Peter Miller 1795-1873

MILLER, LICHTY, WHITE, KEASLING, RRYLAND, WYER, PATTERSON, WILBORN, WARE, STEMPLE, LYDOLPH, WATTS

Posted By: Mike Miller (email)
Date: 11/29/2008 at 21:08:02

Peter Miller

(The following biographical sketch was prepared for this paper by the historical committee of the Centennial celebration.)

Peter Miller was born in Somerset of Somerset County, Pa., Dec. 25, 1795. His father was John Miller, a tanner, and at one time the sheriff of Somerset County. Peter grew to manhood in the locality, and married Mary Lichty in 1825. They continued living in Somerset County after their marriage, but later moved to West Moreland (sic) county, and in these two counties their twelve children were born. They were Chauncey Oliver, Sarah, Anne, Joseph John, Elisha Ezekial, Susannah Rebecca, Zebulon William, James Warren, Henrietta Clarisa, Simon Peter and Amanda Anna. Two of these, Henrietta and Simon are living at the present time. Both live at Bonaparte. Henrietta is in her ninety-second year and Simon in his ninetieth.

In March of 1854, Mr. Miller started for Iowa, bringing with him is wife and twelve children also the household goods, cows wagon, harness, etc. They came by boat from Pittsburg, PA to Keokuk, Iowa, making the trip in two weeks. From Keokuk they came in wagons to Bonaparte and started housekeeping in a one room house that stood on what is now called Orchard Hill in the northeast part of Greyheath orchard.

Mr. Miller bought land from Lewis and Clark, the explorers, (sic) built a house on it and in the fall after arriving here, moved his family into their new home. There he resided until his death April 6, 1873. This farm is two miles north and three quarters of a mile east of Bonaparte, and is part of the farm now owned by the children of Elisha E. Miller.

Mr. Miller and his sons cleared the land, made fences of brush and rails and soon had the fields in cultivation. In those days it took a lot of of work to provide food and clothing for a large family like theirs and everyone was kept busy, the men in the fields and timber and the women in the house, cooking, spinning and weaving. Sometimes Mr. Miller raised the flax on this farm and this was prepared for the loom, and the daughters wove it into household linens. At one time they had thirty linen sheets they had woven, but when the Civil war started these were given to the union army to be used in the hospitals for lint.

Mr. Miller was a staunch supporter of the North during the war, and three of his sons, Chuncey, Zebulon and James enlisted in the union army. James died of typhoid fever while in camp at Vicksburg and is buried there.

Chauncey was born Oct. 15, 1826. Married Mary White of Pennsylvania in 1853 and brought her to Iowa with him next spring. They lived on a farm one half mile northeast of his father's home. Enlisted in the union Army Oct. 1861, in Co. F, 14th Iowa Infantry. Served three years, returned to his farm, which now belongs to L. G. Housholder. Resided there until his death Nov. 6, 1901. children were Mary Jane Stevens, Joseph, Samuel, Arabelle, Robert, Dates, Norman, George and Maggie. Those living are Joseph of Harrisburg twp. and Mary Jane of Bonaparte. Robert, George and Norman have died in recent years. Dates died in 1903, Arabelle in infancy, Samuel at the age of 3 years and Maggie at the age of 15 years.

Sarah A., born Aug. 3, 1828, died Aug. 6, 1905. married Frederick Keasling May 6, 1856. Lived in Bonaparte a number of years, then moved to their farm one and one half miles northeast of Bonaparte and lived there until their death. Children were William, Amanda A., Mary E., Sarah J., Charles, Henrietta and Archibald. William and Archibald of Bonaparte are the only ones living. Amanda A., aged 6, passed away on June 25, 1863. Five days later Mary E. aged 3 years died. Seven weeks after her death Sarah J. died, aged five months. All three died of scarlet fever. Charles died Jan. 25, 1933, and Henrietta Haberman died Feb. 19, 1935.

Elisha E., born Des., 18, 1931, died August 30, 1916. Went to california with his brothers, Joseph, in 1859, spent the next 13 years there, and in Montana prospecting for gold. Came back to Bonaparte in 1872. Bought land adjoining his father's farm on the west. Built a house on it in 1875. Married Martha W. Ryland Dec. 14, 1875. Twelve children were born to them: Benny Vance who died in infancy, Glen of Canyon Creek, Montana. Clayton and Elsie of Chicago, Frank of Ely, Nevada, Boyd of Regina, Saskatchewan, Elizabeth Fulelr of Valley Junction and Bryon, Goldie, Faye Dawson, Grace Horstman and Marjorie Lindsay of Bonaparte.

Joesph was born Oct. 17, 1829. Went to California in 1859. Came back to Bonaparte once on a visit, Spent last year in Carson City, Nevada, where he died May 23, 1905. Never married.

Elizabeth M. born Oct. 1, 1833, died Feb. 5, 1902. Married john Wyer Nov. 15, 1855 Moved to their farm one mile east of her father's home and resided there until her death. This farm is now owned by her grandson, Frank Warner. The Wyer children were Anna Baber, who passed away in January 1932, Henrietta Warner and Emma Simmons of Bonaparte, William of Montana, Frank of Pasco, Wash., and Sarah E., who died at the age of eighteen months.

Lydia C., was born Sept. 29, 1836. Married Chas. Patterson in 1856. Lived in the Meek stone house west of Bonaparte for several years. Moved to Elm Creek, Neb., in 1880, and resided there until her death. Children were Anna Guess, maggie Green, John, Charles and dick. Those living now are Maggie Green in Kearney, Neb., and Dick of Miller, Neb.

Susannah R. was born Nov. 25, 1838. Married William Wilborn in 1879. Made her home in Montana until her death. Children were Hattie Olson and Charles.

Zebulon W. was born Feb. 10, 1841. Married Jane Ware, who died a few months later. He enlisted in the Union army in 1861 and served four years. Married Sarah J. McClellan Jan. 25, 1870. Lived in Bonaparte several years then moved to Kansas, and shortly after went to Montana where she resided until his death in 1922. The children were Merlie Davis, Rilla, Stella, Rolla, Eula, Chas., and James.

James W. was born Sept. 5, 1843. Enlisted in the Union army, Died at Vicksburg at the age of 23, Never married.

Amanda A. was born March 11, 1852, Went to Montana in 1876. Married John Semple and made her home in Montana until her death Dec. 4, 1935. Children were Carrie who died at the age of eighteen months, Alys Witcher, Oscar and Ed.

Henrietta C. was born Nov. 23, 1845. Married Ernest Lydolph June 5, 1873, Lived on the Meek ranch in Milton seven years, then moved to their farm one and a half miles north of Bonaparte. Lived there until they moved to Bonaparte in 1917. After the death of the daughter nellie, in 1931, Mrs. Lydolph moved back to the farm to make her home there with her sons, Guy and Joe. The children were: Emma, Guy, Edward, Homer, Joe, Nellie, and Charlie. Emma, Edward and nellie are deceased. Emma died Jan. 18, 1921, and Nellie July 22, 1931. Guy, Joe and Charlie live near Bonaparte, and Homer near Stockport.

Simon P. was born Feb. 10, 1848. Married Ella Watts Oct. 11, 1874. Started housekeeping on a farm one and a half miles north of Bonaparte. Went to Montana in 1879, stayed two years, returned to Bonaparte and resided there until 1900 when he again went to Montana. In 1902 he came bak to Bonaparte and has made that his home until the present time. The children were Effie, who died at the age of 6 years, Lottie Derr, who passed away March 6, 1937 and Carl of Chicago.

(Written by some of the Miller descendants.)

Scrapbook G, Bonaparte Public Library