John Miller, Sr

• Residence: Bloomfield, Greene, Indiana, United States - 1880
• Residence: Richland, Greene, Indiana - 1900
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jan 30 2020, 5:21:24 UTC

John MILLER, the oldest citizen of Greene county, died at 9:30 o'clock Friday morning, Nov. 15, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, five months and seven days. After almost a century in this world his passing to the next was as calm and peaceful and natural as the sleeping of a little child.

He was born of German parentage in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1807. Consequently, he lived under the administration of every president of the United States except Washington and the elder Adams, and was a boy of nine when Indiana was admitted as a state into the union. In June, 1827, he was married to Elnora IMBODEN. In April , 1831, he removed with his family to Wayne county, Ohio, where he lived for nineteen years, pursuing his trade of blacksmith and farming in a limited way, when he again went in search of a new home, where he could buy land at a lower price, and settled this time, in April, 1850, in Greene county, Indiana, where he continued to reside until his death.

Descended from that sturdy German stock which has played so prominent a part in the pioneer history of this county, and is known everywhere for its thriftiness, he had accumulated considerable property and was looked upon as a man of wealth by those in this community, among whom he had come to make his home. He bought 240 acres of land in the old Bethel settlement north of Bloomfield, including what is know as the Bland farm, from the father of Dr. T. A. BLAND, paying therefor $2,000. Here he lived until a few years ago, when he moved to Bloomfield.

Oct. 6, 1865, his wife died, and two years later, Oct. 8, 1867, he again married, this time to Mrs. Elizabeth HUBBEL, who, though very old and feeble, survives her husband. To the first union were born nine children—Henry, Maria, John, Catharine, Elizabeth, Leah, Caroline, David and Polly—Three sons and six daughters, all of whom except John and Caroline are still living and residents of Greene county.

Henry, the oldest son, is past seventy-four and lives at Newark. Maria became the wife of Noah FLORY and lives near Tulip. Catharine married John S. HEATH and lives in Highland township. John, after a busy life, died a few years ago, having served his county in the capacity of commissioner. Leah married Ezekiel ALEXANDER and lives at Cincinnati, while David, and Elizabeth, widow of Samuel MUTERSPAUGH, and Polly, wife of Simon LEHMAN, live in or near Bloomfield. Caroline was married to Louis HERRINGTON, but she and her husband both are dead.

His family is the largest in the county, numbering 220 direct descendants, and comprises seven children, forty-five grandchildren, 139 great-grandchildren and twenty-nine great-great-grandchildren.

Two brothers and one sister younger that he survive him and are still living back in Pennsylvania.

The funeral exercises were held Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at Bethel, in charge of Rev. E. M. LOVE, of Worthington. A large crowd, including the relatives, neighbors and friends, was in attendance to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of this venerable pioneer. In an early day Mr. MILLER united with the church of God, and throughout his life he was true to the dictates of his conscience and in all things obeyed the will of his Master as God gave him light to understand that will.

In his prime Mr. MILLER was a giant, physically speaking, standing erect at six feet and three inches and weighing 250 pounds, and his strength was proportionate to his weight. Time was when the small boy stood aside and gazed with wonder as he strode along the street. Reduced as he was by old age and by his final illness, yet in death he weighed barely less than 200 pounds. In an earlier day, before age had left its mark, he was a man of tremendous energy and his capacity for hard work and his power of endurance were remarkable.

Though his frame was bent under its weight of years, yet Uncle Johnny, as he was familiarly called by everyone, can hardly be said to have passed through that state of decrepitude which so often marks the declining years, for until a few months ago, he led a very active life, performing the light work about his home and driving frequently to town on matters of business, but rarely to pass an hour in idleness.

He was strictly honorable in all his dealings, gave no thought to intermeddling with the affairs of others and dwelt at peace with all men—such was his life. Not by an attack of consuming fever nor by some wasting disease, but as nature intends that all men should die by the wearing out of all the bodily parts by age—such was his death. And such was the life, the deeds, the passing away of this venerable pioneer. Buried Union Bethel Cemetery. — The Index to Marriages in Greene County, Indiana, WPA, 1933, Page 247: John Miller to Elizabeth OSBORN, Oct. 8, 1867, Marriage Record Book H, Page 135; Page 116: Elizabeth HUBBELL to Joseph S. OSBORN, Marriage Record Book E, Page 393.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jan 30 2020, 5:39:55 UTC