Good and Miller Families of Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania
The following is an account about several ancestors of Sarah A. Neidig Herr (1837-1935), written on May 14, 1919. This account was collected by Sarah's daughter, Elizabeth Ross Carl (my grandmother). The people mentioned are Elizabeth Houser Good (1772-1844), called "great-grandmother Good"; Jonathan Good Miller (1835-1871), called "Uncle Jonathan"; Anna Good Miller (1790-1866), called "Anna" and "Grandmother Miller"; and Andrew Miller (1784-1865), referred to by name and as "Grandfather Miller".
Early Recollections, by Sarah A. Herr: "My great-grandmother Good was Good by name and good by nature. I think she had much to do with the Christian training of her grandchildren -- there were eleven of them -- Uncle Jonathan being the youngest and came near my time of life. He was a favorite with his Grandmother Good, and under the Christian influence that surrounded him was converted when quite young. He loved Jesus and believed in prayer. He was a happy little Christian. My great-grandfather Good owned considerable valuable property here in the city. They lived down near Chestnut Street, but after Grandfather’s death, she spent most of her time with her only child Anna, who was married to Andrew Miller, our grandfather. They lived on a large farm about three miles from the city, and is now one of the Boyd farms. Finally she made her home with them. She loved the children and I well remember how she used to go to Bank and get a lot of bright new copper pennies -- or cents -- which were as large as a quarter of a dollar. And these she always had ready to give to the children. When she came to town she would fill her carriage box with apples and then she would pass through the portion where mostly poor colored people lived, and began slowly to throw out her apples to the hungry boys and girls who knew her. That was a great joy to her heart. I was about six years old when she died and well remember how grieved my mother was when she received the message of her death. I can remember also of attending her funeral. She was buried in the little family graveyard near the house. Grandmother Miller was a devoted Christian woman and in those days meeting houses were few and far between but every four weeks they held meetings in house or barn. There, meeting ?? [Note: unreadable in transcript] of power in those early days. Grandmother Miller became deeply concerned about the salvation of her neighbors. And the only thing for her to do was to take the gospel message to them herself. So she saddled her riding horse and from her knees she carried the message of salvation by prayer and instruction from God’s word to those waiting hungry waiting souls. Who can measure the power of such a life!
Grandfather Miller was born in Millerstown, Lebanon Co. His father was the founder of the town, and as I remember the name has since been changed to Annville. I wish that I could give more of interest concerning our forebears but I failed to acquaint myself of those lives when I had the opportunity.
Written by request,
Sara A. Herr
219 Pine Street: Harrisburg, Pa.; May 14, 1919"
Early Recollections, by Sarah A. Herr: "My great-grandmother Good was Good by name and good by nature. I think she had much to do with the Christian training of her grandchildren -- there were eleven of them -- Uncle Jonathan being the youngest and came near my time of life. He was a favorite with his Grandmother Good, and under the Christian influence that surrounded him was converted when quite young. He loved Jesus and believed in prayer. He was a happy little Christian. My great-grandfather Good owned considerable valuable property here in the city. They lived down near Chestnut Street, but after Grandfather’s death, she spent most of her time with her only child Anna, who was married to Andrew Miller, our grandfather. They lived on a large farm about three miles from the city, and is now one of the Boyd farms. Finally she made her home with them. She loved the children and I well remember how she used to go to Bank and get a lot of bright new copper pennies -- or cents -- which were as large as a quarter of a dollar. And these she always had ready to give to the children. When she came to town she would fill her carriage box with apples and then she would pass through the portion where mostly poor colored people lived, and began slowly to throw out her apples to the hungry boys and girls who knew her. That was a great joy to her heart. I was about six years old when she died and well remember how grieved my mother was when she received the message of her death. I can remember also of attending her funeral. She was buried in the little family graveyard near the house. Grandmother Miller was a devoted Christian woman and in those days meeting houses were few and far between but every four weeks they held meetings in house or barn. There, meeting ?? [Note: unreadable in transcript] of power in those early days. Grandmother Miller became deeply concerned about the salvation of her neighbors. And the only thing for her to do was to take the gospel message to them herself. So she saddled her riding horse and from her knees she carried the message of salvation by prayer and instruction from God’s word to those waiting hungry waiting souls. Who can measure the power of such a life!
Grandfather Miller was born in Millerstown, Lebanon Co. His father was the founder of the town, and as I remember the name has since been changed to Annville. I wish that I could give more of interest concerning our forebears but I failed to acquaint myself of those lives when I had the opportunity.
Written by request,
Sara A. Herr
219 Pine Street: Harrisburg, Pa.; May 14, 1919"