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Facts and Events
Enos arrived in Des Moines in November of 1852, crossed the Des Moines River and bivouacked here until the spring of 1853. He then took his family to Guthrie County, Jackson township and settled about a mile east of what was once Glendon. In 1853 John Miller and his family came, also bringing his mother and father, Jacob and Catherine Miller. Later that year, Christian, Joseph and Peter also arrived. Jacob J. Miller did not live long after arriving in Guthrie Co. His grave marker at Glendon Cemetery shows he died at the age of 74 on Sept. 25, 1853. Christian L., son of Jacob J. and Catherine was born in PA according to the 1850 census of Parke County, IN, Jackson twp. There he is listed age 42 wife Elizabeth, 42, born in PA, children Garrett, 20, Catherine, 18, and Elijah S., 10. Christian died not long after his father on October 9, 1853, and was buried at Glendon. Elizabeth held the household together and later lived with her son “Lige” until her death January 21, 1901, at the age of 92.
In the 1850 IN census in Punam Co., IN, Madison township appears Enos Miller, age 32, farmer, born in PA, wife Rufi Ann, 28 and children Oliver P. 8, Tilghman H. 6, and John F. age 1. In the 1856 census of Guthrie County, IA he is listed, age 40, 4 years in IA born in PA, wife Ruth A., age 31, born in IN, John F., 7 born in IN, Simon P., 4, born in IN, Harriet E., age 2 born in IA. In the Guthrian Newspaper May 28, 1885, is Enos’ obit. “Died, Monday evening May 11, 1885 at his residence in Jackson twp. Enos Miller in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Miller was born August 12, 1815 in Summerset county, PA and was married July 15, 1841, to Rufa A. Switzer of OH. Having lived over 43 years of married life in IA, in Guthrie County, and in Jackson township for 33 years has been a member of Church of God for 50 years. The fruit of their marriage was eight children, six of whom are now living. He is the grandparent of 24 children, all living about him to comfort him in his last hours of affliction, the disease bore his affliction and suffering with the greatest christian fortitude, he was a man of who stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and a faithful servant in his church. He is missed as a companion, a father, a friend, a neighbor and a Christian worker. Thus has passed away one of Jackson townships most worthy and beloved citizen. He was sensible until the last and often made the remark during his sufferings “how good the lord was to him,” and died with assurance that all was well with him and sang songs of praise as long as he could hold out. It is appointed once onto man to die, said He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, heaven is the treasury of everlasting joy, infinite degree and endless in duration. He who builds his towers on the duties of today receive the rewards of his father which is in heaven. The funeral ceremonies were the most solemn it has been one lot to witness. Services by Revs. Mullen and Brower at Glendon” O.P. Miller very tenderly and carefully waited upon his father in his fatal illness. Such devotions always honor the person bestowing it.
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References
- Enos Miller's obit, in Guthrian Newspaper
28 May 1885.
“Died, Monday evening May 11, 1885 at his residence in Jackson twp. Enos Miller in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Miller was born August 12, 1815 in Summerset county, PA and was married July 15, 1841, to Rufa A. Switzer of OH. Having lived over 43 years of married life in IA, in Guthrie County, and in Jackson township for 33 years has been a member of Church of God for 50 years. The fruit of their marriage was eight children, six of whom are now living. He is the grandparent of 24 children, all living about him to comfort him in his last hours of affliction, the disease bore his affliction and suffering with the greatest christian fortitude, he was a man of who stood high in the estimation of his neighbors and a faithful servant in his church. He is missed as a companion, a father, a friend, a neighbor and a Christian worker. Thus has passed away one of Jackson townships most worthy and beloved citizen. He was sensible until the last and often made the remark during his sufferings “how good the lord was to him,” and died with assurance that all was well with him and sang songs of praise as long as he could hold out. It is appointed once onto man to die, said He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, heaven is the treasury of everlasting joy, infinite degree and endless in duration. He who builds his towers on the duties of today receive the rewards of his father which is in heaven. The funeral ceremonies were the most solemn it has been one lot to witness. Services by Revs. Mullen and Brower at Glendon” O.P. Miller very tenderly and carefully waited upon his father in his fatal illness. Such devotions always honor the person bestowing it.
- Guthrie County history of 1884.
From the Guthrie County history of 1884 was found this article, “Enos Miller was born in Pennsylvania, August 12, 1815, and is the son of Jacob and Katie Miller. Mr. Jacob Miller was a native of PA and his wife was born in Ireland and there remained till she was three months old, when she came to this country. When Enos was about 16 years of age he moved with his parents to Wayne County, OH, where he remained some time, and then they moved to IN. He was married on July 15, 1841 to Miss Rufa Ann Switzer, a native of OH. In 1852 he came to IA. They had nine children. As of 1884 six were living; Oliver, Tillman H., John F., Simon P., James R. and Martha E.” From the Stuart paper of August 14, 1902, this article appeared: “Enos Miller with his family crossed the Des Moines River in November 1852 and bivouacked in Des Moines until 1853 when he came with his family to Jackson twp. and settled a mile east of Glendon, where he cut a set of logs, which were hauled from the timber by O. P. Miller, his oldest son.”
- History of Guthrie County.
From a “History of Guthrie County” the following article was written by Hester Maxwell: “In 1853 about a dozen persons who had removed from IN and settled in Beaver Creek organized themselves into a society called the Church of God or Winebrennerians. For several years they had no minister but kept up their meetings with but little preaching till 1862 when Elder Nye settled among them. Religion consisted of scriptures as the only rule, no discipline or articles of faith, but washing of each others feet as a religious ordinance. At Enos Miller’s residence and the old Beaver school, appointments were kept.” Winebrennerians or ECCL, a member of the Church of God. It is a denomination of Christians in the U.S., founded by John Winebrenner in PA in 1830. They are immersionists, are Methodistic in policy and usage, practice the washing of feet, and hold that creeds are divisive and unnecessary. Harmon Miller made a speech at a family reunion in 1967 and he highlighted the settlement in Glendon. “This community was settled in the early 1850’s, about 51 or 52, and in the early days they were God-fearing people who brought their bibles with them. The first church was held by circuit riders who came through and held meetings in the homes. Finally, they got more local ones who would preach to them and a few years later the school house was built about two miles east of Glendon. Most of the children in this community went to that school and some church services were held in that building. On up this little creek was a little more thickly settled area. In 1880 this building was built about three and one-half miles west of here and called the CHURCH OF GOD. That was the same year that the railroad went through and it grew into a little country town called Glendon. It had a store, elevator, stockyards, blacksmith shop and all things that go with a little country village. So in 1886, they moved the church to Glendon. In 1903 the brickyard was started up the track here about a half mile and that brought in more people. Along about 1908 or 1910 most of the old pioneers were gone, new faces came in and some thought the Church of God was behind the times, and so they started a second church in the schoolhouse and there were two churches for awhile. In 1913+ an evangelist came to town and organized a formal church in the church building and a Sunday School was started. It became known as Glendon Union Sunday School and several different preachers of different denominations served the church. After cars were introduced in the 30’s and 40’s Glendon began to fade as a community. The old church still stands today in fair condition.
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