Miller - Sister Mary
Signs of the Times ? Date (abt 17 Jan 1880)
"Obituary Notices" --
Elder G. Beebe & Son - Dear Editors -- It becomes my duty once more to send you the obituary of another of the members of the Bethel Church who fell asleep in Jesus on the 15th of January 1880, aged 73 Years 14 Days. Sister Mary MILLER, the subject of this obituary was born in Wayne County Indiana Jan 1, 1807. her maiden name was Mary Little. She was married to Abraham Miller (his third wife) while living in that county. The time is not exactly known. (Note from KZ: They were married in Wayne County, Indiana on the last day of December in the year 1821). She, with her husband and other relatives at a later date moved to Montgomery County and settled near the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for some yeaers, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois in September 1834, and settled in Sugar Grove on the Edwards River. Shortly after this time the church called Edwards river was constituted and sister MIller united with this church by experience and baptism about the year 1840 and was baptized by Elder Joseph Jones the pastor of said church. Here she lived, and was beloved by all who knew her and her house was a home for all the members. Her husband never made a profession of religion but was a warm friend of the Old Baptist cause and very readily assisted in making all the friends comfortable while at his house as the writer can testify. In the year 1847 the Edwards River Church was dissolved and the members were all lettered out by a presbytery from other church. As a goodly number of the members were about moving to the then territory of Oregon, Sister Miller and her family followed to Oregon in 1851 and settled that fall on the place where she died July 24, 1852. (sic- the date they arrived in Linn County) She united with this church which was then as now under the pastorate of Elder John Stipp. In this church she lived until the day of her death, a devoted and beloved member. For many years before her death she and her husband became afflicted with inflammatory sore eyes ('Pink Eye') which nearly deprived them of sight and enfeebled their whole system so that they could hardly get out from home. And to add to her afflictions, her husband, while trying to exercise some, walked out from the house a short distance and likely becoming tired, sat down on the railroad track to rest; and being very hard of hearing, and partly blind, he was struck by the engine while passing north which knocked him from the track, mashed his left hip, broke his leg in two places and one arm, and fractured his head. He lived but a few hours, dying about 7 o'clock in the evening of the 29th of December 1875, leaving our poor old sister a widow, to mourn the loss of her beloved companion who was then 82 years. She has survived him for a little over 4 years. It has pleased our heavenly Father to take her home to himself, to enjoy that rest prepared for the children of God. She was ready and willing to go and be at rest, free from pain and sorrow. This was her constant prayer, and we feel that she has answered the call, "Child your Father Calls, Come Home." Yours in the bonds of love, John T. Crooks. Millers, Linn Co Oregon. Feb 9, 1880