Mr. and Mrs. John R. Miller

Golden Wedding is a Joyous Occasion

{from the Herald, September 1, 1913 – John R. and Elizabeth Woods Miller, married September 1, 1863}

In celebration of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Miller, of Lincoln Avenue, this city {New Castle, Pennsylvania}, together with the annual reunion of the Davidson family relatives, friends and neighbors to the number of 160 gathered at the country home of John F. Miller, near Hillsville, Monday, September 1st {year}, mention of which was made to some extent in The Herald of Monday.

Tables were arranged on the lawn under the maple trees and here the guests were served with a bounteous supply of the season’s delicacies. The decorations of the tables and the home were guests of golden rod and marigold. Reverend Porter, of Westfield, offered prayer at the noonday meal.

Friends and relatives attended from Oil City, Aledo, Ill., Pittsburgh, Youngstown, New Castle and other surrounding points. Although it was understood there were to be no gifts, Mr. and Mrs. Miller received a number of pretty presents. R. L. MacNab in behalf of the Men’s bible class of the First Presbyterian Church presented Mr. Miller with a gold watch chain. Mr. Miller having taught this class a number of years.

Mrs. R. M. Jameson present Mr. Miller with a gold thimble, the gift of the Ladies’ Aid society of the first Presbyterian Church and Mrs. S. L. McCleary representing the Home and Foreign Missionary society of the same church, gave Mr. and Mrs. Miller a golden wedding souvenir book, in which those present registered. Each representative of the societies made appropriate speeches. Mr. Miller replied thanking all for their remembrances and spoke particularly of their friends’ interest and attendance on this occasion.

John R. Miller is the son of Squire James Miller, and was born on the farm where the golden wedding anniversary celebration was held Monday, he being near eighty years of age. This farm was cleared by John R. Miller’s grandfather in the year 1800 when Mr. Miller’s father was one year old.

John R. Miller was united in marriage with Elizabeth Wood, daughter of Major William Woods and Margaret Davidson Woods, of near Westfield Church in North Beaver township. They resided in North Beaver township for many years and later moved to the old Miller homestead in Mahoning Township, where Mr. Miller had been raised, and on which they resided until a few years ago, when they moved to New Castle, their present home being on Lincoln Avenue.

Mrs. Miller is seventy-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were formerly members of Westfield Presbyterian church in which Mr. Miller was for many years an elder, and since coming to New Castle, both have been members of the First Presbyterian Church, where Mr. Miller is now an elder. Mrs. Miller was born in Mahoning Township in January 1833.

Brothers and sisters of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, now living were present: They are James D. Woods of the Seventh Ward, New Castle, and John B. Woods of North Beaver Township, brothers of Mrs. Miller; Mrs. Mary J. Fullerton of North Beaver Township, Mrs. Elizabeth Fullerton of Mahoning Township, Mrs. Margaret Hamilton of Youngstown, Ohio, and Miss Martha Miller of Poland, Ohio, sisters of Mr. Miller.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have five children living: William G. Miller of Los Angeles, Cal.; Mrs. S. L. McCracken of New Castle, John F. Miller of Mahoning Township, who now resides with his family on the old homestead, George G. Miller of Pittsburgh, and Dwight M. Miller of Youngstown, Ohio, all of who were present except William, who was unable to come east at the present time on account of sickness. There are eight grandchildren, John Miller, son of Mr. Miller’s brother, William, now deceased, of Aledo, Illinois, surprised his uncle and aunt by coming from western Illinois to extend his congratulations, and while here will spend a few days with his many relatives.

This was also the occasion of the Davidson reunion, which was held in connection with the golden wedding. The Davidson family reunion has been an annual occurrence for many years and is always well attended and greatly enjoyed by its members. A short business meeting was held by the Davidsons at which officers were elected, and next reunion will be held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Norwood of North Beaver Township of the 3rd Wednesday of August, 1914.

{can’t read first line} congratulations of many friends and hope to show their appreciation by attending the golden wedding of many of those present. Officers elected at the Davidson reunion were: President, John Norwood, of Mt. Jackson; Secretary, David Woods, of Mt. Jackson; Treasurer, John F. Miller, of Hillsville.

Members of the Woman’s Home and Foreign Missionary Society of the First Presbyterian Church, this city, who were present were: Mrs. S. E. McCleary, Mrs. A. P. Thompson, Mrs. John McKinley, Mrs. E. T. Kurtz, Mrs. R. M. Jameson, Mrs. R. L. MacNab, Mrs. J.C. MacNab, Mrs. W. O. English, Mrs. Cowden Bleakley, Mrs. John Cripps, Mrs. N.K. Eberle, Mrs. S. B. Marshall, Mrs. D. P. Book and Miss Christiana Evans.

Among the relatives present were: mr. and Mrs. R. E. Porter, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. McGinnis, A. H. Fullerton, Mrs. A. Harry Fullerton, W.A. Fullerton, all of Mt. Jackson; Attorney and Mrs. S. L. McCracken and daughter, Miss Helen; John F. Miller, Mrs. J. F. Miller, Cyrus Dettmore, George Zerner, Marian Virginia and John R. Miller, Jr., George G. Miller, James Moore Miller, Mr. and Mrs. David H. Long and infant son, William; Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Marshall, Fulton Magill, Harry and Gertrude Gibson, Mrs. William Duff, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Hamilton, all of New Castle.

Dwight N. Miller, Margaret Miller Hamilton, Margaret N. and Harriet L. Lowry, Miss Goldie Holton, Miss May Hamilton, all of Youngstown; Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Woods and daughter, Mrs. Margaret W. Elder of the Seventh Ward, New Castle; John B. Woods, Mrs. Ella C. woods, Fred Woods, Mame R. Woods, D. W. Woods, Mary J. Miller Fullerton of Westfield; Mr. and Mr. J. M. McCord, Ella McCord, Ransom and Julia McCreary, Mr. and Mrs. McCord, Mary J. Shaffer, A. Baird, Hattie Baird, W. J. Edwards, Mrs. C. L. Martin, G. W. Martin, C. L. Martin, Jr., of Hillsville.

Elizabeth Miller Fullerton, Jerry B. Fullerton, C. E. Fullerton, Ina Fullerton , of Covert Station; Minnie A. Erskine, Katherine, Margaret and Rachel Erskine of Lowellville; John G. Miller of Aledo, Ill.; W. L. Fullerton, Jennie Fullerton, Myrtle Brewster, J. Wylie Brewster, R. Clarke, Mrs. R. S. Clark, James Hayes, Mrs. J. F. McCurley and W. B. McCurley, Mrs. W. A. Fullerton, Mrs. Roxie Martin, Mrs. R. D. Brewster, R. B. Brewster, John Reis, Jr., Lucy Lair Reis, R. M Shere, Elizabeth and John D. Norwood of North Beaver Township.

William Moore, Mrs. E. Moore of Oil City, Mrs. M. Lee Gailey, Julian Lee Gailey, Margaret Frances Gailey of Poland, Ohio; Ada L. McFate, Grace McFate, R. J. McFate, Clarence McFate of Edenburg, H. M. Davison of Bessemer; Mrs. Belle E. Leslie of Moravia.

Among the guests were Frank Sealai, Vernia L. Martin, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Long, C. M. Duff of New Castle, C. L. Martin and Nora Martin of Hillsville.

Mr. Miller, the bridegroom of fifty years, is a member of Dr. S. A. Bowman’s Bible class at the First Presbyterian Church and those of the class who attended the golden wedding were R. L. MacNab, Albert P. Thompson, H. K. Eberle, John R. Miller, S. E. McCleary, S. A. Bowman, Dr. H. W. McKee, W. C. English, G. C. Wareham and J. R. Martin.

Return to the James Miller, Sr. Homepage

 

www.pitt.edu/~spano/jr50.htm

Updated: September 1, 1999