Ninety years of being sisters, identical twin sisters, is cause for more than a one-day celebration.
For the Callis twins, Dora nad Cora, nine decades old Monday, all the quieter days of their sisterhood and closeness have been loving days of a smaller celebration of the joy of living.
Their homes are only a few miles apart in Ojai where for 40 years they've lived and raised their family. Published in The Ventura County (Calif) Star-Free Press, Thurs., Sept. 27, 1973
Ninety years of being sisters, identical twin sisters, is cause for more than a one-day celebration.
For the Callis twins, Dora and Cora, nine decades old Monday, all the quieter days of their sisterhood and closeness have been loving days of a smaller celebration of the joy of living.
Their homes are only a few miles apart in Ojai where for 40 years they've lived and raised their families.
Dora is Mrs. Robert W. Miller. Cora is Mrs. Charlie Nichols.
They were born Sept. 24, 1883, near Siloam Springs and Centerton, Ark.
They were married at 19 in a double ceremony to young Arkansas boys who were "best friends, closer than brothers in many ways."
Five years after the Millers came to California in 1926, the Nichols followed.
The Millers had 10 children. The Nichols had six.
Many beloved faces were not with the Miller-Nichols clans when they gathered Sunday in Ojai for the 'big party' the families have every five years for their mothers.
Both women were widowed years ago; four of Mrs. Miller's sons are deceased.
But there were more than 150 people at the party in the Ojai home of Mrs. Roy Bowers, Mrs. Nichol's daughter. Among them were some of the sisters' 77 progeny including Mrs. Nichols' great-great-grandchild, Jennifer Nichols, age 1, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kit Nichols, Ojai.
The Guests of honor are talkative, intelligently sharp and sociable.
Their health is "real good. I do have to take some B-12 shots now and I got my sister to go get some, too, but other than that, we don't need any medicines or pills," said Mrs. Nichols.
Both women still keep house, cook, tidy up their own kitchens, and together go to church often for services in their life-long denomination, the Church of Christ.
Mrs. Nichols' son, Chalmer, lives with her in their home on Ojai's Fox Street. Mrs. Miller is housekeeper for her grandson, David Mason.
The twins talk to each other every day on the phone, and a lot of their conversation centers on the soap-opera programs they watch each day.
Their own life stories are the stuff of which movies are made.
Ninety years ago births were not recorded in the farming communities at the foot of the Ozarks. The twins are not sure how many brothers and sisters they had. Babies died of "cholera phantom" or "summer complaint" - a colloquialism for dysentery.
"It took babies in their second summer during the hot spells. Mama probably lost three or four babies that way," says Mrs. Miller.
For the Callis twins, Dora nad Cora, nine decades old Monday, all the quieter days of their sisterhood and closeness have been loving days of a smaller celebration of the joy of living.
Their homes are only a few miles apart in Ojai where for 40 years they've lived and raised their family. Published in The Ventura County (Calif) Star-Free Press, Thurs., Sept. 27, 1973
Ninety years of being sisters, identical twin sisters, is cause for more than a one-day celebration.
For the Callis twins, Dora and Cora, nine decades old Monday, all the quieter days of their sisterhood and closeness have been loving days of a smaller celebration of the joy of living.
Their homes are only a few miles apart in Ojai where for 40 years they've lived and raised their families.
Dora is Mrs. Robert W. Miller. Cora is Mrs. Charlie Nichols.
They were born Sept. 24, 1883, near Siloam Springs and Centerton, Ark.
They were married at 19 in a double ceremony to young Arkansas boys who were "best friends, closer than brothers in many ways."
Five years after the Millers came to California in 1926, the Nichols followed.
The Millers had 10 children. The Nichols had six.
Many beloved faces were not with the Miller-Nichols clans when they gathered Sunday in Ojai for the 'big party' the families have every five years for their mothers.
Both women were widowed years ago; four of Mrs. Miller's sons are deceased.
But there were more than 150 people at the party in the Ojai home of Mrs. Roy Bowers, Mrs. Nichol's daughter. Among them were some of the sisters' 77 progeny including Mrs. Nichols' great-great-grandchild, Jennifer Nichols, age 1, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kit Nichols, Ojai.
The Guests of honor are talkative, intelligently sharp and sociable.
Their health is "real good. I do have to take some B-12 shots now and I got my sister to go get some, too, but other than that, we don't need any medicines or pills," said Mrs. Nichols.
Both women still keep house, cook, tidy up their own kitchens, and together go to church often for services in their life-long denomination, the Church of Christ.
Mrs. Nichols' son, Chalmer, lives with her in their home on Ojai's Fox Street. Mrs. Miller is housekeeper for her grandson, David Mason.
The twins talk to each other every day on the phone, and a lot of their conversation centers on the soap-opera programs they watch each day.
Their own life stories are the stuff of which movies are made.
Ninety years ago births were not recorded in the farming communities at the foot of the Ozarks. The twins are not sure how many brothers and sisters they had. Babies died of "cholera phantom" or "summer complaint" - a colloquialism for dysentery.
"It took babies in their second summer during the hot spells. Mama probably lost three or four babies that way," says Mrs. Miller.
Twins to Celebrate 80th Year
Ojai residents are invited to and open house today (Sunday, September 24, 1963) celebrating the birthdays of two well-known residents, Mrs. Dora Miller and Mrs. Cora Nichols on their 80th birthday. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Nichols, who have resided in Ojai for some forty years, are identical twin sisters. The open house will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Edwards, 901 Sunset Place from 2 until 5 p.m. Attendance is desired rather than gifts.
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THE BENTON COUNTY DEMOCRAT, Wednesday, October 23, 1968
Identical twins born in Benton County in the 1880's celebrated their 85th birthdays in California last month and one of the guests was Dick Miller of Bentonville, a son. Mrs. Dora Miller and Mrs. Cora Nichols received birthday greetings from President Johnson as a highlight of the observance, during which newspapers in the Ojai, Calif., area described them as the oldest living identical twins in Ventura County.
Their maiden name was Callis, having been born near Bentonville to pioneer County resident, the late John and Ann Duncan Callis. Both moved to California after their marriage. Mrs. Miller and her husband moved first to Crescent City approximately 44 years ago, followed soon by Mr. and Mrs. Nichols to Ojai. Mrs. Nichols' husband, Charley, died in 1959; Mrs. Miller's husband died in 1933.
Besides the Bentonville son, Mrs. Miller has three other sons and three daughters living, and three sons deceased. The other living children are Herbert Miller of Santa Ana, Calif., Donald Miller of Ojai, Bill Miller of La Puente, Calif., Mrs. Richard (Margaret) Catterlin and Mrs. Olin (Ruth) Cornine, both of Ojai, and Mrs. Ernest (Maxine) Mason of Garberville, Calf. Her deceased sons are True Miller, Hershel Miller and J.K. Miller. Mrs. Nichols' three sons and three daughters are Earnest Nichols and Chalmer Nichols, both of Ojai, Virgil Nichols of Oregon, Mrs. Jack (Edith) Allen of Missouri, and Mrs. Orville (Hazel) Edwards and Mrs. Ray (Ann) Bower of Ojai.
The Bentonville son, who is employed at Mitchell Lumber Co., noted that the first trip he made to California with his parents took 30 days by Model T car. "This one by jet took a little more than two hours, actual travel time," he said.
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OLDEST IDENTICAL TWINS
Greetings from President - Twins mark "85"
Birthday greetings from President Johnson were received Thursday by Mrs. Cora Nichols, 202 Fox St. and Mrs. Dora Miller, 291 Recreo, as the identical twins, celebrating their 85th birthday. They prepared to greet friends and relatives at a gala celebration to be held in Soule Park Sunday between 3 and 4 pm. The public is invited to the party.
Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Miller are believed to be the oldest identical twins in Ventura County, relatives state. Born in Benton Co., Arkansas, near the present town of Bentonville, both moved to California after their marriage. Mrs. Miller and her husband moved first to Crescent City, Calif. approximately 44 years ago, followed soon after by Mr. and Mrs. Nichols to Ojai. They have lived here ever since.
Mrs. Nichol's husband, Charley, died in 1959; Mrs. Miller's husband died in 1933. Mrs. Nichols has three sons and three daughters: Earnest and Chalmer of Ojai, and Virgil, of Oregon; Mrs. Jack (Edith) Allen, of Missouri; Mrs. Orville (Hazel) Edwards and Mrs. Ray (Ann) Bower of Ojai. Mrs. Miller has four sons and three daughters living, and three sons deceased. The deceased are True, Hershel and J. K. Those living are Herbert, of Santa Ana, Dick, of Arkansas, Donald of Ojai, and Bill of La Puente. Also, Mrs. Richard (Margaret) Catterlin and Mrs. Olin (Ruth) Cornine, of Ojai, and Mrs. Earnest (Maxine) Mason, of Garberville.
Both Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Miller are members of the Church of Christ and regularly attend services.
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PUBLISHED IN THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER in September 1973:
Are these the oldest living twins in America? Mrs. Cora Nichols and her sister Mrs. Dora Miller, who will be 90 on September 24, were born in 1883 in Benton County, Ark.
Now living in Ojai, Calf., Mrs. Nichols and Mrs. Miller are believed to be the oldest twins in the U.S., but if you know of a pair you believe to be older, write TWINS, NATIONAL ENQUIRER, Lantana, Fla. 33462.
We'll get in touch with them and if they are older, we'll publish their photograph.
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But the twins grew strong and healthy, and on their fourth birthday a photographer was engaged to take their picture with their beauteous mother and stalwart father in the backyard of the Arkansas farm home.
Their schooling was sketchy. What there was of it, happened in a one-room school. Their wedding day 71 years ago was joyous, but "poor people didn't have photographers around and the guests didn't all come with cameras like they did for our 90th birthday," says Mrs. Miller.
The twins, dressed in navy blue flower-spattered print dresses made for them by their daughters, mingled with their guest and had quite a bit to say about happenings in the news. They are in awe of any woman who produces "six babies at once, poor dear woman in Denver. How ever is she going to manage?"
But they giggled over the National Enquirer picture of them and its story naming them the "oldest twins in the United States."
"Surely, there are older ones some place in the big country. Ninety years isn't that old," smiled Mrs. Nichols.
Hello.
ReplyDeleteI am Joe Holliday. Son of Dixie Lee Miller Holliday. Daughter of Dick Clifford Miller. I was searching for info on Mimi because I remember our trip to Ojai way back there and barely remember things. Thanks for your blog
Hi Joe, What a treat to hear from you! This is why I love to put family history online on the chance that someone is looking for information and I can provide what I have. I do have more pictures of Mimi that I need to include here too. I am connected to Tammy on Facebook and I'll send you a friend request too. Thanks for making a comment!
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