MILLER, Charles A. 1835-1903

MILLER, CROMER, SEIWERS

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 2/24/2012 at 12:35:57

Osage News
February 19, 1903

MILLER

Last Saturday Mrs. F. J. Cromer, Miss Anna Miller and Will F. Miller were notified by telegram of the serious and dangerous illness of their father, Mr. Chas. H. Miller, at Galena, Illinois. In response to the message Mr. Cromer, Miss Miller and her brother, left for Galena, Mrs. Cromer being detained on account of her children who could hardly be taken on so long a journey at this cold season. After the death of the parent, Mr. Cromer returned home to make arrangements for the burial of the body at this place. The Galena Daily Gazette makes the following mention of the honorable and upright life of Mr. Miller.

It was with profound regret and sorrow that the many friends of Charles A. Miller learned of his demise at the family home on Dodge street at about 4 0'clock on Sunday afternoon after a comparatively brief illness from stomach trouble.
Mr. Miller's intimate friends had noticed for some time past that he was rapidly failing in health but when asked as to his condition he always smiled and stated that while he was feeling none of the best he expected to be better soon. In the meantime he was suffering intensely and knew that is was but a question of a little time when the inevitable call from death would come to him. He was patient to the end and bore his suffering with the fortitude characteristic of his natural courageous and determined nature.

Mr. Miller was a man who made many warm friends during his long residence in this city and he will be greatly missed. Well read, naturally of a bright, intellectual turn of mind, pleasant in his social relations and generous to a fault, he was a man who attracted friends easily.

Politically he was a life-long Democrat but was liberal in his views.

Mr. Miller was born in Berlin, Prussia, August 30, 1835, where his youthful days were spent and where he grew to a man's estate. He received a fairly good education in the land of his nativity which afterwards served to advantage in the country of his adoption. In 1857, he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, and in 1859 he came to Galena, where his home has since been with the exception of three years spent in helping to fight for the preservation of the Union during the civil war. In April 1861 he enlisted as a member of the 12th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in this city and was the sixth man in Jo Daviess county to join the union army then being recruited to suppress the rebellion. Of the five whose names appeared ahead of his Wiliam Sheerer of this city alone survives.

After serving faithfully in the army until August, 1864, Mr. Miller was honorably discharged and returned to Galena, where on November 19, of the same year he was united in marriage with Miss Lesette Seiwers, who survies him. He is also survived by three daughters, Miss Annie Miller and Mrs. Frank J. Cromer, of Osage, Iowa, and Mrs. John Cromer, of Savanna, Illinois, and one son Will F. Miller, of Osage, Iowa.

During his long residence in Galena, Mr. Miller engaged in various branches of business, among others, being editor of the old Galena Volks Freund for a number of years. He was elected to various offices in the township and municipality and served as surveyor of customs and custodian of the government building here during President Cleveland's last administration.

The services at the old Galena home were in charge of the E. D. Kittoe Post. G.A. R. 502 of that city of which honorable body the deceased was a faithful and painstaking member. Upon the arrival of the body in Osage yesterday afternoon, Feb.18, the members of the Frank A. Brush Post took charge of the remains which they buried with all the honors prescribed by their order.

Besides the children the breaved wife accompained the remains to Osage and although her coming here is attended with deep sorrow she will be surrounded by three children and the happy inmates of the Cromer home where she will live in the future.