Reuben Gleim Miller

GEDCOM Note

Records of Reuben Miller family organization assembled by Austin P. Miller in possesion of Naomi C. Evans, 1160 Iris Lane, Salt Lake City ,Utah.

Marriage records Salt Lake County Endowment House single record at Geneological Library, Thelma Christensen, Moreland, Idaho.

Endowment was done at the Endowment House in SLC. (early Church records say endowment was done in the Nauvoo Temple.)

"As a young man Miller migrated from his Pennsylvania birthplace to Illinois, where he became first a millwright, then a substantial farmer in Ottawa, LaSalle County. There, as an undoubtedly respected member of the community, he became a Mormon convert (1843) while in his early forties (thirties?). That he was early given important Church positions demonstrated his ability and reliability. The year following his baptism, he was selected as Bishop in the formal organixation of the Latter-day Saints in his area. A machine duplication exists of a Miller letter dated July 29, 1845, which describes what must be typical activities of the period of this early bishopric. He reports to William Clayton that he is about to leave La Salle County for Chicago to facilitate transportation of several wagonloads of goods (particularly glass) to Nauvoo, and that he will use three yoke of oxen taken in tithing. Miller's own summary of his early, performance in the Church was made in 1846 and lists a call to settle at Nauvoo, an assignment as collection agent for tithing and bulding funds, and appointment as "the leader of a company to go West in the coming spring." The pursuance of this calling was the beginning of an episode in Reuben Miller's life that is but faintly disclosed in published sketches and yet is the key to his intense interest in Oliver Cowderey's words at the time of his return.

Reuben Miller was Bishop of the Mill Creek Ward, Salt Lake City, Utah. He was county commisioner in 1850. He was known to be a hard worker and a keen business man, and suceeded in accumulating considerable worldly goods. Nearly, if not all of the main water ditches lying north of Big Cottonwood Creek were laid out by Reuben with an old water level and a tea kettle that he used for an instrument. During his life as a commisioner he opened all of the roads both ways across the Valley.

Reuben came to Utah in 1849. He crossed the plains in Daniel Spencer's company which arrived in the Valley Sep 24, 1849. He made his home in Mill Creek where he acted as Bishop from 1850 until his death in 1882.

He sat in the convention of 1862, when a constitution was framed for the State of Deseret and a memorial was adopted asking for Utah's admission into the Union.

Reuben Miller was the son of Isaac Miller and Esther Gleim.

He was born Sept. 4, 1811 in Reading Burk Co., Pennsylvania. He moved into Dayton, Illinois in 1836. On April 17, 1836, he married Rhoda Ann Letts (A). He identified himself with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints by baptism January 27, 1843, and was ordained to the office of an Elder on May 10, 1844. On December 15, 1845 he married Orice Burnham (B). He received his endowments in the Nauvoo Temple on December 15, 1845 and was sealed to his wives on January 27, 1846.

The records show he was ordained a bishop at a Stake Conference held at Norway, LaSalle Co., Illinois by Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball and Parley P. Pratt and later appointed to preside over the Stake, Oct. 23, 1844.

A special appointment was given him January 25, 1845 to "solicit and collect means to be used in the construction of the Nauvoo Temple."

He came to Utah in 1849 in the Orson Spencer Company arriving here September 24th. He served as clerk of the Company during their travels. There came with him his family, consisting of eight and a hired man by the name of Burk. He brought four wagons, eleven oxen, five cows, two pigs, a dog and a cat. The family took land and located on the Cottonwood Creek, Salt Lake County.

He was appointed bishop of Mill Creek Ward April 8, 1852 and held this position until his death.

On December 9, 1856, he married Ann Craner (C) and on January 11, 1869 he married Jane Hughes (D).

By these marriages he became the father of 30 children, 19 of them living to maturity.

In 1851 he was appointed Probate Judge by President Brigham Young and was elected to the office by the people, Feb. 7, 1852. He was appointed by Brigham Young as County Selectman (Commissioner) March 3, 1852 and was elected by the people in August 1853. He held this office be reelections until his death. Most of the main county roads and the early irrigation canals were surveyed and constructed under his direction.

In 1862 he was a member of the convention which drafted the constitution of the State of Deseret and passed a resolution asking admittance into the Union. The Deseret News of 1864 referred to him as "Industrious, thrifty and a man of the most approved judgment in practical affairs."