Pike-Lamar County GaArchives Obituaries.....Jonathan J. Milner November 16 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net December 4, 2002, 11:41 pm The Barnesville Gazette, Barnesville, Ga., Thursday, November 20, 1890 Mr. Jonathan J. Milner Dead On Sunday last Mr. Jonathan Milner was buried from the Baptist church, after a most excellent and appropriate discourse by the Rev. A.L. Moncrief of Marshallville. Mr. Milner was the son of the Rev. John Milner and Eunice, sister of the Rev. Joseph Calloway. The Baptist church at Barnesville was constituted with Rev. John Milner for its first pastor. Jonathan Milner joined this church in its infancy, was early ordained as one of its deacons. He continued to discharge the duties of his deaconship until his last illness and death. Mr. Moncrief, after alluding to the fact that Mr. Milner had lived throughout a long life in this community and was known of all men therein as a righteous man, who loved the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, said: "He thought for himself. He formed his own conclusions. He exercised his own judgement, and had the courage of his convictions." This estimate by one of the ablest thinkers in the denomination was felt to be true by those who knew Mr. Milner best. He was born July 15, 1816, and married Martha Shivers on September 18, 1839. Immediately after his marriage he settled upon the adjoining lot of land to that occupied by his father and for 50 years lived in the same place. In 1850 with his brother and several of his nephews and friends he caught the "gold fever" and crossed the plains to California, but the life of a miner in those early days did not suit him and he returned at the expiration of a year by way of the Isthmus of Panama. With this single exception his whole life was spent on his farm. In all these years he owed no man anything; he loved his fellow [man] and served his God, and dying, only went to his reward leaving no one in doubt about his final destiny. In 1883 when it was deemed best to change the site of the church, all save John R. Jenkins, Mr. Milner, and his cousin Simeon C., of its old men had passed away. The struggle to get his consent to abandon the old church over which his father, his uncle, two of his brothers and his nephew in succession had presided as pastors, in the graveyard and by the side of which four generations of his people lay buried was one of the hardest of his peaceful life. His judgement being convinced that it would be best for the Master's cause and for the good of his neighbors and their children, he yielded and took his accustomed seat in the new church and to the end did what he could to hold up the hand of his pastor. His body lies buried precisely where stood the door of the old church, through whose portals he had passed to and from the service of his Savior for so many years and his spirit has passed through other portals to the place prepared for him in the Father's house of Many Mansions. (Transcribed 12/4/02 Lynn Cunningham) Note: 1880 Census Place: Barnesville, Pike, Georgia Source: FHL Film 1254161 National Archives Film T9-0161 Page 133C Jonathan J. MILNER, Self, M, M, W, 63, GA, Occ:, Farmer, Fa: NC, Mo: GA Martha MILNER, Wife, F, M, W, 58, GA, Occ: Keeping House, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Sula MILNER, Dau, F, S, W, 30, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Elizabeth MILNER, Dau, F, S, W, 28, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Janie MILNER, Dau, F, S, W, 26, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Hamer N. WRIGHT, SonL, M, M, W, 25, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Mary WRIGHT, Dau, F, M, W, 23, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA Stephen WRIGHT, GSon, M, S, W, 1, GA, Occ: At Home, Fa: GA, Mo: GA File size: 4.0 Kb