COLUMBIA COUNTY OHIO - MORRIS/MILLER History Chapter 24 (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 24 History of Robert Miller Robert Miller, the second brother during his manhood was afflicted at times with the phthisic, but arriving to the age of manhood, it left him entirely. It was always believed that it had a tendency to shorten his stature in growth, as he never attained as great a height as either of his other brothers. He did not aspire to any branch of business, but remained with his father on the farm. It was about the expiration of his twenty-second year when we commenced the experiment of making brick for the new house. Our success at that inspired him with a taste for that business, in which he was much employed many years afterwards. In the latter part of that year 1823 he married a woman named Catherine Hole, eldest daughter of David and Anna Hold, and a niece of our stepmother. They settled on the 55 acres adjoining the 55 that I settled on two years before. There were ordinary cabin buildings on it, having been tenanted by different families since Father purchased it. They had lived on it scarcely a year when Catherine deceased soon after the birth of her child. The child died in a short time. Thus bereaved, he retired to his father’s home to live, occasionally being employed in the brickmaking business. He spent one summer mostly in Washington County, Pa., making brick for his uncles, Jonathan and David Morris, both of whom wished to build brick houses. He married Susanna K. Holland, eldest daughter of Samuel and Sarah Holland, near neighbors of ours. With her he lived very comfortably for almost forty years. In a few years after their marriage they erected a good brick house and a frame barn; also other appurtenances necessary for their comfort. They were zealous and regular attenders of meeting and being situated within three-quarters of a mile of the meeting house, they made it a point to entertain all parties traveling in the service of the Society. Soon after Father’s decease, Robert was called to the station of elder, which he accepted with great humility, and endeavored to maintain to the general satisfaction of the community. Wishing to keep their house to receive company, it was necessary for them to employ some help. There were most always fortunate to obtain good girls. Such of them that needed a home soon learned that to keep one was to be dutiful and endeavor to please all. Several who served long periods - some of them until called away by marriage - generally look back with satisfaction on the time spent at Robert Miller’s. It so occurred that Susan’s mother was left a widow for many years. After her children were all married and gone to themselves, she concluded to adjourn housekeeping and make her home with Robert and Susan. They received and treated her with all the kindness an aged and afflicted mother could desire until the time of her death. The son passed along through his years of minority very dutiful and pleasing to his parents and all who knew him. I shall give a particular notice of him in another chapter. Time rolled along smoothly after mother’s decease, without any occurrences worthy of not. They enjoyed reasonably good health until the autumn of 1864, when his wife’s health began to decline. Although it had been delicate for some time, yet she kept up and was reasonably comfortable until the close of the eleventh month when she was confined to her room and mostly to her bed. Her complaint was a pulmonary one that failed to be reached by medicine. She continued to grow weaker and finally departed this life on the 2nd of February, 1865. She was much missed by her relatives and friends, especially Robert, who had no children settled with whom he could live. It so occurred that a young couple who had been married about 18 months and as yet having no home (she having been an agreeable inmate of Robert’s house as a hired girl for a considerable length of time just before marrying) concluded to come and make that their home for the time being, and Robert to make his home with them. The husband was to work the farm on the shares. He being very industrious and economical, blended with a very agreeable affability, rendered Robert’s home reasonably comfortable again. Thus being released from the cares of home, he was left to the enjoyment of visiting his relatives and friends. In the early summer of 1866 he made a protracted visit to Iowa to see his two sisters there; also numerous friends and relatives. In the early summer on 1867 he and I made a visit to our brother’s home in Clinton County, Ohio, which resulted in general satisfaction. Although he was thus situated, he felt a desire to restore his home with another companion, his son having no prospect of marrying and settling so he could abide with him. For some time previous he had been making the acquaintance of a friend by the name of Mary Hall, who lived in the neighborhood of Stillwater, Belmont County, Ohio. She was a widow and the mother of three daughters, the oldest of which was about eighteen years of age. Their acquaintance ripened into a matrimonial engagement, which was consummated by order of the Society late in the autumn of 1867. After marriage he brought her home where she received a kind reception, particularly from the worthy tenant, Daniel Powell by name, who prepared an elegant repast. The winter being near at hand, it was concluded that they would spend several months at his wife’s residence, where they passed the time with much satisfaction. In the spring the tenant moved to another house and they occupied the one he had left. All passed along as well as could have been expected until about midsummer. Robert having been afflicted with weak eyes, his sight about that time began to fail and in less than two months he was incapable of traveling about with safety, hence, he had to be led in critical places. He resorted to an operation by a skillful optician. It was successful, although it required some time for the inflammation to subside, yet his sight was restored and by the aid of suitable glasses he was rendered capable of reading and writing with much comfort. The next spring a house was moved to a suitable locality for the tenant. He proved to be so agreeable that no pains were spared to render him comfortable. Thus time passed on agreeably for near three years and he could enjoy the society of his friends as in former times. The most extensive visit they embarked on was to Iowa, his wife having a brother and he having two sisters, in addition to other relatives in that locality. A short time before they had concluded to return home Robert was thrown out of the vehicle and a painful injury was inflicted on his head. As soon as he was able to make the journey he came home. When the injury became well, all inflammation left his eyes and he had never been troubled with them since. In the summer of 1872 it was concluded to sell the farm to the son and the family would retire to Salem to make their future abode. Two reasons led them to this conclusion: first, Robert was beginning to feel the infirmities of advanced age pressing upon him, and having a sufficiency of means to keep him without the cares of the farm on his mind, it having been enlarged many years since by additions from his father’s and father-in-law’s farms, which adjoined his, the land was thus rendered very desirable for cultivation. The tenant, Daniel Powell by name, is now saving money and paying his rent than many that have land of their own. A second reason was that two of the daughters wished to engage in the millinery business, and it was supposed that Salem would be a desirable place for that business. Hence, a good brick house was purchased and they moved into it in the fall of 1872. There they enjoy the comforts of retirement with mutual satisfaction.