Miller - Jacob - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Jacob Miller was born in Kentucky July 25, 1817, and died in Crawfordsville July 2, 1898, being eighty years, eleven months and six days old. He was the son of William Miller, who built the first log cabin in what is now Crawfordsville, when “Uncle Jake” was but five years old. The deceased had resided in and about Crawfordsville all his life, being perhaps the oldest living resident of the city and county. He was by nature of a quiet disposition, loved and honored by all with whom he came in contact. He always took a deep interest in the growth and development of the city. He saw the growth from the one log cabin of his father’s (which stood about one hundred and thirty feet north of the old Brown & Watkins mill lot) to a city numbering its thousands. He saw the growth from the paths through the primeval forests to the broad streets and beautiful avenues for which our city is noted. He was a pioneer of pioneer who came up through all the privations, toil and struggles incident to such life of which the present generation knows but little, but now enjoys the luxuries which were brought about by the toil and unflinching characters of these noble and true hearted men and women of which “Uncle Jake” was one.

Such a life has not been spent in vain and should be honored by those who are left to reap the harvest of their toil. Such a person cannot but leave an impress on all those with whom he associated. He had three brothers and three sisters of whom two sisters and one brother survive him. Those living are Mrs. Shevlin of this city, who was the first white female born in Montgomery County, Lida Raymond, of California, and Henry Miller, of this city.

He was married to Martha Jane Edwards October 29, 1843. She survives him. To them was born three children, Henry C., Mattie and Eliza, all of whom preceded him to that home where parting will be no more.

He had been a member of the M. E. Church for more than thirty years and had lived a consistent Christian life and as old age and infirmities crept on him his hopes of an immortality beyond the grave grew bright and he said on his death bed that he was satisfied and ready to go when the master should call.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 8 July 1898

Sunday morning at 3 o’clock Jacob W. Miller died at his home on West Chestnut Street after an illness from the grip, at the age of over four score years. The funeral occurred at the residence on Tuesday at 9:30 o’clock conducted by Rev. Marion Hays. Interment was at Masonic Cemetery.

Jacob Washington Miller was born in Kentucky in July, 1817, and at the age of five years removed to this county with his parents. His father, William Miller, cut a road from Indianapolis to the site of this city and erected the first cabin here, it being located near the corner of Market and Water Streets, later occupied by the Brown and Watkins flouring mill.

Along in the forties Jack Miller was married to Miss Martha Jane Edwards, of this county and to them were born two children, both of whom died at an early age. One of these children, a girl died at the age of fourteen years from diphtheria, it being the first case of the disease ever noted in the surrounding country.

Mr. Miller was a farmer until he had reached an advanced age, at which time he moved into the city and entered the grocery business.

He leaves a widow and one brother, Henry Miller, of this city, and two sisters, Mrs. Louisa Shevlin, also of this city, and Mrs. Henry Raymond, of Pasadena, Calif. Mr. Miller was a member of the Methodist Church and in his death the county loses one of its oldest, if not the oldest resident, he having resided here continuously for a period of about seventy six years. - thanks muches to "S" for these two and the many obits for this site :)