Miller - William - 1874 - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

It becomes our sad duty to chronicle the death of one of Montgomery County’s oldest citizens, a man beloved and honored by everyone who knew him. We speak with unfeigned pride of the character of William Miller, or Uncle Billy Miller as he was lovingly and familiarly called by his host of relatives and friends. He died on the 10th inst., at the ripe old age of eighty three at the residence of Mr. Thos. H. Scott, of this city, Mr. Scott’s wife being Uncle Billy’s eldest daughter.

Mr. Miller was born in the state of Virginia, in the year 1790, whence he moved to Kentucky when but a small boy. In March of 1822 he came to Montgomery County and it was his hands that erected the first house ever built on the site of our city—a rude log cabin that stood near where Brown’s new grist mill now stands. Since fifty-two years ago next March great changes have taken place in this county, and to no man more than Uncle Billy, one of her stanch, strong armed pioneers, is the county indebted for her present prosperity and advancement.

Uncle Billy was noted for his hospitality and cheerful good nature. For years his house was open to all, and everybody felt at home there. Young and old sought his cheerful dwelling, especially during the Christmas holidays, always finding plenty to make the visit pleasant.

Now that the whole souled old man is dead, his memory will be dear to all who knew him. It is sad to think how, one by one, the strong old pioneers are passing away. Soon they will all be gone, but their names will stay with us for many years yet. They were a race of sturdy, stanch, energetic and good men, and among them all, no one was more revered and loved than William Miller, now in his grave. By the inhabitants of Crawfordsville he will always be remembered, for his ax chipped out the first rune of the city’s history—his hands laid the first foundation stone of the place. With not an enemy in the world, ripe in years, surrounded by careful and loving relatives and friends, he passed the last days of his life in ease and comfort and now rests where loving hands laid him.

Mr. Miller was a farmer of the good old school, simple in his manners and in his wants, a citizen of the very strongest type, quiet, peaceable and without any trait to make him enemies. He leaves behind a record of nothing but good. -s