William Miller

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM MILLER.

William Miller, whose demise occurred on the 226. of March, 1902, was closely identified with the interests and upbuilding of Henry county for two-thirds of a century, having taken up his above at Andover in 1836, He was born in Peekskill, New York, on the 31st of March, 1816, his parents being George and Mary Miller. The father followed farming near Peekskill throughout his active business career and passed away there when sixty-seven years of age. The mother was about seventy years old when called to her final rest. In their family were six sons and four daughters, namely: Bernard, William, Charles, John, Andrew, Lewis, Mary, Amanda, Eveline and Lucy.

William. Miller was reared to young manhood on his father's farm near Peekskill and then went to that city to learn the carpenter's trade, with which he was actively identified for a number of years. Subsequently, however, turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In 1836 he came to the state of Illinois with a colony that settled at Andover, Henry county, and in 1838 took up his above in Geneseo, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for several years. He afterward purchased a quarter section of raw prairie land in Ed ford township, which he gradually transformed into a fertile and productive farm and on which he erected a substantial frame dwelling and other buildings. At the end of seven years he located in Geneseo and, disposing of his farm, was successfully engaged in the lumber business for a number of years.

On the 22d of December, 1842, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Harriet T. Cone, whose birth occurred in Victor, New York, December 26, 1826, her parents being Elisha and Eliza (Hill) Cone. The father was born at Wallingford, Connecticut, January 1, 1803, and the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day at Bloomfield, New York, on the 18th of April, 1810. When twenty-one years of age Elisha Cone removed to New York, where he was married two years later. On the 13th of September, 1836, he left Bergen, Genesee county. New York, with a westward bound colony and after a long and tedious journey by wagon arrived at Geneseo, Illinois. His demise occurred on the 6th of September, 1846, while his wife, surviving him for more than six decades, was called to her final rest on the 7th of June, 1908, when ninety-eight years of age. Unto them were born five children, two sons and three daughters, as follows: Mrs. Miller; Clarissa F., the deceased wife of Elisha M. Stewart; Francis S., who served as a soldier in the Civil war and is now a resident of Crescent City, Florida; Ellen A., living in Orange City, Florida, who first wedded Roderick Manville and subsequent to his demise married Dr. P. W. Hill, who has also passed away; and Charles E., who died in a hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, as the result of his service in the Civil war. The paternal grandfather grandparents of Mrs. Miller were Solomon and SalHe Cone, and the grandfather participated in the war of 1812. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Miller, Josiah Hill, who was a farmer by occupation, passed away in Bloomfield, New York. He married Mrs. Cynthia (Cogswell) Robbins, and they had a family of thirteen children.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born three children, namely: George Lewis, who died when but eleven months old; Emilie, the wife of W. S. Reed, a Methodist minister residing at Hampton, Illinois; and George William, who obtained a good education in Geneseo and then took up his above in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he acted as auditor for three different railroads. He passed away there when forty-five years of age. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Goodwin, now makes her home in Rock Island.

Mr. Miller was a stanch republican in his political views and for some years capable served his fellow townsmen as a member of the city council, while for several years he also held the office of county supervisor. He was called to his final rest on the 22d of March, 1902, when eighty-six years of age, and thus the county was called upon to mourn the loss of one of its most respected and worthy pioneer settlers. He was a devoted and faithful member of the Congregational church, to which his widow also belongs. The latter, who was a little maiden of about nine years when she came with her parents to Henry county, Illinois, has since made her home within its borders and is now the only member of the original colony that settled Geneseo who is still living here. She is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one and her many excellent traits of heart and mind have won for her the esteem and admiration of a host of warm friends.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.