Peter Miller Notes
Location: [unknown]
Archival Research
Principal archival research about Peter's children has over time been greatly aided by,
Bernice McKarns (1911-2005), otherwise Florence Bernice (Werder) McKarns, who left details notes and records which is archived at Bowling Green State University. See “MS 1024 - McKarns Family Papers.” Finding Aids. BGSU University Libraries, 20 Mar. 2014, https://lib.bgsu.edu/finding_aids/items/show/693. Bernice was raise by Cort Miller and his wife; Cort was a great grandson of Peter Miller by Peter's son, John Miller (1806-1888); select entries as as Bernice McKarns (1911-2005), "Miller Carle Rowles Green" (in part) 1978, 4 pp.; digital images supplied by Jack Stover to GeneJ, June 7, 2012.
LVene Thomas (1910-2004), otherwise Naomi LVene (Smith) Thomas, who also compiled a large collection of archival materials. She was the author of at least two manscripts/books about Miller descendants, "Miller Ancestral Chart." The 1997 version of her work is 26 pages. LVene was great granddaughter of Peter Miller by his son, John Miller (1806-1888).
Albert W. Wood (1904-1987), the son of William Leonidas and Alice Valona (Baum) Wood. Alice was in turn, the daughter of Peter Miller and Caroline (Billings) Baum. Peter Miller Baum was in turn the son of Rebecca Miller (1803-1887), Peter Miller's daughter, who married James Baum (1799-1884). Albert W. Wood was a family historian and the author of "The Inquiring Newsletter," published in 1978; he contributed various Miller information to the Ohio Genealogical Society. See Albert W. Wood (1904-1987), "The Inquiring Newsletter" (1978), 12 pp.; digital images held by GeneJ, courtesy of Lyle Adams (Indiana), 1 May 2006.
Clifford T. Wig (1922-2001), the author of Family tree of Daniel and Lucinda (Baker) Miller, Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio (Canton, Ohio, the author, 1986). Wig wrote this material for his grandson, Clifford Scott Wig, a descendant of Peter Miller's son, Daniel Miller.
Letitia "Lettie" Miller (1851-1935) and Anna Louisa (Rohrbaugh) Miller (1860-1958), the former a daughter of Daniel Miller (1824-1884); the latter, his daughter-in-law. Lettie sent a holiday letter, "Christmas Greetings ... For the Christmas Reunion, 1908." A transcribed copy of her letter was included with other material information in Anna L. (Rohrbaugh) Miller, "Miller Family History," 20 pp., n.d.; digital images, Dena Z to GeneJ, by electronic transmission, April 27, 2012.
Note about earliest Ohio records. In 1987, Bernice McKarns visited Columbiana County and, after some challenges, was able to view the oldest record books of "St. Jacob's United Church of Christ" church--these were maintained in a vault (perhaps a safety deposit box) at "Bank One in Leetonia." Bernice viewed the records at the bank with a church official, Delbert Stitler. I (GeneJ) corresponded with "Rev. Jenna K. Brown" of St. Jacobs in June 2012. She was not successful in locating the early records--neither the church nor the bank (by then Chase bank) had any knowledge of church materials that were or had ever been housed at the bank. They were not otherwise able to locate the earliest books, fearing they may have been lost.
Will
Peter Miller 1845 will, Stark County, Ohio, Wills, B:274. See Peter Miller 1845 will in "[Stark County, Ohio] Will records, 1811-1888," B (1822-1850):374; digital images, FamilySearch, FHL film 892409, Digital Collection (DGS) 5870704, image 465 of 555 and Peter Miller 1845 Will.
Birth?
Birth. Peter Miller's birth is frequently seen as Berks County, Pennsylvania, 10 August 1779. He was almost certainly born in Pennsylvania, but a corresponding Pennsylvania record has never been located. Nor have we located records supporting. the births there of his eldest children.
For a discussion of possible conflicts about Peter's birth, see Peter Miller Birth Research in 2013, GeneJ, “Birth Information about Peter Miller, ca1779-1845,” 8 January 2013.
Was a Henry Miller his father? In a page of notes dated 28 October 1987, Bernice McKarns has entered what seems a later-dated marginal note. "According to C. Wig --Peter's son Daniel's wife was Lucinda Baker, so [Daniel Miller of Springfield Township, Columbiana County, 1815 will*] could be a brother to Peter. Peter also had son's named John & Henry. Believes Peter's father was [a] Henry."
[*] Among her many 28 October 1987 notes is item, "Film #862019 (SLC) has Wills .... (Columbiana Co., Oh), Daniel Miller of Sprinfield Twp., Col. Co., p. 45, daed 18 December 1815 -- Probated 2 Apr. 1816: Wife - Elizabeth (no last name) Sons - John & Henry: 3 dau. = Polly - other 2 not named. Ex. John Miller."
Joseph Miller Challenge
Doesn't appear any significant amount of this work was archived online. From the WayBackMachine, https://web.archive.org/web/20110430104033/http://josephmillerchallenge.wikispaces.com/ See also https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://josephmillerchallenge.wikispaces.com/*
I did create personal archives of some of the pages, however, it isn't know if those were the latest versions.
Rosanna's death
Some family files show that Rosanna died at Berks County, Pennsylvania. To the best of my knowledge, rumors of her death at Pennsylvania originated from a Kemmerling researcher who thought she had died near where her father was living, further supposing there might have been a grave, but he could not find further records or notes concerning the grave.
At the time of her death, Rosanna was mostly likely of Columbiana County, Ohio. Her youngest child, William, was born 21 Jan 1813; he was baptized 19 April 1813 at Ohio (St. Jacob's church, Columbiana County [baptismal record]).
Bernice McKarns was a great researcher and spent a lot of time on Peter and Rosanna. When Bernice went looking for Rosanna's grave (in 1987), she went to Columbiana County (St. Jacob's church, in Salem Township) to find "the oldest stones were illegible." She didn't then find either gravestones or church records that were readable. While she was able to view early dated church records, these only addressed births/baptisms.
My own speculation: Her father was still living and in Pennsylvania when Rosanna died--but her two sisters, Catherine (m. Redman) and Susanna (m. Anthony Miller) were living in Columbiana County, Ohio. There is always a chance that Rosanna (with seven children and a newborn babe in arms) could have gone to visit her father. In the alternative, if she had gotten sick, it seems less likely she'd have gone to Pennsylvania rather than stay in Columbian County where there was already quite a bit of family.
Peter's Children
Samuel K. Miller (1801-1886)
This first child was born in 1801 at Pennsylvania. Many report that Samuel was born at Berks County, but we don't know yet where in that state he was born. (I say this having spent hours and hours pouring through different Pennsylvania church records.)
I'm quite confident we will find some of these children's baptisms at Pennsylvania--it will just take more time.
Samuel died 2 June 1886. See his FindAGrave entry http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=13593458 Samuel's wife was Magdalene Smouse; she died in 1881 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Miller&GSiman=1&GScid=95056&GRid=13593466&
In the late 1940s-1960s, Helen and Jack Preston made several trips between Ohio and Pennsylvania, checking courthouses and libraries in different towns--all in the hope of finding some trace of Peter Miller's early life. No Joy.
Rebecca (Miller) Baum (1803-1887)
FamilySearch FamilyTree reports James and Rebecca were married at Paris Stark Ohio, 8 April 1822, but no source is attached. The FamilySearch images of DAR's early marriage books are on restricted images, https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/346568?availability=Family%20History%20Library, but an index of the Stark marriage records exists, and no such 1822 marriage for James Baum or Rebecca Miller was found in that index. See and Brides
How have folks devised that marriage date?
A John Baum (I presume Sr.) was enumerated at Paris Twp., Stark County, Ohio in 1830 at about where Peter Miller's farm would have been located. Peter isn't enumerated at Stark in 1830 (he's there at 1820 and 1840). I haven't proven it yet, but Peter might have been living at Butler Twp., Columbiana County in 1830. There is a census entry for such a man, but there are only nine household members. Peter's dau. Mary married at Columbiana in 1830 to George Coblentz; in 1832, Peter's son John married Rebecca Firestone Carle at Columbiana—she was born and raised at Butler Twp., Columbiana.
In the Stark 1830 census, John Baum appears at Paris – note the entries for Philip Thoman and Jacob Toman. These men are otherwise relatives of Rebecca Thoma m. Joseph Miller.
Albert Wood published a family newsletter at least in 1978. I have 12 pages of this material. In a summary report about marriages, Albert reported James Baum and Rebecca Miller were married 18 April 1822; he provides no location reference or further sourcing.
Note, I have a 22 page PDF, "Baum Obituaries.PDF"; a one page report, "LC_PorterCountyCemetery ...," and another 17 pages, "Indiana Baum Marriages."
Baum-Miller Notes
Baum Biographical
Jesse Baum 2005 Research
Porter County Death Index 1884-1927 ... copied from the Porter County Death Records Index ... A special thanks to the following people who have already volunteered many hours to this project! Al and Betty Ries, Bill Schu, Suzanne Schaeffing, Teresa Zelasko, Martha Latko, Sally Phillips, Bob Delcourt, Kathy Kujawski, Lucille Davis, Dorothy Wodrich, Betty Johnson and Mike Sutton. ... Project Coordinator: Bill Schu Goal of Project: To make a book from the Porter County Death Index card catalog in the Valparaiso Library and to post these online
From the WayBackMachine,
https://web.archive.org/web/20041204090828/http://www.rootsweb.com/~innwigs/portercountydeathindexmainpagetable.html
Letter B--deaths
https://web.archive.org/web/20050112053237/http://www.rootsweb.com/~innwigs/letterb.htm
Henry Miller (1805-1863)
Peter's son Henry Miller was born 14 Feb 1805 at Pennsylvania; he died 25 Sept 1863 at Jefferson Township, Williams County, Ohio [tombstone] and was buried at Shiffler Cemetery (Williams County). HIs wife, Margaret, died just earlier. Their joint obit was published 1 Oct 1863--reports he died shortly after she did.
The Bryan Union Press || Bryan, Ohio
October 1, 1863, p. 3, c. 3 DIED.
In Jefferson township, Sept. 2d, 1863, Mrs. MARGARET MILLER, consort of Henry Miller, aged 58 years. Sept. 26th, 1863, in Jefferson township, HENRY MILLER, aged 58 years
Henry's tombstone reads,
HENRY MILLER
Died Sept 25 1863
Agd 58 Years, 7 Months and 11 days
From the tombstone data ... his birth can be calculated as 14 Feb 1805. (I at least suspect this same kind of calculation was made by the early researchers and it is likely how Henry's dob came to be reported as it is.)
I don't know the maiden name of Henry's spouse. Do have a nice list of his children, but am still chasing a death record for one that might call out Margaret's maiden name.
I have personal research report, "Henry 1805 at Williams ...pdf" See also, "Peter Miller for Ann Reynolds.pdf."
John Miller (1806-1888)
The Bryan Democrat ||
Bryan, Ohio
Thursday, September 13, 1888
At Edgerton, Ohio, Friday, September 7, 1888, John Miller, aged nearly eighty-two years.
John Miller was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Richland county, Ohio at an early day. In 1835 he entered 160 acres of wild land in Brady township, Williams county, and moved on to it. Thirty years later he sold the farm which he had carved out of the wilderness and bought the land now known as the Grisier farm immediately adjoining Bryan. In 1876 he removed to Waterloo, Indiana, where he remained five years, returning in 1881 to Edgerton where he continued to reside until his death.
John Miller was never a prominent man, but he was a most excellent citizen and in every respect an exemplary citizen.
The funeral services were held Sunday in the Universalist church at Bryan, Rev. Harry Canfield officiating.
Sarah (Miller) Cline (1809-1859)
Bernice McKarns, citing "Lyndell Rogers personal knowledge and family records copied years ago at Grandmother Millers"; per Jack Stover transcription, 19 May 2012:[1]
- Sarah Miller born 17 August 1808
- Sara Miller died 21 April 1859
Bernice McKarns, citing Albert Woods; per Jack Stover transcription, 7 May 2012 From her review of "Woods Cards," she writes, "Miller Sara b. 1809 Berks Co. Pa. I have 17 Aug 1808 (Stark Co.?) m. George Klein no details"
Some time ago, while researching about Richland County, Ohio, for records about Rebecca (Miller) Baum and other Miller children said to have resided Richland County, Ohio in the 1830s, I (GeneJ) came upon the 1830 census entry for a "George Cline" just a few lines down from that of "James Baum" (Rebecca Miller's husband). Bit by bit, other interesting records about what seemed the same Cline family were located about the Richland County area. These include:
1850 U.S. census, Richland County, Blooming Grove Township, entry for George Cline; apparent wife Sarah, aged 42 (thus b. ca1808).
1860 U.S. census mortality schedule , entry for Sarah Cline of Blooming Grove; death in March (1860), age then said 51 (thus b. ca1809).
Rome Cemetery transcriptions (Blooming Grove Township), entries about children born to G&S, including a child "Rosannah."
She seems probably the Sarah Cline appearing in the 1860 mortality schedule--age 51, widow, died at Bloomingrove Township, Richland County, Ohio, March 1859.
Have created WikiTree profiles for both George Cline (abt.1796-abt.1856) and Sarah (Unknown) Cline (abt.1808-1859).
From what I've learned from land, census and tax records, a George and Sarah lived at Bloominggrove, one section away from James and Rebecca (Miller) Baum, who lived there from about 1824 until sometime after 1835. The Baums moved on to Porter County, Indiana, about the same time John and Rebecca Firestone (Carle) Miller moved to Richland County. The Millers moved on shortly to Williams County, Ohio.
If this is our Sarah, see the 1850 census, there is a wide gap in the births of children in the home--ae 18, 15, 13, 6 and 3, but several children of G&S buried. See Rome East Cemetery (also known as Evangelical German Reformed Church Cemetery), Bloominggrove Twp., Richland County, Ohio; transcribed reading/records by Amy E. Armstrong and Stephanie M. Bragg, 15 Juy 2002, Richland County, Ohio USGenWeb (http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohrichla/RCBdb/Cemetery-RomeEast.htm : accessed 4 May 2008), for five Cline graves, three noted as children of George & Sarah or G & S, as below. This might explain the gap in births.
- Cline, Eli - - s/o George & Sarah
- Cline, Eliza Jane - - d/o George & Sarah
- Cline, Rosannah - 10/8/1848 d/o G. & S.
- Cline, William - 7/8/1841
- Cline, George W. - 6/1815
I haven't yet found Sarah (?Miller) Cline's tombstone, but the woman who was George's wife at 1850 is surely the Sarah Cline noticed in the 1860 Mortality schedule as ae 51 and widowed; said to have died in March. At the time of the 1850 census. George and Sarah's sons, David and Daniel, are enumerated with families where George and Sarah would have been, had they survived.
Records for the administration of the estates both George and Sarah Cline are extant, as are the guardianship records of her minor children--Alfred and Sarah.
- Estate of George Cline deceased, David Light Admin. Vol 16--see George Cline 1856 Administration. George Cline left a widow and thirteen (13) heirs. With the exception of his minor children (Alfred Cline and Sarah Cline), none of his surviving children are named in the administrator's record. See final settlement, which did include a list named persons on 24 receipts. Marginal note reports that other receipts (nos. 25-38) for the "balance in arrears" were submitted 23 February 1863.
- Estate of Sarah Cline, deceased. See Space:Sarah_Cline_1860_Administration. Her estate was to be distributed among seven heirs--David Cline, Peter Fulks/Foulks, Diana Hollabaugh, Catharine Ropp, Daniel Cline, Alfred Cline and Sarah Cline. See the 1st partial settlement (Richland County Administrations 18:386-388, 18:387) and final settlement (Richland County Administrations 19:43-44, FamilySearch).
- Guardianship of minor children. See Alfred and Sarah Cline Guardianship.
Created Sarah (_____) Cline on FamilyTree. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GFFL-L2W
Have research paper, "Holly re Cline at Bloominggrove.pdf," and the several PDFs from WikiSpaces Cline-Miller Challenge.
User contributed ...
Disjointed, sometimes inaccurate information appears online. See,
- David Kline, memorial 167117308 and gravestone image; web content, FindAGrave, maintained by PLS; gravestone image ("Kline") by PLS.
- David D. Cline 1834–1899 • 9SNK-367, FamilySearch Family Tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHPX-2TD
- Daniel Cline, FamilySearch Family Tree, Deceased • KHPX-2TD https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KHPX-2TD
- Alfred Cline, FamilySearch Family Tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MTFP-KS1
- Diana Cline 14 May 1836 – 11 August 1883 • 9MCJ-X5R, FamilySearch Family Tree, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9MCJ-X5R
Mary (Miller) Coblentz (1810-1891)
Married at Columbiana County. 23 September 1830. (He is George Coblints or Coblintz.)
Leader Enterprise||
Mary (Miller) COBLENTZ, wife of George COBLENTZ, Sr., died at Angola, Ind., August 8th, 1891; aged 80 years, 10 months and 20 days. She was a good mother and was loved most by those who knew her best. She leaves four children to mourn. The funeral was held from the Cogswell church conducted by Rev. James Neil, which was quite largely attended by mourning and sympathizing friends.” [13 Aug 1891]
She has descendants who have been current in corresponding about the family.
Foulks marriage -- not here https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BL-X3MG-3?i=145&cat=84908 (Columbiana)
Folks marriage not here - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-PMSH-8J?i=9&cc=1614804&cat=342982 (Stark)
William Miller (1813-)
Joseph Peter Miller (1814-1895)
Jack Stover (Ohio) worked on this line for 12 years in the hope of making a connection. Jack's research indicated his ancestor, Joseph P. Miller, was born 5 July 1814 to "a" Peter Miller of Stark County--but LVene and other early researchers about Peter Miller married (2) Mary Stewart reported Joseph was born 5 August 1814.
In 2012, we worked on a proof, based largely on,
(1) The 1950s era family histories put together by John I. Miller, then in his 90s, a grandson who had known Joseph and Rebecca.
(2) Jack's extensive work with Paris Township real estate records and plat maps.
(3) Re-working the old German script on 1837 baptism of "Maria Miller."
(4) Re-thinking the coincidence that Jack's Joseph and Peter's Joseph were reported born exactly one month apart--and even the later date would place the birth less than 9 mos after Peter and Mary's marriage.
(5) A chance opportunity to communicate with Dena Z., who found us via the WikiSpaces "Joseph Miller Challenge" pages. She had materials compiled by Daniel Miller's daughter, Lettie Miller (1851-1935), repeated by her own ancestor, Daniel Miller's daughter in law, both calling our Peter's son, Joseph Miller, as a "minister ... in the Church of God."
Joseph Miller 2012 GeneJ Blog (working to post graphics)
Elizabeth (Miller) Obrist (abt.1817-1891)
Married 10 April 1836. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-59QZ-M?cat=342982
THE BRYAN (Ohio) DEMOCRAT||
Thursday, November 19, 1891
Page 5, Col. 3
At Toledo, Tuesday, November 16, 1891, Mrs. Elizabeth Obrist, wife of Albright Obrist, aged 70 years. The deceased was for many years prior to 1867 a resident of Bryan. She was a sister of the late John Miller and the late Mrs. Schmachtenberger.
Susannah (Miller) Schmachtenberger (1821-1889)
Married 16 May 1845. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-59QC-Y?i=153&cat=342982
PLEASANT SURPRISE
On Tuesday evening of last week Mr. and Mrs. Benj. SCHMACHTENBERGER were agreeably surprised at their home four miles southeast of Bryan by a large number of friends and relatives, the event being the sixty-eighth anniversary of Mrs. S's birthday. The evening was very pleasantly spent and an elegant repast was served. A number of beautiful and useful presents were presented in a neat presentation speech by Mr. C. H. BEARDSLEE.
The tombstone suggests she was born August 28, 1821, but on about Nov 1, 1888, they threw her a surprise 68th birthday party.
If she was 68 in 1888, then she was more likely born in 1820 ... and wouldn't a surprise birthday party be thrown closer than 2 mos to the date of the birthday? Oddly enough, the tombstone apparently suggests she died 13 Oct 1888, which of course would be BEFORE the surprise birthday party.
Obit
The Bryan Democrat
Thursday, October 17, 1889
p 5, c4
Mrs. Schmachtenberger, wife of Benjamin Schmachtenberger for many years a resident of this township, died last Monday, of cancer, aged nearly sixty-nine years. She was an exemplary woman, a devoted wife and affectionate mother, and highly esteemed by all who knew her.
This Miller-Schmachtenberger married is actually one of the more interesting families, genealogically speaking. Susan's SON = Adolph, married 2 Susan Miller, dau. Anthony and Susannah. Adolph and Susan didn't have any childre but here we visit again the question of whether or not Peter Miller and Anthony Miller were brothers. IF Peter and Anthony Miller were brothers, then Susan Miller married her first cousin, Adolph Schmachtenberger.
Daniel Miller (1824-1884)
Lengthy genealogy about Daniel by the late Clifford Wig in the 1980. He was a great genealogist. Unfortunately, at the time, Wig really didn't know much about Peter Miller's other children; he assumed they had all left the state. Wig's genealogy about Daniel Miller is accessible via Family History Libraries--but you may have to order the film,
Levi Miller (abt.1830-)
Other than the will, the only record I have for Levi is the 1850 census--and his age is not as clear as one would like.
Sources
- ↑ Jack Stover to GeneJ, "Re: Question [concerning] Bernice's notes about Sarah (Miller) Cline," 19 May 2012.
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