# 1 - - printed in The Enterprise, August 31, 1922

MRS. WM. H. MILLER

Mrs. Wm. H. Miller, Sr., of Ft. Calhoun passed away at her home in that city at noon of last Thursday, Aug. 29.

Mrs. Miller had been in poor health for a number of years, the after-effects of a case of “flu” and which in the end caused her death.

Mrs. Mary Jane Thornton was born in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and on the death of her father came to this county when she was seven years of age, making her home with her uncle, Mr. John Thornton, who lived north of Blair on the bottom.

She was married to Wm. H. Miller, Sr., in 1885 and has been a good wife and a kind and loving mother.

Besides the husband, five children remain to mourn the loss. They are: Mrs. Claus Schmidt of Tekamah, a daughter by a former marriage; Mrs. Mary Shorthill of Portland, Oregon; Etta Smith of Burchard, Nebr.; B.E. Miller of Calhoun; and Wm. H. Jr. of Blair. She also has one sister, Mrs. Jack Elliott of Mapes, B.C.

The funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the home in Calhoun and will be conducted by Rev. Frank of that place and interment will be made in the Blair cemetery.

# 2 - - from The Pilot, September 6, 1922

MRS. W.H. MILLER

Mrs. W.H. Miller, a resident of Washington county for 57 years, the past seventeen of which were spent in Ft. Calhoun and vicinity, passed away at her home here at noon on August 29. Mrs. Miller was stricken with the influenza prevailing three years ago. Although everything possible that a loving husband and family could do to restore her to health was done, improvement was but temporary, each apparent step toward recovery being followed by a relapse that gradually exhausted her vitality.

Mary Jane Thorton was born at Saratoga, N.Y., November 13, 1859, and came to Washington county, Neb., when she was seven years old. She was married to W.H. Miller on July 23, 1885, and to this union seven children were born, four of whom, with her husband, survive her. The children living are Mrs. J.W. Shorthill, of Portland, Ore.; Wm. Miller of Blair; Bert Miller of Ft. Calhoun; and Mrs. E.E. Smith, of Burchard, Nebr. A daughter of the deceased by her former marriage, Mrs. Claus Schmidt, resides near Blair.

Mrs. Miller was a true and loving wife and mother, a kind and helpful neighbor, and her departure is keenly felt not only by her relatives but also her large circle of friends.

#3-7 Sept., 1922 - The Tribune - Mary Jane (Thornton) Miller

PIONEER MRS. W. H. MILLER

Pioneer Mrs. W. H. Miller who died in Ft. Calhoun August 29, 1922, was born Mary J. Thornton at Saratoga, N.Y. November 13, 1859, and came with her parents to Washington county, Nebraska in time to be classed as a Nebraska territorial pioneer.

She was married to W. H. Miller on July 23, 1885. Of her seven children, three of them lie close to where the mother was placed in the Blair, Nebraska cemetery on September 1. In spite of the heat and dust there was a large company under the trees at the house. The dust that blew over the long string of autos was fearful. They told us in Blair that it was the hottest day of the season.

Rev. Frank of this city officiated. Mrs. Harry Walton and Miss Edith Neale sang the anthems, Miss Grace Neale at the piano. Among others in attendance we noted Peter Siert of Blair and William Sierk of Omaha.

Her remaining children are a son, Bert, recent mayor of Ft. Calhoun; William of Blair; Mrs. E. E. Smith of Burchard, Nebr.; and Mrs. J. W. Shorthill of Portland, Oregon. Her sons and her two daughters have been watching and hoping with her for some time, and it’s pitiful to see the look on her husband’s face as he passes our window. The great mass of flowers were certainly beautiful.

The pallbearers were her two sons, Bert and William, Claus Schmidt, her two sons-in-law and a grandson, Chris Schmidt, and we are glad that knowing her the past seventeen years we can truthfully say she was a noble farmer’s wife and mother and such people always make many friends no matter where they live.

The funeral service was held at the home Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. Frank officiating, and burial made in the Blair cemetery. --- Ft. Calhoun Chronicle

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial # 34005101