Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Miner, Sylvester 1902
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net August 17, 2011, 12:02 pm

Portland Observer, 2 Jul 1902

He Voted for Harrison 1840

Sylvester Miner Dead at 85 Years.

Came to Portland in 1837 and Always Resided Here – Tasted Pioneer Life in Every
Phase – Built First Log House in Westphalia Village.

Sylvester Miner died at the home of his son Austin, with whom he had made his
home since the death of his wife a few years ago, on Saturday night last, of old
age, aged 85 years and 1 month.  Mr. Miner was a native of Ohio, but came to
Portland in 1837 and had resided here continuously up to the time of his death.
 He was a good farmer and owned one of the finest farms in the county.

Mr. Miner had the distinction of one act which very few men now living can boast
of, and that is that he voted for a candidate for President of the United States
in 1840, when he was 23 years of age, at which time he cast his first vote at a
general election and voted for the whig candidate, Wm. Henry Harrison, who was a
resident of Mr. Miner’s native state Ohio.  When the republican party was formed
Mr. Miner identified himself with it and was always a staunch member of it, but
never held any office, although often solicited to do so.

Mr. Miner knew what the trials and privations, the joys and sorrows of pioneer
life were; for beside cleaning up the 200 acre farm which he formerly owned, he
assisted others to clean up land and at other work in those early days.  He
assisted in building the first log house erected in Westphalia village, and when
the Toan family came to Portland he acted as guide for them to their future home
in the woods.

Mr. Miner was an honorable, upright man and he had the highest respect of the
entire community.

He is survived by sons, Austin and Chester, one daughter, Mrs. Curtis Munger,
all of Portland, and also by sisters Mrs. Milton Heath of Groton, So. Dak., and
one who resides at Toledo.

Funeral services were conducted from his late home Tuesday afternoon of this
week by Rev. Millard and interment made in Portland cemetery.


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