth (Gass) Neller (aka: Liz or Lizzie)           

Children:         Rosa Neller

John Henry Neller

                        Fred Neller

                        Ernest T. “Truckee” Neller (see below*)

                        George Neller

                        Sadie Neller (see below**)

 

Occupation:  Millright

Possibly worked as an executive with/for George Peabody at C. J. Pettibone & Co. Dry Goods.

                       Earlier worked at Briggs & Wambold’s Appleton Sash, Door and Blind Co.  (see below)

 

Father’s name:                     

Mother’s name:        

Siblings:        

                       

* Ernest, also referred to as E. T., lived in Los Angeles, CA working as a Mentalist (I’m told that he’d have bristled if he was referred to as a “mind reader”.) and a magician. He often spelled the last name as Nellar, with an ‘a’.  His assistant and wife was named Bunny.  It is said that he took the middle name Truckee because in Appleton he was famous for lying in the road and allowing a truck to run over him.  He was Bob Neller’s mentor in the entertainment field.

 

**Sadie also lived in Los Angeles, CA.  Don’t know who she married, but she had 2 daughters.

 

The back of this photo/ad suggests that John Philip Neller is

the young gentleman with the black cap 2nd from the right.

From the Outagamie County Historical Society, c October, 1874.

 

Appleton City Directories between 1874 and 1884 and others are missing from the Appleton Public Library.  Here is a timeline for the Appleton Neller families:

1884 - 1888, John and Charles Neller reside on El Dorado Street, no street number available.  John is a millright and Charles a planer.

1889 - 1897, only John is noted (as the directories do not elaborate on families), Charles is not mentioned, and we now have the address of 372 El Dorado.

 

          

How the El Dorado home appears today.  It has been updated and expanded into a duplex.

 

1898, Directory now notes some children.  We have John H. who is working as a bookkeeper at the SC Shannon Co.  Same home address.

1899 - 1901, John P and Lizzie Neller at same address with children George P., Ernest P. and John H.   Ernest works at the Appleton Paper Box Factory and John H. continues at SC Shannon.

1904, John P. and Lizzie are the same with George becoming a machinist, Ernest now works for Valley Iron Works.  John H. is now with Ina F. and living at 438 El Dorado.

1906, John is now a millright with The Interlake Pulp & Paper Co.  He and Lizzie now have Mamie, a student, living with them.  John H. and Ina continue.  Ernest is now with is wife Bertha at 724 Maria and working at Ravine Mill.

 

Appleton’s Interlake Pulp & Paper Co. where John P. Neller is a millright.  Undated photo, courtesy of Fox Valley Memories.

 

1907, John Phillip Neller passes away July 17.

1908, We now see at 372 El Dorado Mrs. Lizzie, widow of John, with Mamie, a student.  John H. and Ina continue.  George is with Emma at 540 John St. and also at the Ravine Mill.

1910, Lizzie now has Edna J., a student, and Mamie L. living with her.  Mamie is a clerk at the F. W. Woolworth & Co.  John H. and Ina continue.  George and Emma are no longer listed.  Ernest and Bertha are also no longer listed.

 

Appleton’s F. W. Woolworth & Co 5 and 10 cent store where Mamie is a clerk. 

Photo is dated 1915.  Courtesy of Outagamie County Historical Society.

 

1914 - 1915, Lizzie living with Edna B, a stenographer; Ethel, a bookkeeper at Standard Manufacturing Co.; and Sadie V., a clerk.  John H. and Ina have moved to 536 College Avenue and he has a new job as Secretary and Treasurer of Pettibone & Peabody Co.

 

          

The College Ave. home as it appears today.  It is now owned by Lawrence University.

1903 Postcard view of the east end of College Avenue.  The Nellers will soon be in the property approx. halfway down this block on the right.

Courtesy of the Appleton Public Library.

 

1919, only has John H. and Ina and family listed.  Nothing regarding Lizzie or the others. 

1921, same, however John and Ina and family have moved to 410 E. Washington*.  The College Ave. home is possibly sold to Mrs. Louisa S. Galpin.

1925, John H. and Family continue at 410 E. Washington with students Marjorie and Richard G. also living with them.  This house will stay in the family until 1962.

 

          

The Washington St. home as it appears today.  My father remembers visiting this home as a child and playing on a swing in the backyard.

 

1928, John H. adds General Manager to his duties at Pettibone’s.  Now living with them are Marjorie, a teacher; and students Richard, Robert, and Jamie [sic].

 

 

    

Left: Undated (likely c. 1918) picture postcard view of Pettibone’s.

Right: early 1880 photo of Pettibone’s.

Images courtesy of Appleton Public Library.

 

1930, John H. and Ina continue with Robert J. and James L., students.  Richard C. becomes a chemist and marries Virginia.  Marjorie marries Alton T. Peterson.

1931 - 1935, all same.

1936, all same and John H. adds VP of Wisconsin Wire Works.

1937 - 1942, all continues the same.

1943, John H. now President of Wis. Wire Works.  Robert J. begins his entertainment career in earnest, marries Dorothy, and moves to 1013 E. North St. (I’ve created a separate timeline for Robert “Bob” Neller because it has its own twist and turns.)

 

    

Two views of the Wisconsin Wire Works in Appleton, left is from 1911 and right is dated 1912.  Courtesy of Fox Valley Memories.

 

1944-1946, all continues same.

1947 - 1948, John’s role with Pettibone’s changes to Trustee and Secretary of Peabody Estate and he is still President of Wis. Wire Works.  Robert J. briefly moves back in with John and Ina.

1949 - 1956, all remains same until John H. Neller passes away on August 27, 1956.

1957 - 1962, Ina, widow of John continues living in the Washington St. home.

1962 - 1965, Ina moves to Peabody Manor, built on the site previously used for the old Third Ward school.  Ina passes away on December 27, 1965. 

 

* Actually the address is 650 E. Washington.  In 1925, the City of Appleton reorganizes street address numbers and 650 becomes 410 E. Washington.

 

Couple questions that have arisen since I created this timeline:

  • Who is Charles Neller, seen way back in 1884?
  • Who are Mamie, Edna, and Ethel, apparently children of John P. and Lizzie?

                       

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