Miller, Samuel - 1881

County Clippings.--
The family of Mr. Samuel Miller, of near Lincoln, has been sadly afflicted.  On Saturday last, Mr. Miller died.  The funeral was appointed for Monday, but on that day Mrs. Miller also passed away.  The interment was at Brickerville.  Now a grandson of the deceased, son of Mr. “Hi” Fry, is lying at the point of death, if not already beyond the vail.
~ The Lititz Record, 07-Oct-1881, Page 2, Column 2


Her Wish Was Granted.
Together In Life, United In Death - Not Separated Beyond The Vail.
We often express a desire of which we think little beyond the mere wish thus expressed, and were our wishes granted as readily as we are apt to make them, we would be often taken by surprise.  Out legitimate desires may be classified in this way: first, the desires that we entertain but do not feel much anxiety for their realization; and secondly, the desires in which we feel a deep interest and hope to realize.  It is not only what we may express in public manner, or what we may entertain in a private, quite way by ourselves, for in neither of them rests any peace, owing to the fact that the Power that rules our destinies is not with man, hence our limited knowledge respecting the fulfillment of our best wishes.  The following is pertinent to the foregoing:
On Oct. 4, the last sad rites were performed over the mortal remains of Samuel Miller, residing about one mile from Lincoln.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller were well-known and highly-respected people.  At the time of his death Mrs. Miller was also at the point of death and she could not be apprised of her husband’s departure, and soon followed him to that long home from which no traveler returns.  Her funeral took place two days after that of her husband.

About six weeks before the death of both, they spent a day with friends in the neighborhood, and while thus together engaged in conversation, Mrs. Miller remarked, “that for people growing old together as they had done (for he was 78 and she was 80 years old) it would be very desirable if they could go together to that better world and that this was her wish”.  This expression came forth from the fullness of her anxious soul to realize her fond desire, and how different sounds the utterance of such an aged person over against the expressed wish of youth.

No matter how much she felt, it was unconsciously expressed, and little did she know what the out-come might be, yet it was all the while in accord with the mind of Him who “doeth all things well” and her wish was granted.  She desired that the departure of both might be near together, and so it happened.  When he was borne away to his last resting-place she was a corpse, and at his funeral her day of burial was announced..

They must have lived together as man and wife some fifty years, and during all that time, there was a mutual sharing of each others pleasures as well as sorrows, for both had to taste the cup of life with sweet and bitter mingled in its contents.  Having thus stood side by side for so long a period, the desire manifested itself, if it were possible, to pass together, as it were accompanying each other while “passing through the dark valley of the shadow of death”, and also to be together in the spirit land.  Thus the aged mother wished it might be, and her heart’s desire was granted her.
~ The Lititz Record, 14-Oct-1881, Page 3, Column 4

You can visit the memorial page for Samuel Miller.