COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 13 (published 1873) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman MaggieOhio@columbus.rr.com November 5, 1999 *********************************************************************** "HISTORY OF THE MORRIS AND MILLER FAMILIES" By Morris Miller 1873 *********************************************************************** Chapter 13 Death of Deborah Miller and Following Incidents As nothing transpired during the fore part of the year 1816 to mar our regular routine of business, we older brothers occasionally assisted our uncles in their new beginnings, fondly anticipating the pleasure of having another family added to the circle of our relatives. Although cheered with these hopes most of the year, it did not quite close without leaving us sadly bereaved. Mother had been brought to bed by birth of her eleventh child near the close of the eleventh month. She got along as well as usual, but by venturing out a little prematurely she caught a cold, which in a few days resulted in a violent attack of the fever that soon produced a state of mental derangement. Medical aid was promptly resorted to, but all seemed unavailing, and she continued to suffer severely in both body and mind for about a week, when the fever abated and reason was again restored. But she was so exhausted that only with a feeble voice could she call us, one after another, and bid us farewell, with occasionally some kind words of advice. Then gradually her breathing ceased, and she seemed to pass away in a quiet state of mind. This was a great bereavement to Father and his 10 children, the oldest a little over seventeen years and the youngest about five weeks. It so occurred that our friend Mary Heald had her infant called away by death some 10 days before Mother’s decease, and she very kindly took the baby and attended to it for a few months, after which we raised it at home. We were all favored with good health during the winter, although sadly lonesome by the absence of dear Mother, as we had a young and inexperienced housekeeper for the first few months. Early in the spring of 1817 Father succeeded in getting a suitable cook, and our home was rendered more comfortable. None of our relatives felt the bereavement more than Aunt Sarah Miller. She had only arrived at their new home in the woods a few days before she was called to the deathbed of a dear sister, for whom she always had a high respect, as they had kept their father’s house after their mother’s death until he was comfortably settled again. Thus, they had become closely attached, and for the last six years had only one short visit together, both hoping that they might enjoy each other’s society for many years to come. We passed the summer as comfortably as could be expected. Father had many sincere friends to sympathize with him, aside from his many relatives. Our friend William Stokes having a large crop of fruit and knowing that we had no trees yet bearing, sent an invitation to our three families to come and get all we wanted. Pleased with the invitation, we hurried our work along and in peach time, Elisha Dutton, Isaac Miller and I, the oldest of the three families - Elisha and Isaac with two horses each [author says (p. 77) that this should read "with one horse apiece, a small cart and yoke of oxen."] and I with a young ox team - went over to the home of our friend Stokes and were very kindly received. We were delayed one day became of a heavy rain about the time we arrived. It raised the creek so high that we could not cross. We spent that day gathering peaches for our friends, then loading ourselves amply, we started for home. We had a pleasant journey and were heartily welcomed with our loads of fruit. Several circumstances occurred the year after Mother’s death that rendered us more comfortable than we might otherwise have been. In the spring of the same year Father’s cousin Samuel Shaw moved to be our near neighbor. He and Father always had been on friendly and intimate terms, and their families being near the same number and ages added much to our social enjoyment. We were favored that summer with a school taught by a young lady named Morgan. Since she had lived with us some time before, we had become much attached to her, and we were afforded much agreeable company when she boarded with us during the school term. About the middle of autumn our cook left us with the prospect of marriage. We had been expecting this for quite some time, and consequently got another that had been going to school. The school mistress’s term continued some time after our former cook left, and that gave the second a little training in her new vocation. Thus situated, we got along very well. Late in the fall Father felt a desire to accompany a couple of ministerial Friends on a visit to a new settlement of Friends in Morrow County and stop at Kendall Meeting on their way. Father was particularly intimate with a man by the name of Roach who lived at that place. Cousin Samuel Shaw proffered to act as steward while Father was away, and was accordingly accepted. Thus, Father had a few weeks’ relaxation from the cares of home to enjoy the society of his friends. They got around on their journey very comfortably.