Christ Miller and Box Elder Trees

 

 

Box Elder picture from "Wood Magazine" 

My newspaper research of Christ Miller has been quite fruitful.  I have unearthed more information than I could have ever dreamed.   Some ancestors are a little more elusive than others and I appreciate  those that used the newspapers for various reasons.   My recent discovery is that not only was Grandpa Miller a farmer, but he was involved in various other enterprises during his time in Iowa.   He placed several ads in the Jewell Record in 1899 and 1900 as an agent for the Des Moines Nursery Company.  Even though the Des Moines Nursery Company sold various types of trees, every ad that he placed in the newspaper were for Box Elder trees.  I wondered what made him choose Box Elder trees over other varieties to sell?  

 

Jewell Record Newspaper 1899 and 1900

 
 
 


 Some quick research into Box Elder trees show that they are quick growing trees and like wet soils.  The tree blooms early in the spring, which are good for pollinators.  The trees are used to help prevent erosion near creeks and rivers.  I was surprised to find out that Box Elders are related to maple trees and can also be used to gather sap to make maple sugar.  These could be a few reasons why he liked or wanted to promote Box Elders in his community.   There are some drawbacks from Box Elders in that their wood is not very strong and many view it as a "weed".  They also attract the Box Elder insect that can be a nuisance in the winter when they invade homes looking for warmth.


Ads for the Des Moines Nursery Company:  Des Moines Register





The Des Moines Nursery Company was started just after in the Civil War in 1866 and it seems to either have been sold or went out of business during World War II.  I wasn't able to find any mention of the nursery after 1944. 

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