Chris R. Miller

MILLER, RABER, REED, WENGER, HUSTON

Posted By: Ann White (email)
Date: 4/1/2004 at 21:50:42

10/30/1930 - Wayland News -

It is hard to believe that C. R. Miller had been overcome with paralysis last Wednesday because he had been around town during the day as usual. He never regained consciousness and died at midnight on Thursday. Mr. Miller was one of Henry County's most successful farmers. He spent about 20 years on the fine Miller homestead north of Olds. After the death of Mrs. Miller last Fall, he had a public sale and retired from active farmwork but still found a lot of joy in going out to his former home and doing light work that needed attention. Mr. Miller will ever be remembered by those who knew him well for his kind hearted and jovial disposition and his square and fair methods in dealings with mankind. Since his retirement from the farm, he made his home with his two daughters, Mrs. Glenn Huston and Mrs. Allen Wenger. He was staying at the latter place at the time of his death. Mr. Miller spent several months last winter in California and returned to Iowa last Spring. The funeral services were held at the Allen Wenger home at 2:30 Saturday and were in charge of Rev. Weary of the Congregational Church of Olds and Rev. Simon Gingerich of the Sugar Creek Church. A quartet consisting of Jacob Graber, Aaron Liechty, Ross Severt, and Dr. Rittler with Mrs. Mabel Wittrig as accompanist sang "Rock of Ages" and "Nearer My God to the Thee". All pallbearers, Homer Kauffman, William Schlatter, Dillon Bates, Woodrow Miller, Ed Miller, and Ed Spongberg, were nephews of the deceased except Mr. Spongberg. Interment was made in the old cemetery, one/halfmile north of Olds.

Obituary

Chris R. Miller was born in Lee County Iowa October 4, 1855. Later, with his parents, he moved to Trenton, Henry County. It was in 1882 that he came to Wayne. In 1884 he set up the first business house in Olds which practically was the beginning of the present town. In 1887 he left the business to resume his life as a farmer. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Lizzie M. Reed also of the Olds community on November 6,1884. From this sacred union there came into their home five daughters, three of whom survive their father's death; Mrs. Glenn Huston, Crawfordsville, Iowa; Mrs. Howard Johnson, Des Moines; Mrs. Allen Wenger of Wayland. Those having passed in death were Alpha May Miller and Vashati Merle Miller. From the time of his coming to Wayne township, practically all of his life was lived in the Olds community until the death of his wife which occurred August 15, 1929. Upon her death, he made his home with his daughters. It was approximately 20 years ago that Mr. Miller made a profession of his faith in Christ by uniting with the Olds Congregational Church. Surviving him are his three daughters, two sisters, two brothers, one granddaughter, and six grandsons. Death came at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Allen Wenger of Wayland, October 24, 1930, at 12:20 A.M. where two days before he had been in normal health. Interment was made at the Olds Cemetery.