Tombstone Tuesday—Jacob Miller

Jacob Miller (1843-1918), Chattanooga Mausoleum

This is the mausoleum marker of Jacob Miller, located in the Chattanooga Mausoleum, at the west side of Zion Lutheran Cemetery. The marker is inscribed:

JACOB MILLER
1843-1918

I have not been able to locate Jacob’s Ohio death certificate. The only records of his death that I have are the church records, the mausoleum marker, and his obituary. Jacob’s wife Christine is buried beside him in the mausoleum.

Obituary: Our departed brother, Jacob Miller, was born March 7, 1843 in Bierbach, Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany.  He received the sacrament of baptism in early youth and was later confirmed in the Evangelical Protestant Church of his native village.

In 1870 he was joined in marriage with Sophie Gelzer.  This companion was taken from him through death together with her still-born child.  Not long after this, namely in 1871, brother Miller emigrated to America.  After living in Liberty Township for a short time, he purchased the home place in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on which he lived until his death.

In 1877 he was again married, namely to Margaret Strabel.  To this union there were born two sons, Peter and Christian, of whom the latter 6 years ago, through unexpected death, caused by typhoid fever, preceded his father into eternity.  In 1882 also his second wife was called from his side through death.

In 1885 our deceased brother was joined in marriage with Christina Rueck.  This union was blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters.  Of these children, three also preceded their father into eternity, namely Jacob, Mary and Katherine.  Jacob, like Christian, died while far from home, his death being caused by an accident. In a little more than a year, both of their sons, while in the bloom of youth were stricken down and brought home in their coffins.  The grief caused by this sore affliction contributed much to the gradual break-down of the otherwise so robust health of the father.

Soon after our brother’s arrival in this country he became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion’s Congregation in Chattanooga, Ohio.  He was one of our faithful members and loved the habits of God’s house and the place where His honor dwelleth.  And through many tribulations his heart was drawn ever nearer to God and the Savior.

Several years ago he became afflicted with Bright’s disease, which in the course of time grew worse and against which no medical treatment would afford permanent relief.  About a year ago the vision of his eyes also began to vanish and before his death he became totally blind.

The sickness required constant and painstaking care, and this care was bestowed upon him in a self-sacrificing way by his faithful wife and children. He departed this life on June 15, 1918 at 1:30 p.m., having reached 75 years, 3 months and 8 days.

Our brother belonged to those foreign born pioneers of this community who through rigid toil and many hardships stood in the front rank in transforming a swampy unhealthy region into a veritable garden of God.

He was a sinner as we all are and he recognized and acknowledged that fact.  But he also learned to know the Savior of sinners and through tribulation learned more and more to seek and to find that peace and pardon which can be obtained only under the cross of Christ.

How grateful he always was when the comfort of God’s Word was brought to him and when Christian hymns were read and sung in his presence.  Thus he laid hold of the one thing needful and the Lord Jesus has now, as we confidently believe, delivered him from every evil and permitted him to enter into the eternal rest and bliss of that home which he prepared for us.

His departure is mourned by his widow, 5 children, 1 step-child, 11 grandchildren, 1 sister, Mrs. Margaret Linn, 2 daughters-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 2 brothers-in-law and many other relatives and friends.

“Thou on my head in early youth didst smile
And though rebellious and perverse meanwhile
Thou hast not left me as I oft left Thee
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord! Abide with me.”

The funeral was held on Thursday from Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Words of comfort and admonition were spoken by the pastor on basis of John 10:9 and Timothy 11 1:9-10.  The mortal remains were laid to rest in the mausoleum, close to Zion’s Cemetery. (Source: unknown newspaper clipping)

Front: Carl, Jacob, John, Christina (Rueck), Clara, Caroline. Back: Mary, Peter, Jacob Jr, Christian, Maggie.

Here are the vital dates of those in the above photo. Front: Carl (1896-1973), Jacob (1843-1918), John (1889-1964), Christina (1858-1845), Clara (1899-1997), Caroline (1893-1988). Back row: Mary (1884-1905), Peter (1878-1957), Jacob Jr (1885-1913), Christian (1880-1911), Maggie (1875-1962).

Mausoleum, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio

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