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 ILLIAM MILLER, deceased, a former highly respected resident of North Okaw Township, is kindly remembered as one of its early pioneers. He came to this section of country during its first settlement, and taking up a tract of uncultivated land began its improvement and cultivation, and bravely endured the hardships and difficulties which were the common lot of those venturesome spirits who entered the wilderness and first opened a way for the advance of civilization. Mr. Miller was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1822, and was the fifth child in a family of nine, the offspring of James and Sarah (O’Hara) Miller, also natives of the Blue Grass State. They came north when their son William was but a boy, locating first in Paris, Edgar County, where they spent the remainder of their days. William was educated in the common schools, and at an early age was made acquainted with the various employments of farm life, remaining under the parental roof until about twenty-three years of age. On the 25th of December, 1845, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca G. Janes, who was the fourteenth in a family of sixteen children, born to William and Jane (Nichols) Janes, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Mrs. Miller was born in Edgar County, Ky., December 25, 1829, and came with her parents to Coles County, where her marriage took place. For a time they resided in Edgar County on a small farm, and upon coming to Coles County, Mr. Miller entered 120 acres of wild land, which comprised forty acres on three sections. He put his residence on section 23, and the first field crop was three miles from his home. Around the dwelling a crop of sod corn flourished, and deer would come to the dooryard and gaze at the unusual sight of human beings. This little diversion from their usual monotonous life was valued by the family accordingly, for their neighbors were few and far between, there being then not a single house between their home and Charleston, where they went twice a year to do their trading. Mattoon was not yet thought of, and when Mr. Miller went to mill his wife was obliged to set a candle in the window as a beacon light to guide him after dark. The life of the father, however, was cut short in his prime, his death taking place on the 3d of March, 1855. He was a prodigous worker, and the exposure and hardships to which he was subjected brought on inflammatory rheumatism, which proved fatal not long afterward. The mother was thus left a widow with five children, whom she kept together, and struggled on until the dawn of brighter days. Two of these died in infancy. Those living are recorded as follows: Sarah was born Sept. 4, 1850, and married Martin Wagoner, and they live near the old homestead. Josephine was born Nov. 30, 1853, and became the wife of Craven E. Cole, who is now deceased; she resides in Shelby County. Joseph, who was born Jan. 10, 1855, was consequently but an infant of a few weeks old at the time of his father’s death. He was reared to manhood and married Miss Nancy J. Crum. He remains on the homestead with his widowed mother, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. On the 9th of January, 1880, the family residence, with all its contents, was destroyed by fire. In its place now stands a neat little cottage occupied by Mrs. Miller, her son Joseph and his family. |
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