Mary Jane Crooks was born in the Oregon Willamette Valley on December 22, 1848, just a few months after her family had arrived in Oregon from Indiana by ox team over the Oregon Trail. She was the daughter of John Turley and Demercy (Everyman) Crooks. They lived and farmed their Donation Land Claim near Dever, six miles west of Jefferson. Mary's father, John Turley Crooks, was a member of the territorial legislature in 1856 before Oregon entered the Union in 1859.
Mary married Abraham Hinkle Miller on July 8, 1866. She was 18, and he was 26. They were married for 26 years until Abraham died in 1892 of tuberculosis. He was 51 and left 44-year-old Mary with three children (Eva, Bessie, and Edith; all are linked below). Three other children had died before Abraham's death.
Biography by JCM - 2023
========== Her Obituary ========
Greater Oregon - 07 Dec 1934, Fri. Page 8
PIONEER DIES AT MILLERSBURG
MILLERSBURG, Dec. 5. (Special)-Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Miller Saturday at 8 p. m., put an end to an 86-year span of life that witnessed and took part in the winning of the Willamette valley from the wilderness.
Mrs. Miller, daughter of John T. and Demercy Crooks, who came here in 1848, remembered her father as a member of the Territorial legislature before Oregon entered the Union in 1859. She was a 50-year Gold Star and also a charter member of the Grange, which is now know as the Morning Star Grange, and a life-long member of the Baptist church.
Mrs. Miller's last illness was in the house to which she was taken by her husband, the late Abraham H. Miller Jr., on their marriage July 8, 1866. The husband died March 23, 1892 of tuberculosis, leaving the young widow with three living children. Three others had died in infancy.
Living children are Mrs. Pearl Callahan, Toppenish, Wash.; Mrs. Bessie Bilyeu, Jefferson, and Mrs. Edith Miller, wife of Lee Miller of Millersburg. Seventeen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nephews and nieces also survive, a number of them being residents of this locality.
Until death Mrs. Miller read newspapers without glasses, heard clearly and recalled with a clear mind the incidents of her childhood.
The Upeye Indian tribe which worked for her father, she told recent interviewers, all died suddenly of a neck gland disease.
Settlers lived far apart in those days, in this part of the valley where railroads and highways now hum with traffic. Wild game, deer and elk, were plentiful.
Her father held what might be termed a salon — a meeting place for the scattered emigrants, where religion and politics and methods for holding Oregon to the Union were discussed under his leaderships.
Of the trials of pioneering, Mrs. Miller recalled an early year when their cattle, on what is now the Graham hopyard, were swept away by a flood. Only two head of stock remained. A flood a month later drowned those.
Millersburg cemetery, where interment was made, was donated by Mrs. Miller's father-in-law, Isaac Miller, in 1857 [correction: her father-in-law was Abraham Miller Sr. and the cemetery land was donated by George Miller, her father-in-law's brother].
Many local ploneers have been buried there. Old dates on the tombstones there, a short distance south and west of Morning Star Grange, tell life stories of those who hewed homesteads and founded families in this part of the valley.
Until her final illness two weeks ago, Mrs. Miller lived in the hand-hewn house built by her father-in-law 80 years ago. It is on a rise above the Pacific highway. From it Mrs. Miller had seen the Southern Pacific railroad built, the coming of roads, telephones, highways, automobiles.
Four generations of Millers lived with her of late years-her daughter, Mrs. Pearl Bilyeu; her granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Underwood, and great-granddaughter Dolores Underwood,
This 80-year-old, four-room rustic house, outdoor well and outbuildings still stand sturdy and strong. Mrs. Miller's flower garden, which she worked on last summer, speaks of the care and patience of years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Fortmiller funeral chapel, in charge of E. E. Howell of Jefferson. Rev. Earl Sochran, Baptist minister from Salem, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was at the Millersburg cemetery. Music was rendered) by Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Van Winkle and Miss Virginia Mason of Jefferson.
Honorary pallbearers, all sons of pioneers who crossed the plains in 1848 with Mrs. Miller's father, John T. Crooks, were: Ed Meeker J. A. Jones, William Jones, Arthur Miller, Lee Miller and J. T. Jones all of the vicinity of Jefferson.
Pallbearers were Donald Porter, John Grenz, Ed Brower, John Callahan, Glenn Bilyeu and Henry Ammon.
Mary married Abraham Hinkle Miller on July 8, 1866. She was 18, and he was 26. They were married for 26 years until Abraham died in 1892 of tuberculosis. He was 51 and left 44-year-old Mary with three children (Eva, Bessie, and Edith; all are linked below). Three other children had died before Abraham's death.
Biography by JCM - 2023
========== Her Obituary ========
Greater Oregon - 07 Dec 1934, Fri. Page 8
PIONEER DIES AT MILLERSBURG
MILLERSBURG, Dec. 5. (Special)-Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Miller Saturday at 8 p. m., put an end to an 86-year span of life that witnessed and took part in the winning of the Willamette valley from the wilderness.
Mrs. Miller, daughter of John T. and Demercy Crooks, who came here in 1848, remembered her father as a member of the Territorial legislature before Oregon entered the Union in 1859. She was a 50-year Gold Star and also a charter member of the Grange, which is now know as the Morning Star Grange, and a life-long member of the Baptist church.
Mrs. Miller's last illness was in the house to which she was taken by her husband, the late Abraham H. Miller Jr., on their marriage July 8, 1866. The husband died March 23, 1892 of tuberculosis, leaving the young widow with three living children. Three others had died in infancy.
Living children are Mrs. Pearl Callahan, Toppenish, Wash.; Mrs. Bessie Bilyeu, Jefferson, and Mrs. Edith Miller, wife of Lee Miller of Millersburg. Seventeen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nephews and nieces also survive, a number of them being residents of this locality.
Until death Mrs. Miller read newspapers without glasses, heard clearly and recalled with a clear mind the incidents of her childhood.
The Upeye Indian tribe which worked for her father, she told recent interviewers, all died suddenly of a neck gland disease.
Settlers lived far apart in those days, in this part of the valley where railroads and highways now hum with traffic. Wild game, deer and elk, were plentiful.
Her father held what might be termed a salon — a meeting place for the scattered emigrants, where religion and politics and methods for holding Oregon to the Union were discussed under his leaderships.
Of the trials of pioneering, Mrs. Miller recalled an early year when their cattle, on what is now the Graham hopyard, were swept away by a flood. Only two head of stock remained. A flood a month later drowned those.
Millersburg cemetery, where interment was made, was donated by Mrs. Miller's father-in-law, Isaac Miller, in 1857 [correction: her father-in-law was Abraham Miller Sr. and the cemetery land was donated by George Miller, her father-in-law's brother].
Many local ploneers have been buried there. Old dates on the tombstones there, a short distance south and west of Morning Star Grange, tell life stories of those who hewed homesteads and founded families in this part of the valley.
Until her final illness two weeks ago, Mrs. Miller lived in the hand-hewn house built by her father-in-law 80 years ago. It is on a rise above the Pacific highway. From it Mrs. Miller had seen the Southern Pacific railroad built, the coming of roads, telephones, highways, automobiles.
Four generations of Millers lived with her of late years-her daughter, Mrs. Pearl Bilyeu; her granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Underwood, and great-granddaughter Dolores Underwood,
This 80-year-old, four-room rustic house, outdoor well and outbuildings still stand sturdy and strong. Mrs. Miller's flower garden, which she worked on last summer, speaks of the care and patience of years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Fortmiller funeral chapel, in charge of E. E. Howell of Jefferson. Rev. Earl Sochran, Baptist minister from Salem, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was at the Millersburg cemetery. Music was rendered) by Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Van Winkle and Miss Virginia Mason of Jefferson.
Honorary pallbearers, all sons of pioneers who crossed the plains in 1848 with Mrs. Miller's father, John T. Crooks, were: Ed Meeker J. A. Jones, William Jones, Arthur Miller, Lee Miller and J. T. Jones all of the vicinity of Jefferson.
Pallbearers were Donald Porter, John Grenz, Ed Brower, John Callahan, Glenn Bilyeu and Henry Ammon.
Mary Jane Crooks was born in the Oregon Willamette Valley on December 22, 1848, just a few months after her family had arrived in Oregon from Indiana by ox team over the Oregon Trail. She was the daughter of John Turley and Demercy (Everyman) Crooks. They lived and farmed their Donation Land Claim near Dever, six miles west of Jefferson. Mary's father, John Turley Crooks, was a member of the territorial legislature in 1856 before Oregon entered the Union in 1859.
Mary married Abraham Hinkle Miller on July 8, 1866. She was 18, and he was 26. They were married for 26 years until Abraham died in 1892 of tuberculosis. He was 51 and left 44-year-old Mary with three children (Eva, Bessie, and Edith; all are linked below). Three other children had died before Abraham's death.
Biography by JCM - 2023
========== Her Obituary ========
Greater Oregon - 07 Dec 1934, Fri. Page 8
PIONEER DIES AT MILLERSBURG
MILLERSBURG, Dec. 5. (Special)-Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Miller Saturday at 8 p. m., put an end to an 86-year span of life that witnessed and took part in the winning of the Willamette valley from the wilderness.
Mrs. Miller, daughter of John T. and Demercy Crooks, who came here in 1848, remembered her father as a member of the Territorial legislature before Oregon entered the Union in 1859. She was a 50-year Gold Star and also a charter member of the Grange, which is now know as the Morning Star Grange, and a life-long member of the Baptist church.
Mrs. Miller's last illness was in the house to which she was taken by her husband, the late Abraham H. Miller Jr., on their marriage July 8, 1866. The husband died March 23, 1892 of tuberculosis, leaving the young widow with three living children. Three others had died in infancy.
Living children are Mrs. Pearl Callahan, Toppenish, Wash.; Mrs. Bessie Bilyeu, Jefferson, and Mrs. Edith Miller, wife of Lee Miller of Millersburg. Seventeen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nephews and nieces also survive, a number of them being residents of this locality.
Until death Mrs. Miller read newspapers without glasses, heard clearly and recalled with a clear mind the incidents of her childhood.
The Upeye Indian tribe which worked for her father, she told recent interviewers, all died suddenly of a neck gland disease.
Settlers lived far apart in those days, in this part of the valley where railroads and highways now hum with traffic. Wild game, deer and elk, were plentiful.
Her father held what might be termed a salon — a meeting place for the scattered emigrants, where religion and politics and methods for holding Oregon to the Union were discussed under his leaderships.
Of the trials of pioneering, Mrs. Miller recalled an early year when their cattle, on what is now the Graham hopyard, were swept away by a flood. Only two head of stock remained. A flood a month later drowned those.
Millersburg cemetery, where interment was made, was donated by Mrs. Miller's father-in-law, Isaac Miller, in 1857 [correction: her father-in-law was Abraham Miller Sr. and the cemetery land was donated by George Miller, her father-in-law's brother].
Many local ploneers have been buried there. Old dates on the tombstones there, a short distance south and west of Morning Star Grange, tell life stories of those who hewed homesteads and founded families in this part of the valley.
Until her final illness two weeks ago, Mrs. Miller lived in the hand-hewn house built by her father-in-law 80 years ago. It is on a rise above the Pacific highway. From it Mrs. Miller had seen the Southern Pacific railroad built, the coming of roads, telephones, highways, automobiles.
Four generations of Millers lived with her of late years-her daughter, Mrs. Pearl Bilyeu; her granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Underwood, and great-granddaughter Dolores Underwood,
This 80-year-old, four-room rustic house, outdoor well and outbuildings still stand sturdy and strong. Mrs. Miller's flower garden, which she worked on last summer, speaks of the care and patience of years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Fortmiller funeral chapel, in charge of E. E. Howell of Jefferson. Rev. Earl Sochran, Baptist minister from Salem, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was at the Millersburg cemetery. Music was rendered) by Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Van Winkle and Miss Virginia Mason of Jefferson.
Honorary pallbearers, all sons of pioneers who crossed the plains in 1848 with Mrs. Miller's father, John T. Crooks, were: Ed Meeker J. A. Jones, William Jones, Arthur Miller, Lee Miller and J. T. Jones all of the vicinity of Jefferson.
Pallbearers were Donald Porter, John Grenz, Ed Brower, John Callahan, Glenn Bilyeu and Henry Ammon.
Mary married Abraham Hinkle Miller on July 8, 1866. She was 18, and he was 26. They were married for 26 years until Abraham died in 1892 of tuberculosis. He was 51 and left 44-year-old Mary with three children (Eva, Bessie, and Edith; all are linked below). Three other children had died before Abraham's death.
Biography by JCM - 2023
========== Her Obituary ========
Greater Oregon - 07 Dec 1934, Fri. Page 8
PIONEER DIES AT MILLERSBURG
MILLERSBURG, Dec. 5. (Special)-Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Miller Saturday at 8 p. m., put an end to an 86-year span of life that witnessed and took part in the winning of the Willamette valley from the wilderness.
Mrs. Miller, daughter of John T. and Demercy Crooks, who came here in 1848, remembered her father as a member of the Territorial legislature before Oregon entered the Union in 1859. She was a 50-year Gold Star and also a charter member of the Grange, which is now know as the Morning Star Grange, and a life-long member of the Baptist church.
Mrs. Miller's last illness was in the house to which she was taken by her husband, the late Abraham H. Miller Jr., on their marriage July 8, 1866. The husband died March 23, 1892 of tuberculosis, leaving the young widow with three living children. Three others had died in infancy.
Living children are Mrs. Pearl Callahan, Toppenish, Wash.; Mrs. Bessie Bilyeu, Jefferson, and Mrs. Edith Miller, wife of Lee Miller of Millersburg. Seventeen grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, several nephews and nieces also survive, a number of them being residents of this locality.
Until death Mrs. Miller read newspapers without glasses, heard clearly and recalled with a clear mind the incidents of her childhood.
The Upeye Indian tribe which worked for her father, she told recent interviewers, all died suddenly of a neck gland disease.
Settlers lived far apart in those days, in this part of the valley where railroads and highways now hum with traffic. Wild game, deer and elk, were plentiful.
Her father held what might be termed a salon — a meeting place for the scattered emigrants, where religion and politics and methods for holding Oregon to the Union were discussed under his leaderships.
Of the trials of pioneering, Mrs. Miller recalled an early year when their cattle, on what is now the Graham hopyard, were swept away by a flood. Only two head of stock remained. A flood a month later drowned those.
Millersburg cemetery, where interment was made, was donated by Mrs. Miller's father-in-law, Isaac Miller, in 1857 [correction: her father-in-law was Abraham Miller Sr. and the cemetery land was donated by George Miller, her father-in-law's brother].
Many local ploneers have been buried there. Old dates on the tombstones there, a short distance south and west of Morning Star Grange, tell life stories of those who hewed homesteads and founded families in this part of the valley.
Until her final illness two weeks ago, Mrs. Miller lived in the hand-hewn house built by her father-in-law 80 years ago. It is on a rise above the Pacific highway. From it Mrs. Miller had seen the Southern Pacific railroad built, the coming of roads, telephones, highways, automobiles.
Four generations of Millers lived with her of late years-her daughter, Mrs. Pearl Bilyeu; her granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Underwood, and great-granddaughter Dolores Underwood,
This 80-year-old, four-room rustic house, outdoor well and outbuildings still stand sturdy and strong. Mrs. Miller's flower garden, which she worked on last summer, speaks of the care and patience of years.
Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon from the Fortmiller funeral chapel, in charge of E. E. Howell of Jefferson. Rev. Earl Sochran, Baptist minister from Salem, preached the funeral sermon. Interment was at the Millersburg cemetery. Music was rendered) by Dr. and Mrs. J. O. Van Winkle and Miss Virginia Mason of Jefferson.
Honorary pallbearers, all sons of pioneers who crossed the plains in 1848 with Mrs. Miller's father, John T. Crooks, were: Ed Meeker J. A. Jones, William Jones, Arthur Miller, Lee Miller and J. T. Jones all of the vicinity of Jefferson.
Pallbearers were Donald Porter, John Grenz, Ed Brower, John Callahan, Glenn Bilyeu and Henry Ammon.
Family Members
Siblings
