Charles Miller 1824-1912

MILLER, MISHLER, WEATHERLY, WARREN, HART, CHANDLER

Posted By: C. Tucker (email)
Date: 11/18/2010 at 17:38:20

Evening Times Republican
Marshalltown, IA [Wednesday 4-10-1912] p. 6

COUSIN OF LINCOLN DIES AT BONAIR

"UNCLE CHARLEY” MILLER, OF LISCOMB, PASSES AWAY TUESDAY

SUCCOMBS TO AILMENTS INDUCED BY OLD AGE

Kinsman of Famous President, Who Headed a Party to “Dunk” Lincoln When He Refused to “Treat” His Pupils – Funeral at Bethel Grove Thursday Afternoon

Charles Miller, a second cousin of Abraham Lincoln, and a pioneer of the Bethel Grove neighborhood in Liscomb township, died Tuesday at Bonair, Howard county, according to a telegram received at Liscomb. Mr. Miller died at the home of his niece, Mrs. Wilson Mishler, where he had been making his home during recent months. The end was due to old age, Mr. Miller having celebrated his 87th anniversary, on Jan. 12. Altho a native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller spent his boyhood in Kentucky where his famous kinsman was born. It was there that Miller and Lincoln first met, as boys in their teens, when the future-president came to the Miller home to board while he taught the district school. MADE LINCOLN "TREAT" An interesting story is told of the early days in Kentucky, when Lincoln first entered upon his duties as teacher. There was much curiosity on the part of the boys to see the “new teacher” and it was planned to make him “treat”. The first day that the “new teacher” was to be on hand arrived, out before him at the school house was a crowd of strapping boys, headed by Miller as their captain, who had decided to lock out the teacher unless he was agreed to “treat”. Miller was chosen captain because it was believed that, being a kinsman, he would be liable to less punishment if the plans miscarried. LINCOLN CAPITULATES Lincoln reached the school house, found the door locked, and that he was unable to force it. Presently a noise was heard on the school house roof, and a few moments later down came the sooty form of the “new teacher” thru the chimney. He was ready to do battle, despite the odds. Game as he was, however, Lincoln was no match for the young Kentuckians who carried the struggling form to a nearby creek, where a dunking was promised unless the promise to “treat” was given. At the very edge of the creek bank, but not until the bank was reached, Lincoln presented a flag of truce and promised that on the morrow the boy’s would have their treat. Lincoln’s behavior on this occasion endeared him to every one of his pupils. They admired his pluck, and his efforts to defend himself even against the overwhelming odds. And no stauncher friend did Abraham Lincoln have in those pioneer days than “Charley” Miller, his second cousin, and Lincoln was enough older so that Miller looked upon him as his ideal man. The mothers of the two boys are first cousins and, strange as it may seem, bore the same maiden name, Nancy Hanks. PIONEER MERCHANT OF COUNTY Mr. Miller came to this county in the early ‘50’s, and was one of the early merchants in the town of Albion. When he first came to Iowa he settled in Des Moines county, near Burlington. He lived in the Bethel Grove neighborhood and at Liscomb for many years and was in business in Zearing for some time. During the first administration of Grover Cleveland, Mr. Miller was deputy postmaster at Zearing under A. D. Hix. Mr. Miller was a member of the Old Bethel Christian church. Mr. Miller is survived by two sons and three daughters – F. M. Miller, of Liscomb; James W. Miller of Cresco; Mrs. Mary Ann Weatherly, of New Providence; Mrs. Ruth Price Warren, of St. Anthony; and Mrs. Lona Hart, corner of Eighth avenue and Main street, Marshalltown. A brother, William Miller lives at Winfield, and a sister, Mrs. Lucretia Chandler, at New London. The late John Miller, of this city, another son. FUNERAL THURSDAY AFTERNOON The funeral will be held from Bethel Grove church Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock, and interment will be follow in the Bethel cemetery.