MILLER, William F. 1836-1917

MILLER, SHELLER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/28/2016 at 09:47:51

Death Takes Melrose Pioneer

W. F. Miller Died at His Home Last Saturday

William F. Miller died at his home in Melrose township last Saturday forenoon. Death was due largely to kidney trouble from which Mr. Miller had been a sufferer for some time. Funeral services were held at the church at Ivester Monday afternoon beginning at 1:30. The remains were laid to rest in the cemetery north of Ivester.

Mr. Miller was a pioneer resident of Melrose township and of Grundy county. He came to Iowa about fifty years ago. Shortly after he acquired land in Melrose township and that was his home up to the time of his death.

Mr. Miller was born at Mt. Carroll, Ill. He would have been eighty-one years old had he lived until his next birthday. He grew to manhood in Illinois. During the war of the Rebellion he responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted with a company of Illinois infantry and saw several years of active army life. Shortly after the war, Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to Iowa and located in Grundy county. They were married fifty-four years ago at Mt. Carroll.

Mr. Miller is survived by his wife and five children. The children are Mrs. Fred Draper, Mrs. P. K. Albright, D. O. Miller, Mrs. S. S. Myers and Mrs. R. F. Button. All but Mrs. Meyers live in Grundy county. The children were all enabled to be with the father in the days before his death.

Mr. Miller was widely known through the west portion of Grundy county and in the east part of Hardin and he was held in high regard as a man and a citizen.

Obituary
William F. Miller was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1836. When he was 12 years old his parents moved to Carroll County, Illinois. There were thirteen children in his father's family and Mr. Miller was one of the oldest. There is but one, a sister, Mrs. Clara Kneedy, surviving in this large family.

September 1863 his marriage to Miss Mary Sheller took place. In 1866, he moved to Melrose township with his family and one year later to the present home which was improved by himself and family. 50 years of continuous residence on the present farm.

Seven children came to this home. The two oldest having passed on in infancy and childhood. The mother and wife who has been an invalid for many years with the children mourn the loss of the father. The children are Lillie, Cynthia, Byrd, Orrie and Frances. There are 12 grandchildren. He was of extraordinary constitution. Very seldom ill. About ten years ago a short spell of sickness overtook him. He was in bed three weeks to the day of his death. Death came March 17, 1917, having reached the ripe age of 80 years, 8 months and 9 days.

Funeral services were conducted in the Ivester church Monday, at 1:30 p.m. by the local pastor. A large attendance was in attendance at the services. Burial in the Ivester cemetery, two miles north of the church.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 March 1917, pg 1