Miller's Farm Cemetery
The joy of research is the opportunity to answer questions about our history. Whether it family history, local history, military history, etc., the process is virtually the same. You take what you know, formulate a question (or a thousand), formulate a hypothesis and head out of the trail. One thing you will quickly find is that one question really only leads to more questions. One trail only leads you to more trails.
The Miami County Sentinel of July 1, 1880, announced the passing of old timer, George L Miller, on June 25. George's claim to fame was to be the first white male child born in Miami County. He grew up in what was, at the time, the American frontier. Woods were thick, wildlife was plentiful, and work was hard. George born on March 30, 1832, to John and Julia Miller, the oldest of a half dozen or more children. He married Eliza Mansfield in 1858 and the couple went on to have three children, possibly more.
These items leave plenty of trails of their own to follow, but for those who have read more than one of my blog posts, you know I love cemeteries themselves. Here is where the puzzle for me comes in. George's obituary takes up nearly half a column in the Sentinel. Down near the bottom, the text reads "The remains were buried in the family graveyard on his farm, where rests his father and mother, brother and children." These would be his parents, John W and Julia, his brother Thomas (the only sibling to predecease him), and his 'children'. The only children caught in census records were Frank, Julia Aniss/Anice, and Mary L "Minnie", all of whom survived him. It is unclear to what children the article refers.
One mystery certainly is not enough. We actually have a couple more. The entire family appears to have a towering red (maybe whetstone?) marker at Mount Hope Cemetery. The stone lists the following:
John W Miller born in York Co PA Apr 17 1805, died Mar 8 1870
Julia Ann Leas wife of John W Miller born in Preble Co Ohio Apr 28 1810, died Sept 6 1868
Josephine dau of J W & J A L Miller and wife of Wm Hooks born Oct 27 1828, died Mar 17 1870, buried in Harrison Co Iowa
Sons of J W and J A L Miller
--John F Miller born in Miami Co Ind Jan 9 1834 died Oct 29 1890
--George L Miller born in Miami Co Ind Mar 30 1832 (no death date)
Thomas B Miller born in Miami Co Ind Mar 17 1840 (no death date)
Sons of J W and J A L Miller
--Edward H Miller born 22 Apr 1842 in Miami County Ind, died Oct 18 1918
--Ross D Miller born in Miami Co Ind Oct 25 1846, died Jan 13 1901
Daus of J W and J A L Miller
--Harriet Miller born Miami Co Ind Mar 1 1836 (no death date)
--Eliza J born Miami Co Ind Dec 3 1837 (no death date)
Eva dau of G L & E Miller born Nov 27 ____ died M__________
_______ (panel shared with Eva is entirely broken off)
Again, we are left with more questions than answers. Those listed in George's obituary are accounted for, more or less. One big piece of information is Eva, daughter of George and Eliza. Unfortunately, much of her information is gone. But even worse, all information regarding a possible sibling who shared the panel with her has been entirely erased by time.
Who was the other child?
Were the graves moved from the family cemetery or is this a massive cenotaph?
When were they moved here or when was the marker set?
Where was the original burial location on the family farm.
What happened to George's wife Eliza?
Elsewhere in Mount Hope are three markers, George L Miller, Eliza A Miller and Frank Miller. It is unclear at this point if they are all situated together or not. These are most likely them, but does not explain when they were moved if at all, where they had been, why they were moved, or anything else about them. If these are their actual graves, that large family monument serves as a cenotaph for George, rather than an epitaph. More mystery.
There is a small marker with only the name George L Miller elsewhere in the cemetery. If that is 'our George', why is it/he not with the rest of the family under the big red marker, if they are there at all?
Probate records resulting from George's death note that he was the co-owner of two pieces of real estate, one in Miami County and one in Wabash County. The description found in Probate Order Book 6, page 553 appears as follows:
The undivided 2/3 of 30/85 of the north 1/3 part of the East Eighty (80) acres of the south east quarter Lots numbers (3) and (4) of section Twenty seven (27) in Township Twenty seven (27) North of Range Five (5) East Containing Twenty six & 67/100 acres (26 67/100) being Fifty three 33/100 rods North & South and Eighty rods (80) east and west.
Also the following described Real Estate in Wabash County, Indiana, to wit The undivided 2/3 of the undivided 30/85 part of the Goodboo section No 12 in Township twenty seven (27) north of Range five (5) East. Commencing at the south west corner of said section thence noorth 40 chains with the western boundary thereof thence east 12 chains & 50 links thence south 40 chains thence west 23 chains and 50 links the the place of beginning containing fifty (50) acres more or less at Private sale without notice for all cash.
A couple of interesting points come up here. First, a property transfer of the first noted real estate was published in the Spring just prior to George's death. The publication was not clear as to the undivided status or percentage that George was buying, but the property was received from John Snowberger for $1.00 indicating some sort of relationship, either business or personal, between George and Snowberger. Second, the Wabash County property is to be sold 'at private sale without notice for all cash.' Usually such real estate would sell after public notice and through a sale for a set price or via auction. This could lead one to believe that this might be family property and the court acknowledges the desire to keep it within the family. Guess what! More research!
The interest in the Miami County property was sold to John Bradley for $172.55 (appraised at $250.00) on October 14, 1881. It would be interesting to learn who the other share-holder of that property was. On the same day, Nathaniel Bradley purchased the interest in the Wabash County property for $600 (appraised at $480.00). Again, who the other owner(s) is would be interesting to learn based on the wording and speculation above. Neither legal description found in the probate records sets aside property for a cemetery. Based on the length of time George owned the land in Miami County, it seems more likely that his farm and it's associated family cemetery was the Wabash County property. How sad would it be that Eliza had to sell the ground where she just buried her husband?
In the Complete Record, book 44, page 82, we find an answer to one of our questions. Following the legal description of the both properties, the records states: That the decedent left surviving heir, his widow Eliza A Miller, who id the owner in fee of the undivided one-third part of said lands. One question down...
On a side note, like there haven't been enough squirrels already, the court noted the ages of the children and their last birthdays. On the same page as the note about Eliza's ownership, we find: the following named children and heirs to wit-Frank W Miller, aged 21 years on January 2d 1881, Julia A Miller, aged 17 years on May 31st 1880, Mary L Miller, aged 15 years on December 23d 1880.
Sooooo...now that we know that Eliza was part owner of all of George's real estate, we can follow up with her. Why? Because that is what over-caffeinated, unmedicated, ADD, rabid researchers do!
Probate Order Book 20 page 63, part of the wrap up of Eliza's estate by daughter and administratrix, Annis J (AKA Julia A), it is stated that the only real estate owned by Eliza at the time of her death was lot 59 in Ewing's Addition to Peru. Annis and sister Minnie (AKA Mary L) Dagner had purchased brother Frank's share of that property. We now know that Eliza liquidated her Miami and Wabash County rural properties between late 1881 when George's estate was settled and her death March 12, 1898.
The Miami County Sentinel of July 1, 1880, announced the passing of old timer, George L Miller, on June 25. George's claim to fame was to be the first white male child born in Miami County. He grew up in what was, at the time, the American frontier. Woods were thick, wildlife was plentiful, and work was hard. George born on March 30, 1832, to John and Julia Miller, the oldest of a half dozen or more children. He married Eliza Mansfield in 1858 and the couple went on to have three children, possibly more.
These items leave plenty of trails of their own to follow, but for those who have read more than one of my blog posts, you know I love cemeteries themselves. Here is where the puzzle for me comes in. George's obituary takes up nearly half a column in the Sentinel. Down near the bottom, the text reads "The remains were buried in the family graveyard on his farm, where rests his father and mother, brother and children." These would be his parents, John W and Julia, his brother Thomas (the only sibling to predecease him), and his 'children'. The only children caught in census records were Frank, Julia Aniss/Anice, and Mary L "Minnie", all of whom survived him. It is unclear to what children the article refers.
One mystery certainly is not enough. We actually have a couple more. The entire family appears to have a towering red (maybe whetstone?) marker at Mount Hope Cemetery. The stone lists the following:
John W Miller born in York Co PA Apr 17 1805, died Mar 8 1870
Julia Ann Leas wife of John W Miller born in Preble Co Ohio Apr 28 1810, died Sept 6 1868
Josephine dau of J W & J A L Miller and wife of Wm Hooks born Oct 27 1828, died Mar 17 1870, buried in Harrison Co Iowa
Sons of J W and J A L Miller
--John F Miller born in Miami Co Ind Jan 9 1834 died Oct 29 1890
--George L Miller born in Miami Co Ind Mar 30 1832 (no death date)
Thomas B Miller born in Miami Co Ind Mar 17 1840 (no death date)
Sons of J W and J A L Miller
--Edward H Miller born 22 Apr 1842 in Miami County Ind, died Oct 18 1918
--Ross D Miller born in Miami Co Ind Oct 25 1846, died Jan 13 1901
Daus of J W and J A L Miller
--Harriet Miller born Miami Co Ind Mar 1 1836 (no death date)
--Eliza J born Miami Co Ind Dec 3 1837 (no death date)
Eva dau of G L & E Miller born Nov 27 ____ died M__________
_______ (panel shared with Eva is entirely broken off)
Again, we are left with more questions than answers. Those listed in George's obituary are accounted for, more or less. One big piece of information is Eva, daughter of George and Eliza. Unfortunately, much of her information is gone. But even worse, all information regarding a possible sibling who shared the panel with her has been entirely erased by time.
Who was the other child?
Were the graves moved from the family cemetery or is this a massive cenotaph?
When were they moved here or when was the marker set?
Where was the original burial location on the family farm.
What happened to George's wife Eliza?
Elsewhere in Mount Hope are three markers, George L Miller, Eliza A Miller and Frank Miller. It is unclear at this point if they are all situated together or not. These are most likely them, but does not explain when they were moved if at all, where they had been, why they were moved, or anything else about them. If these are their actual graves, that large family monument serves as a cenotaph for George, rather than an epitaph. More mystery.
There is a small marker with only the name George L Miller elsewhere in the cemetery. If that is 'our George', why is it/he not with the rest of the family under the big red marker, if they are there at all?
Probate records resulting from George's death note that he was the co-owner of two pieces of real estate, one in Miami County and one in Wabash County. The description found in Probate Order Book 6, page 553 appears as follows:
The undivided 2/3 of 30/85 of the north 1/3 part of the East Eighty (80) acres of the south east quarter Lots numbers (3) and (4) of section Twenty seven (27) in Township Twenty seven (27) North of Range Five (5) East Containing Twenty six & 67/100 acres (26 67/100) being Fifty three 33/100 rods North & South and Eighty rods (80) east and west.
Also the following described Real Estate in Wabash County, Indiana, to wit The undivided 2/3 of the undivided 30/85 part of the Goodboo section No 12 in Township twenty seven (27) north of Range five (5) East. Commencing at the south west corner of said section thence noorth 40 chains with the western boundary thereof thence east 12 chains & 50 links thence south 40 chains thence west 23 chains and 50 links the the place of beginning containing fifty (50) acres more or less at Private sale without notice for all cash.
A couple of interesting points come up here. First, a property transfer of the first noted real estate was published in the Spring just prior to George's death. The publication was not clear as to the undivided status or percentage that George was buying, but the property was received from John Snowberger for $1.00 indicating some sort of relationship, either business or personal, between George and Snowberger. Second, the Wabash County property is to be sold 'at private sale without notice for all cash.' Usually such real estate would sell after public notice and through a sale for a set price or via auction. This could lead one to believe that this might be family property and the court acknowledges the desire to keep it within the family. Guess what! More research!
The interest in the Miami County property was sold to John Bradley for $172.55 (appraised at $250.00) on October 14, 1881. It would be interesting to learn who the other share-holder of that property was. On the same day, Nathaniel Bradley purchased the interest in the Wabash County property for $600 (appraised at $480.00). Again, who the other owner(s) is would be interesting to learn based on the wording and speculation above. Neither legal description found in the probate records sets aside property for a cemetery. Based on the length of time George owned the land in Miami County, it seems more likely that his farm and it's associated family cemetery was the Wabash County property. How sad would it be that Eliza had to sell the ground where she just buried her husband?
In the Complete Record, book 44, page 82, we find an answer to one of our questions. Following the legal description of the both properties, the records states: That the decedent left surviving heir, his widow Eliza A Miller, who id the owner in fee of the undivided one-third part of said lands. One question down...
On a side note, like there haven't been enough squirrels already, the court noted the ages of the children and their last birthdays. On the same page as the note about Eliza's ownership, we find: the following named children and heirs to wit-Frank W Miller, aged 21 years on January 2d 1881, Julia A Miller, aged 17 years on May 31st 1880, Mary L Miller, aged 15 years on December 23d 1880.
Sooooo...now that we know that Eliza was part owner of all of George's real estate, we can follow up with her. Why? Because that is what over-caffeinated, unmedicated, ADD, rabid researchers do!
Probate Order Book 20 page 63, part of the wrap up of Eliza's estate by daughter and administratrix, Annis J (AKA Julia A), it is stated that the only real estate owned by Eliza at the time of her death was lot 59 in Ewing's Addition to Peru. Annis and sister Minnie (AKA Mary L) Dagner had purchased brother Frank's share of that property. We now know that Eliza liquidated her Miami and Wabash County rural properties between late 1881 when George's estate was settled and her death March 12, 1898.
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