Miller, Abraham R. (1868-1968)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1968 Aug 8 p. 11 [bio]

Birth date: 1868

text of obituary:

Elkhart Resident Nears 100 Mark

ELKHART, IND. — Abraham R. Miller, 145 W. Indiana Ave., will be 100 years "young" this month. He attributes his long life to "the grace of God," but is quick to add that hard work never hurt anyone.

Mr. Miller typifies today's active senior citizen. He shops with his daughter, Mrs. Claude Bigler, who lives with him, takes care of his own finances and writes his own checks. He says he paid cash for everything all his life, always had all the material things he need, and gave his tithe to the church.

His first reaction to Social Security payments was "Oh, I don't need that, I have enough." The first check he received was for $400 in back payments. This he gave to the Mission Board of the Mennonite Church.

Miller was born in Lancaster, Pa., and spent his childhood working farmlands in that area. He recalls that children had many chores and worked long hours in those days.

HE RECALLS that he always wanted to "go west" as a young man. At 22 he started, but got only as far as his uncle's farm several miles away. Here he helped his uncle on the farm and then began a three-year apprenticeship in the tinner's trade.

One summer when he was unable to do heavy work because of illness he decided to do some selling. He wrote to the Mennonite publishing House in Elkhart and made arrangements to peddle the book, "Around the World through Bible Lands." The author was George Lambert, an Elkhart resident.

ABOUT THIS TIME he married Selena Belle Wade, a school teacher. The marriage was performed by John Brubaker, a combination preacher and horse doctor.

Again Miller yearned to "go west." This time the destination was Sterling, Ill., where his wife's family resided. Rev. Brubaker had conducted revival meetings in Elkhart and told the young couple to be sure and stop en route to Illinois.

Miller remembers with pleasure that when he and his wife stopped in Elkhart the [sic] received such a warm welcome they decided to stay.

He worked at odd jobs for awhile because there was no need for a tinsmith in Elkhart at that time. However, his wife had saved $1,000, which provided the money to buy the house next door to the one in which he now lives and, in 1902, the lot on which his present home is located.

HE REMEMBERS helping to harvest the last crop on the farmland bounded by Prairie, Main, Indiana and Lusher Avenues. The area then was plotted for homes.

Miller later entered into partnership with another tinsmith in a firm called Roland and Miller Sheet Metal, just south of where the Hotel Elkhart is now located. Some of his cast iron furnace installations are still in use today.

TWO YEARS after his partner died in 1922, Miller sold his share of the business to his partner's son and decided to retire at the age of 56. However, he soon found himself back in business again and at 66 decided to go back to work full time. Until the age of 95, when he retired the second time, he kept busy installing conversion burners in furnaces and doing furnace repair work. He secured a special permit to drive his car for work purposes up to the age of 95.

Mr. Miller attends the Prairie Street Mennonite Church regularly and still attends church functions and conferences. His wife died in 1943 at the age of 77.

Miller has three other daughters, Mrs. Cleo Mann, Nampa, Idaho, and Mrs. Nelson Kauffman and Mrs. Helena Meyer, both of Elkhart. His family and friends are planning a birthday celebration for him on Aug. 10 at the Prairie Street Mennonite Church.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Jan 16 p. 6
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Feb 13 p. 11