Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller was born and raised in Indiana by her parents Peter and Nancy (Rector) Little. In 1821, at the age of fourteen, she married twenty-six-year-old Abraham Miller, Jr.. Polly and Abraham had eleven children; ten lived to adulthood. They moved their extended family from Indiana to Illinois, then to Iowa, and later traveled the Oregon Trail to Oregon. In Oregon, they received land from the Federal Government via a Donation Land Claim and settled just north of Albany in an area that became Millersburg.
John Turley Crooks wrote the obituary provided below for Polly (Little) Miller. The Crooks and Miller families were very close. They lived near each other, started a church together, and a Crooks' daughter and a Millers' son married, Mary Jane (Crooks) married Abraham Hinkle Miller.
Dear Editors,
It becomes my duty once more to send you the obituary of another of the members of the Bethel Church who fell asleep in Jesus on the 15th of January 1880, aged 73 Years 14 Days. Sister Mary Miller, the subject of this obituary, was born in Wayne County, Indiana Jan 1, 1807. Her maiden name was Mary Little. She was married to Abraham Miller probably while living in that county. The time is not exactly known. [They were married in Wayne County, Indiana, on December 31, 1821].
She, with her husband and other relatives at a later date, moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, and settled near the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for some years, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois in September 1834, and settled in Sugar Grove on the Edwards River. Shortly after this time, the church called Edwards River [Primitive Baptist] was constituted, and sister Miller united with this church by experience and baptism about the year 1840 and was baptized by Elder Joseph Jones, the pastor of said church.
Here she lived and was beloved by all who knew her, and her house was a home for all the members. Her husband never made a profession of religion but was a warm friend of the Old Baptist cause and very readily assisted in making all the friends comfortable while at his house, as the writer can testify.
In the year 1847, the Edwards River Church was dissolved, and the members were all lettered out by a presbytery from another church. As a goodly number of the members were about moving to the then territory of Oregon, Sister Miller and her family followed to Oregon in 1851 and settled that fall on the place where she died July 24, 1852. She united with this church which was then as now under the pastorate of Elder John Stipp.
In this church, she lived until the day of her death, a devoted and beloved member. For many years before her death, she and her husband became afflicted with inflammatory sore eyes, which nearly deprived them of sight and enfeebled their whole system so that they could hardly get out from home.
And to add to her afflictions, her husband, while trying to exercise some, walked out from the house a short distance and likely becoming tired, sat down on the railroad track to rest; and being very hard of hearing, and partly blind, he was struck by the engine while passing north which knocked him from the track, mashed his left hip, broke his leg in two places and one arm, and fractured his head.
He lived but a few hours, dying about 7 o'clock in the evening of the 29th of December 1875, leaving our poor old sister a widow to mourn the loss of her beloved companion, who was then 82 years. She has survived him for a little over four years. It has pleased our heavenly Father to take her home to himself, to enjoy that rest prepared for the children of God.
She was ready and willing to go and be at rest, free from pain and sorrow. This was her constant prayer, and we feel that she has answered the call, "Child your Father Calls, Come Home."
Yours in the bonds of love,
John T. Crooks. Millersburg, Linn Co Oregon. Feb 9, 1880.
========== Notes and Sources ==========
Note: Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller's wedding shirt made by her in 1821 for her wedding to Abraham Miller, Sr. and a quilt she made in 1823 have been on display at Champoeg State Park, Oregon.
1807 - Born on January 1st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1821 - Age 14. Married Abraham Miller on December 31st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1850 Census - Age 42. Living in Mercer County, Illinois with husband Abraham (55 - farmer) and six children; Nancy (21), Mary (15), Lydia (11), Abraham (9), Francis (7), and Joseph (4).
1860 Census - Age 54. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (65 - farmer) and four children; Abraham (19), Francis (16), Joseph (12), and Jane (7).
1870 Census - Age 64. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (75 - farmer) and two children; Francis (26 - Blacksmith), and Ellen J (18).
John Turley Crooks wrote the obituary provided below for Polly (Little) Miller. The Crooks and Miller families were very close. They lived near each other, started a church together, and a Crooks' daughter and a Millers' son married, Mary Jane (Crooks) married Abraham Hinkle Miller.
Dear Editors,
It becomes my duty once more to send you the obituary of another of the members of the Bethel Church who fell asleep in Jesus on the 15th of January 1880, aged 73 Years 14 Days. Sister Mary Miller, the subject of this obituary, was born in Wayne County, Indiana Jan 1, 1807. Her maiden name was Mary Little. She was married to Abraham Miller probably while living in that county. The time is not exactly known. [They were married in Wayne County, Indiana, on December 31, 1821].
She, with her husband and other relatives at a later date, moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, and settled near the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for some years, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois in September 1834, and settled in Sugar Grove on the Edwards River. Shortly after this time, the church called Edwards River [Primitive Baptist] was constituted, and sister Miller united with this church by experience and baptism about the year 1840 and was baptized by Elder Joseph Jones, the pastor of said church.
Here she lived and was beloved by all who knew her, and her house was a home for all the members. Her husband never made a profession of religion but was a warm friend of the Old Baptist cause and very readily assisted in making all the friends comfortable while at his house, as the writer can testify.
In the year 1847, the Edwards River Church was dissolved, and the members were all lettered out by a presbytery from another church. As a goodly number of the members were about moving to the then territory of Oregon, Sister Miller and her family followed to Oregon in 1851 and settled that fall on the place where she died July 24, 1852. She united with this church which was then as now under the pastorate of Elder John Stipp.
In this church, she lived until the day of her death, a devoted and beloved member. For many years before her death, she and her husband became afflicted with inflammatory sore eyes, which nearly deprived them of sight and enfeebled their whole system so that they could hardly get out from home.
And to add to her afflictions, her husband, while trying to exercise some, walked out from the house a short distance and likely becoming tired, sat down on the railroad track to rest; and being very hard of hearing, and partly blind, he was struck by the engine while passing north which knocked him from the track, mashed his left hip, broke his leg in two places and one arm, and fractured his head.
He lived but a few hours, dying about 7 o'clock in the evening of the 29th of December 1875, leaving our poor old sister a widow to mourn the loss of her beloved companion, who was then 82 years. She has survived him for a little over four years. It has pleased our heavenly Father to take her home to himself, to enjoy that rest prepared for the children of God.
She was ready and willing to go and be at rest, free from pain and sorrow. This was her constant prayer, and we feel that she has answered the call, "Child your Father Calls, Come Home."
Yours in the bonds of love,
John T. Crooks. Millersburg, Linn Co Oregon. Feb 9, 1880.
========== Notes and Sources ==========
Note: Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller's wedding shirt made by her in 1821 for her wedding to Abraham Miller, Sr. and a quilt she made in 1823 have been on display at Champoeg State Park, Oregon.
1807 - Born on January 1st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1821 - Age 14. Married Abraham Miller on December 31st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1850 Census - Age 42. Living in Mercer County, Illinois with husband Abraham (55 - farmer) and six children; Nancy (21), Mary (15), Lydia (11), Abraham (9), Francis (7), and Joseph (4).
1860 Census - Age 54. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (65 - farmer) and four children; Abraham (19), Francis (16), Joseph (12), and Jane (7).
1870 Census - Age 64. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (75 - farmer) and two children; Francis (26 - Blacksmith), and Ellen J (18).
Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller was born and raised in Indiana by her parents Peter and Nancy (Rector) Little. In 1821, at the age of fourteen, she married twenty-six-year-old Abraham Miller, Jr.. Polly and Abraham had eleven children; ten lived to adulthood. They moved their extended family from Indiana to Illinois, then to Iowa, and later traveled the Oregon Trail to Oregon. In Oregon, they received land from the Federal Government via a Donation Land Claim and settled just north of Albany in an area that became Millersburg.
John Turley Crooks wrote the obituary provided below for Polly (Little) Miller. The Crooks and Miller families were very close. They lived near each other, started a church together, and a Crooks' daughter and a Millers' son married, Mary Jane (Crooks) married Abraham Hinkle Miller.
Dear Editors,
It becomes my duty once more to send you the obituary of another of the members of the Bethel Church who fell asleep in Jesus on the 15th of January 1880, aged 73 Years 14 Days. Sister Mary Miller, the subject of this obituary, was born in Wayne County, Indiana Jan 1, 1807. Her maiden name was Mary Little. She was married to Abraham Miller probably while living in that county. The time is not exactly known. [They were married in Wayne County, Indiana, on December 31, 1821].
She, with her husband and other relatives at a later date, moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, and settled near the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for some years, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois in September 1834, and settled in Sugar Grove on the Edwards River. Shortly after this time, the church called Edwards River [Primitive Baptist] was constituted, and sister Miller united with this church by experience and baptism about the year 1840 and was baptized by Elder Joseph Jones, the pastor of said church.
Here she lived and was beloved by all who knew her, and her house was a home for all the members. Her husband never made a profession of religion but was a warm friend of the Old Baptist cause and very readily assisted in making all the friends comfortable while at his house, as the writer can testify.
In the year 1847, the Edwards River Church was dissolved, and the members were all lettered out by a presbytery from another church. As a goodly number of the members were about moving to the then territory of Oregon, Sister Miller and her family followed to Oregon in 1851 and settled that fall on the place where she died July 24, 1852. She united with this church which was then as now under the pastorate of Elder John Stipp.
In this church, she lived until the day of her death, a devoted and beloved member. For many years before her death, she and her husband became afflicted with inflammatory sore eyes, which nearly deprived them of sight and enfeebled their whole system so that they could hardly get out from home.
And to add to her afflictions, her husband, while trying to exercise some, walked out from the house a short distance and likely becoming tired, sat down on the railroad track to rest; and being very hard of hearing, and partly blind, he was struck by the engine while passing north which knocked him from the track, mashed his left hip, broke his leg in two places and one arm, and fractured his head.
He lived but a few hours, dying about 7 o'clock in the evening of the 29th of December 1875, leaving our poor old sister a widow to mourn the loss of her beloved companion, who was then 82 years. She has survived him for a little over four years. It has pleased our heavenly Father to take her home to himself, to enjoy that rest prepared for the children of God.
She was ready and willing to go and be at rest, free from pain and sorrow. This was her constant prayer, and we feel that she has answered the call, "Child your Father Calls, Come Home."
Yours in the bonds of love,
John T. Crooks. Millersburg, Linn Co Oregon. Feb 9, 1880.
========== Notes and Sources ==========
Note: Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller's wedding shirt made by her in 1821 for her wedding to Abraham Miller, Sr. and a quilt she made in 1823 have been on display at Champoeg State Park, Oregon.
1807 - Born on January 1st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1821 - Age 14. Married Abraham Miller on December 31st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1850 Census - Age 42. Living in Mercer County, Illinois with husband Abraham (55 - farmer) and six children; Nancy (21), Mary (15), Lydia (11), Abraham (9), Francis (7), and Joseph (4).
1860 Census - Age 54. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (65 - farmer) and four children; Abraham (19), Francis (16), Joseph (12), and Jane (7).
1870 Census - Age 64. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (75 - farmer) and two children; Francis (26 - Blacksmith), and Ellen J (18).
John Turley Crooks wrote the obituary provided below for Polly (Little) Miller. The Crooks and Miller families were very close. They lived near each other, started a church together, and a Crooks' daughter and a Millers' son married, Mary Jane (Crooks) married Abraham Hinkle Miller.
Dear Editors,
It becomes my duty once more to send you the obituary of another of the members of the Bethel Church who fell asleep in Jesus on the 15th of January 1880, aged 73 Years 14 Days. Sister Mary Miller, the subject of this obituary, was born in Wayne County, Indiana Jan 1, 1807. Her maiden name was Mary Little. She was married to Abraham Miller probably while living in that county. The time is not exactly known. [They were married in Wayne County, Indiana, on December 31, 1821].
She, with her husband and other relatives at a later date, moved to Montgomery County, Indiana, and settled near the city of Crawfordsville, where they lived for some years, and then moved to Mercer County, Illinois in September 1834, and settled in Sugar Grove on the Edwards River. Shortly after this time, the church called Edwards River [Primitive Baptist] was constituted, and sister Miller united with this church by experience and baptism about the year 1840 and was baptized by Elder Joseph Jones, the pastor of said church.
Here she lived and was beloved by all who knew her, and her house was a home for all the members. Her husband never made a profession of religion but was a warm friend of the Old Baptist cause and very readily assisted in making all the friends comfortable while at his house, as the writer can testify.
In the year 1847, the Edwards River Church was dissolved, and the members were all lettered out by a presbytery from another church. As a goodly number of the members were about moving to the then territory of Oregon, Sister Miller and her family followed to Oregon in 1851 and settled that fall on the place where she died July 24, 1852. She united with this church which was then as now under the pastorate of Elder John Stipp.
In this church, she lived until the day of her death, a devoted and beloved member. For many years before her death, she and her husband became afflicted with inflammatory sore eyes, which nearly deprived them of sight and enfeebled their whole system so that they could hardly get out from home.
And to add to her afflictions, her husband, while trying to exercise some, walked out from the house a short distance and likely becoming tired, sat down on the railroad track to rest; and being very hard of hearing, and partly blind, he was struck by the engine while passing north which knocked him from the track, mashed his left hip, broke his leg in two places and one arm, and fractured his head.
He lived but a few hours, dying about 7 o'clock in the evening of the 29th of December 1875, leaving our poor old sister a widow to mourn the loss of her beloved companion, who was then 82 years. She has survived him for a little over four years. It has pleased our heavenly Father to take her home to himself, to enjoy that rest prepared for the children of God.
She was ready and willing to go and be at rest, free from pain and sorrow. This was her constant prayer, and we feel that she has answered the call, "Child your Father Calls, Come Home."
Yours in the bonds of love,
John T. Crooks. Millersburg, Linn Co Oregon. Feb 9, 1880.
========== Notes and Sources ==========
Note: Mary "Polly" (Little) Miller's wedding shirt made by her in 1821 for her wedding to Abraham Miller, Sr. and a quilt she made in 1823 have been on display at Champoeg State Park, Oregon.
1807 - Born on January 1st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1821 - Age 14. Married Abraham Miller on December 31st in Wayne County, Indiana.
1850 Census - Age 42. Living in Mercer County, Illinois with husband Abraham (55 - farmer) and six children; Nancy (21), Mary (15), Lydia (11), Abraham (9), Francis (7), and Joseph (4).
1860 Census - Age 54. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (65 - farmer) and four children; Abraham (19), Francis (16), Joseph (12), and Jane (7).
1870 Census - Age 64. Living in Linn County, Oregon with husband Abraham (75 - farmer) and two children; Francis (26 - Blacksmith), and Ellen J (18).
Inscription
age 73yr. ; Wife of A Miller ; 'Our Mother'
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Jacob L Miller
1822–1862
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Elizabeth Miller Brown
1824–1905
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John Bale Miller
1826–1856
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Nancy Miller Jones
1829–1859
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Samuel Miller
1833–1836
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Mary Ann Miller Davis
1836–1876
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Lydia Miller
1838–1856
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Abraham Hinkle Miller
1840–1892
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Francis Marion "Frank" Miller
1843–1918
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Joseph J. Miller
1848–1884
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Ellen Jane Miller
1852–1872
