George Washington Miller
Born: December 19, 1834, Fulton Co., New York
Died: December 6, 1917 near Metz, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 166, plot 5
Married: Emily M. Helphrey January 29, 1859
Children: Stephen J., Melville
Truman, ClaraA. Brock, Clarence
I., Mary Martha, Sara E. Hardenbrook, Bertha J. Baker, Ora May, Georgina Emmack.
Parents:John Jr. and Marjery (Degraff) Miller
George W. Miller A Pioneer of 1853
Dies at his home near Metz at the age of 83.
The County loses a Good Citizen.
George W. Miller died at his home in Mound Prairie township, December 6, 1917. He was born in Fulton County, New York on December 19, 1834. In 1845 with his parents he journeyed by canal, lake boat, and immigrant wagon to Kendall County, Illinois. Here his father died in 1853. [Family Bible says 1851]
In the fall of that year with his mother, bother John, and sister, Mrs. Sara Cannon, he moved to Iowa, settling on a farm near Metz. On the 20th of January 1859, he was united in marriage to Emily Helphrey, their license being the first one issued in the then new courthouse. To this couple nine children were born, five of whom are now living and were with him in his last sickness. They are M.T., C.I., Mrs. W.H. Brock, Mrs. Sadie Hardenbrook, and Mrs. E.C. Emmack, all expect one living with him on a part of the old Homestead. The departed ones are Stephen, Mary, May, and Bertha. They have 15 living grandchildren and 12 Great grandchildren.
By frugality and hard labor he from time to time added to his first small acreage till he owned seven hundred and twenty acres of Mound Prairie land, the management of which he shared with his two sons, Mel and Clarence. He was a companion to his children from their childhood to old age.
Funeral services were held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Metz church conducted by Dr. Williams of Newton, who paid an eloquent tribute to his simple life, which was of much comfort to his aged wife and sorrowing children. Mrs. W.L. Anderson's songs were the kind that touched the heart and give comfort.
The pallbearers were the sons of old friends and neighbors of his. They were Lou Helphrey, Henry Dammeier, Patsy Healy, Gil Henney, Elmer Fitzgerald, and Andy Engle. They laid him to rest in the Metz cemetery in sight of the first home he had made in his young manhood and beside his brother John, and among his children who had gone before.
George Miller had for his neighbors in his pioneer days, John M. Reed, John Leeper, A.K. and J.W. Allfree, S.W. Sims, Tom Phillips, Wm. and C.M. Baker, William Hitchler, Frank Pink, Jerry Fitzgerald, Louis Helphrey, L.A. Woodruff, C.J. Hickman, George Cannon, Thomas Morrison, Tom Healy, George Ramsey, A.J. Westbrook, William Aillaud, James Callison, E.B. and H.L. Moffitt, Richard Manning, and many others, who like himself had come from distant states to make for themselves a home.
They had many privations. Their market and mill were at Oskaloosa, Brooklyn, or Iowa City. They have builded better than even they had thought and left to us a priceless heritage. Only of this list left on the farm is Jerry Fitzgerald, and he is nearing the western horizon and will soon join his friends of long ago; and like the others leave us only his good name and example. If it can be said of us as it will be said of them, "They have done their work well," then will future generations pay tribute to us in saying we were true sons of our fathers. ~ Newton Daily News December 1917
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George W. Miller Biography
We rarely find two persons in everyday life who attribute their success in their different spheres to similar qualities. Hard work and plodding industry paved the way for one, good judgment and a keen sense of values for another, intuition and a well balanced mind for a third. A mixture of some of the qualities above named, emphasized by hard work and plodding industry, has been responsible for the success of George W. Miller, one of the best known and highly honored citizens of Mound Prairie township, Jasper Co., where he owns a valuable and attractive farmstead, having been known for many decades as one of the substantial and leading farmers and stock men of the Co.
Mr. Miller was born in New York state, December 19, 1835. He is the son of John Miller, Sr., and Maria (DeGaw/Degraff) Miller, natives of the state of New York, the father of Albany Co.. They grew up and were married in their native state and they began farming for a livelihood, finally owning a good farm in Fulton Co., New York. In 1845, they moved to Kendall Co., Illinois, coming by boat over the Great Lakes, and they bought two hundred acres in that Co., making their home in that Co. until the father's death in 1852. John Miller, Sr. was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a man of sterling qualities, a typical frontiersman, hardy, brave and yet gentle in disposition.
In the year 1853, the mother of the subject brought her children, George W., John and Sarah, to Jasper Co., Iowa, settling in Sherman township. Here the two sons bought two hundred and twelve acres in partnership, and they lived there until 1865 when George W., of this sketch, sold it and bought eighteen acres in Mound Prairie township. Here he prospered from the first through his close application and good management, and he added to his original purchase until he now owns six hundred acres, all in Mound Prairie township.
When he first came to this place he found a wild country, there being only two houses within a radius of four miles, the raw prairie stretching beyond the sight in all directions. He set out trees, built bridges, erected buildings and fences and in due course of time, had a model farm. He has succeeded beyond the average person as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a commodious and pleasant home and everything about his place denotes thrift and good management. He is still active and hale for one of his age, the result of wholesome living and right thinking.
Politically, Mr. Miller is a Republican, but he has never sought to be a public man. He was married on January 20, 1857, to Emily Helphrey, a native of Ohio and the daughter of Israel Helphrey, who settled in Jasper county, Iowa in 1854.
To Mr. & Mrs. Miller, nine children havw been born, names as follows: Stephen, deceased; Melville T. lives in Metz, Iowa; Mrs. Clara Brock; Clarence; Mary is deceased; Mrs. Sadie Hardenbrook, Ora May is deceased; Mrs. Bertha Baker is deceased; Mrs. Georgia Emmack, of Mound Prairie township. ~ Past and Present of Jasper Co., Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, 1912, - Volume II, pages 857-858.
Emily M. (Helphrey) Miller
Born: October 28, 1839, Lima, Ohio
Died: November 3, 1922, Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: 166, plot 7
Married: George Washington Miller in Metz, Jasper
Co., Iowa See Golden Anniversary
Children: Stephen J., Melville
Truman, ClaraA. Brock, Clarence
I., Mary Martha, Sara E. Hardenbrook, Bertha J. Baker, Ora May, Georgina Emmack
Parents: Israel and Rachel (Meyers) Helphrey.
Obituary: Emily Helphrey Miller
Mrs. Miller Dies Friday.
Pioneer Resident of Co. Passes
Away At Her Home In Metz - Funeral Tomorrow.
Mrs. George Miller, on of the early settlers of Jasper Co. died yesterday afternoon at 4:00 o'clock at her home in Metz on the old Miller homestead which has been her home for the past 53 years.
Mrs. Miller, who was 83 years old, had been in feeble health since the latter part of September when she was injured in a fall. Since then she has been failing and during the past week has been unconscious most of the time.
When by 15 years old, Mrs. Miller, then Emily Helphrey, came with her parents, Israel and Rachel Helphrey from Lima, Ohio and settled in Jasper Co. Here the family grew to be one of the most prominent in the Co. When the old Jasper Co. courthouse was first dedicated, Emily Helphrey and George Miller were married. In fact, they were the fist couple to be married in that court house.
Mr. & Mrs. Miller moved on a farm and it was thought their efforts and through the efforts of people of their caliber that Jasper Co. is now one of the leading agricultural spots in the U.S. Mr. & Mrs. Miller were parents of 9 children, 4 of who proceeded them in death.
Mrs. Miller was a charter member of the Baptist Church at Metz and all during her life she has been one of the good women of the community who has always had time to drop in and assist a friend in need and care for the sick and the many little kindness' which mark the life of such women as Mrs. Miller.
Mr. Miller died 5 years ago and was buried in the Miller family plot in Metz, where Mrs. Miller will be buried. She is survived by her 5 children; Mrs. F.A. Hardenbrook, Mrs. W.H. Brock, of Newton; Mrs. E.C. Emmack, M.T. and C.I. Miller of Metz and 2 brothers, David Helphrey, Leeton, Missouri and Israel of Ogden, Iowa and many friends and relatives.
It is not thought that Mrs. Millers brothers will be able to attend the services for they are both in feeble health. Israel has visited with her since her illness and his wife is not well at this time.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 o'clock from the Metz Church, with Rev. W.O. Chisholm of the United Presbyterian Church of Newton in charge of the service. Newton Daily News, November 4, 1922
Stephen J. Miller
Born: October 27, 1859, Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: September 3, 1878, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: 166, plot 10
Parents: G.W. and Emily (Helphrey) Miller
Photo contributed by Chuck Emmack
Mary Martha Miller
Born: March 1868, Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: October 15, 1868, Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 166, plot 9
Parents: G.W. and Emily (Helphrey) Miller
Ora Mae Miller
Born: April 7, 1873 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Died: August 19, 1874 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 166, plot 8
Parents: G.W. and Emily (Helphrey) Miller
