Almena Wood Millar
Sept. 2, 1831- March 12, 1915
Almena Wood, daughter of Edson and Elizabeth Wood, was born in Cayuga county, N.Y., Sept. 2, 1831. In her early childhood her parents moved to Ohio, and when she was fourteen years of age they came to Michigan, settling in Berrien county, near Niles. She was the fourth child of a family of fourteen children, eleven of whom were reared to manhood and womanhood.
She was married in 1849 to Ansel H. Millar, at Niles, Mich., To this union were born ten children, three girls dying in infancy and one at 17 years of age. In 1899, after nearly fifty years of wedded life, the husband and father passed away, leaving her to mourn the loss through her declining years.
Six children survive her: Grenville A., of Wichita, Kansas; Sydney E., of Rialto, Cal.; Charles H., of Niles, Mich.; Mrs. Bertha B. Ness, of Rolling Prairie, Ind. and Frank E., of Ludington, Mich.
She became a Christian in early womanhood and united with the First Baptist church, at Niles, where she has always kept her membership. As an earnest Christian mother she took her little children with her to church and Sunday school, thus early inculcating Christian training into their lives.
Mrs. Miller had an unusually high conception of her duties as a mother and gave herself unreservedly to the many cares of the home and her large family of children. Gifted with an exceptionally bright intellect and a strong will, she and her husband gave all of their children the benefits of such educational advantages as lay within their power. Hers was a tender and loving disposition and she won her way into the hearts of
all who came to know her. She was a kind neighbor, a true friend, a loving sister and tender and devoted mother.
all who came to know her. She was a kind neighbor, a true friend, a loving sister and tender and devoted mother.
In her immediate family there remain to mourn her death two aged sister, one brother, six children, seventeen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. In addition to these, there is a large circle of friends and neighbors.
She departed this life on Friday, March 12, at 2:30 a.m. at the age of 83 years, 6 months and 10 days, having hardening of the arteries, and bronchial pneumonia.
The funeral services were held Monday forenoon, March 15, at the home of her daughter Almena S. Millar, at 631 Davis street, Kalamazoo, Rev. Frederick W. Hatch, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiating. The remains were then taken to Niles, where final services were held at the First Baptist church by Rev. A.W. Lyons. Interment in Silver Brook cemetery.
Source: Berrien Springs Era, Berrien Springs, Michigan, Thurs. April 15, 1915, page 3, Microfilm Niles District Library