Person Page 1,132

From the Frederick Post, Frederick, Md., March 12, 1919:

JOS. G. MILLER DIES AT THE AGE OF 101 YEARS.

ILL BUT A FEW MONTHS.

Known as "Grand Old Man" of Frederick County.

Joseph G. Miller, long known as Frederick County's "Grand Old Man" and affectionately referred to as "Uncle Joe," died yeseterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock of infirmaties of age, hastened by septic poisoning, 101 years old. He was unconscious for about twenty-four hours preceding his death and at the end gently slept away. He had been confined to bed previous to his last birthday, Feb. 20.

Mr. Miller was a most remarkable man. Quiet and unassuming in manner, simple in habits and alert in mind he was will known and highly esteemed all over the county. Until taken down in his last illness he was an agreeable companion and manifested keen interest in the current events of the day. He was a pioneer merchant and farmer and was a fervent advocate of the simple life. During his long and successful business career he made hosts of friends. If he had any enemies no one ever heard of them. His venerable appearance always attracted attention and on every side he was hailed as "Uncle Joe."

Some weeks ago he accidentally caused an abrasion on the back of his right hand that developed into septic poisoning. The injury was so slight that he could not recall how it happened.

Mr. Miller's father died when he was but 11 years of age and for five years thereafter he helped his mother in the cultivation of her farm.

At the age of 16 he came to Frederick and began his career as a merchant with Christian Steiner. At the end of seven years he had established such a reputation for intelligence, business sagacity and unswerving integrity that Joshua Doub assisted him in purchasing the stock in trade of the Steiner store and they formed the partnership of Doub and Miller.

The death of Mr. Doub in 1848 dissolved the partnership and Mr. Miller bought what is now known as the Winebrener property and started a mercantile enterprise there that subsequently developed into one of the largest and most successful in Frederick.

After three years he associated with him his brother, David E. Miller and Daniel Getzendanner and continued the business in the name of Miller & Co. for four years longer when he sold out to Mr. Getzendanner and retired from mercantile life, after 21 years of successful experience.

Having purchased a farm he began its cultivation in 1856 with the same energy and industry he had shown as a merchant and with like success. After eight years he sold his farm and located again in Frederick where he remained for five years, during which time he married.

In 1869 he resumed farming which has ever since been his principal vocation. He has owned and occupied three farms and each has been greatly enhanced in value by his enterprising energy in erecting new and handsome buildings, planting numerous fruit and ornamental shade trees and increasing the fertility of the soil.

While he had but a common school education, he was endowed by nature with superior mental gifts, which were developed by constant exercise in the training school of life.

He served four terms as a member of the Board of County Commissioners; was a trustee of the County Home for the Poor and also a member of the Board of Charities and Correction. He was always interested in public improvements; was active in the management of the Frederick and Monocacy Turnpike Company and for 40 years its Treasurer. He was for many years a Director of the Farmers and Mechanics' National Bank of Frederick, and a member of the directorate of the Mutual Insurance Company of Frederick County since February, 1879.

His discharge of duty in all positions of trust was marked by the hightest business intelligence and the strictest integrity.

For many years he was a consistent member of the Evangelical Reformed church.

The great success that has attended his efforts in his mercantile and agricultural pursuits, as well as in all his business ventures was not secured by luck, but has been the natural result of well directed, intelligent effort, backed by untiring industry and energy and an earnest determination.²

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Mrs. MARY CATHERINE VIRGINIA WITTER, only daughter of the late Sara Cocklin and Joseph G. Miller, the latter "Grand old man of Frederick county," died at 4 o'clock Saturday morning at the home of Mrs. E.H. Cocklin, an aunt of Mrs. Witter, near Harrisburg, Pa. Death was due to pneumonia contracted the day before Thanksgiving when Mrs. Witter, accompanied by members of her family went to Harrisburg for several days holiday.

Mrs. Witter, who was operated upon about a year ago and never fully regained her strength, seemed in apparently good health when she left Frederick, but became chilled on the way to her destination, and her entire family, sent for immediately upon her arrival, were with her at the time of death.

In addition to her husband, Harry B. Witter, a former County Commissioner, she is survived by the following children: Willie D. Witter, Utica, NY; Mrs. John C. Engle, Marion, Va.; Mrs. John L. Shaw, Miss Alice Witter, Miss Rebecca Witter and J. Franklin Witter, of Frederick.

Services were held at the home of her husband; interment was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery; C.C. Carty was the funeral director.

Source: Post (Frederick, MD)

Monday, December 7, 1925.¹