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| GEORGE MILLER, farmer, sec. 18, Colfax Tp., was born in Delaware, Middlesex Co., Ont., July 6, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Miller. The father was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1824, and in 1845, on attaining his majority, came to Canada. In the year following he married Elizabeth Chalmers, born in 1827, in Almond Bank, Perthshire, Scotland. ahe came to Canada with her parents at the age of 18 years, and in 1846 was married at Quebec. They settled in Delaware, where they remained until 1868, in which year they moved to Michigan and settled on a farm in Colfax Tp., Mecosta Co., locating three miles from Big Rapids. Mr. Miller resided with his parents until 1880, when he married Elida Hallock, the youngest daughter of Aaron E. and Harriet L. (Steens) Hallock, of Newaygo County. Her father was born Feb. 2, 1825, in New York, and settled in Barry Co., Mich., when 18 years of age. The mother was born Sept. 9, 1835, in the State of Michigan. Their marriage occurred in 1850, and five years later they settled in MOntcalm County, where they resided until 1862. They removed to Newaygo County, where Mrs. Miller was born July 29, 1862. She remained in her native county until she was nine years old and then went to Howard City, where she attended school until she was 17. The following year she came to Mecosta County, and taught school, and was married May 5, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have a son, born March 29, 1883, named George Ernest Miller. The father of Mrs. Miller died April 15, 1872, leaving the mother with five children. She removed to Howard City, where she died, in November, 1872. On his marriage, Mr. Miller settled on his own farm, lying next to his father's place on the same section. They together had cleared 20 acres of the tract, entered under the homestead act by the father; and Mr. Miller has cleared a like quantity on his own property, and has charge of both places, containing 160 acres. Mr. Miller's mother died June 9, 1881, aged 54 years. She was seized with sudden and violent illness, passing within three hours into a comatose state, from which she never rallied, and about ten hours after the attack she ceased to exist. She was dearly beloved, not only in her own family circle but also by a large number of neighbors and friends who felt her loss almost as keenly as though it were personal. "We had been so happy i believing that we should keep her a long time with us that we were stunned, by the sharpness and suddenness of the blow," said one to whom her loss is irreparable. She has a better monument than even queens have had, in the lasting memories of those whose happiness had been her chief care and hearty delight. |