From the History of Hancock County, Illinois, 1880, by Thomas Gregg.
Hancock Township, page 682

J. L. Miller was born in Ohio in 1824; is the son of Leonard and Mary Miller, and is of German descent.  He emigrated to Illinois in 1856, and first settled on section 6, where he lived for nine years; thence he removed to where he now resides, also on sec. 6, of Hancock tp.  He was married in 1852 to Nancy Meyers, who is now 45 years old, and who is the mother of ten children, all of whom are living.  Their names, beginning with the oldest, are as follows: Mary, Ellen, Alfred, Matilda, Jennie, Walter, Charles, John, Manda and Alice.  Mr. M. owns a large farm where he lives, consisting of 182 acres; and has besides 108 acres on sec. 17, 20 acres on sec. 9, 20 acres on sec. 2, all in the same township.  The farming land is all very well improved, and is worth about $50 per acre.  He is in politics a Republican, but is not at all radical in township and county affairs. His educational advantages when young were only ordinary.

Take your pick of three marriage years: from the Gregg biography - 1852; from Nancy's obituary - 1851; John's obituary - 1854, but then Nancy was named as Mary so it doesn't get extra points for accuracy.  Their eldest daughter was born about 1853.

Nancy Jane Myers, daughter of Alfred and Amelia (Booz) Myers, was born July 9, 1834, and passed away February 3, 1932, aged 97 years, 6 months and 25 days.  She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, and at an early age came with her parents to Shelby county, Indiana, where in 1851 she was united in marriage to John L. Miller.  In 1856 they emigrated to Hancock county, Illinois, where she has since resided.

To this union were born ten children, namely, Mrs. Mary Brown of Witchita, Kansas; Mrs. Ellen Yetter Jones, Webster, Illinois; Alfred of Long Beach, California, (deceased); Mrs. Tillie Steckle, Carthage, Illinois; Mrs. Jennie Miller, Shelbyville, Indiana, (deceased); Walter of Tennessee, Illinois; Charlie of this vicinity, (deceased); John L., Webster; Mrs. Amanda Gibson, residence unknown; and Miss Alice who died at the age of 18.

Her husband passed away January 9, 1892.  She has made her home with her son, John since the death of her husband, where she has had the tender and devoted care of Mr. and Mrs. Miller and the grandsons, Lee and Cleo.

She was converted when quite young and united with the Methodist church and has always lived a life true to her profession.

Mrs. Miller has always been blessed with good health and retained all her mental faculties to a wonderful limit.  She never saw the time when duty required her help that she could use the word, "fail" not only in her own home, but in the homes of loved friends and neighbors, her kindness was made, manifest in the strongest degree, and in return she was given all the loving care and tender devotion humanity could give, by the son and wife, also the two loving grandchildren within their home where she has lived so many years.

The illness of the last few weeks of her life was the only thing of its kind she ever experienced during her long sojourn here on earth and everything that was possible for human hands to do was done, but to no avail.

Her work on earth was done and He who doeth all things well said, "Tis enough come up a little higher" and the spirit of her, whom we all loved dearly, returned to God, who gave it.

The funeral service was held at the Majorville church Friday, February 5, at 2:00 o'clock, conducted by the Rev. A. C. Reichel, of Carthage.  A choir composed of: Misses Ellen Lenix, Adda Spangler, and Messrs. Clem Duffie and Arthur Spangler, wih Mrs. C. R. Callihan, pianist, sang very sweetly "Going Down the Valley "   "On Jordon's Stormy Banks I Stand," and "Beautiful Isle".  The pallbearers were six of her old friends, Messrs R. H. Long, W. H. Duffie, J. R. Hobart, E. V. Lenix, W. C. Emmings and J. A. Duffie.

The remains were laid to rest in the family lot near the church by the side of her dear companion and other loved ones who have preceded her to the better land many years ago.

Truly a good mother and friend has been taken from us and her place in the old home never can be filled.  May she rest in peace.  Gone but not forgotten.

Nancy's birthplace was reported in this obituary as Bourbon County, Kentucky; all but two census records stated she was born in Indiana.  It seems more likely that her parents, both of whom were apparently born in Kentucky, came from Bourbon County.

The actual spelling of Nancy's maiden name is in question.  In 1850 the family surname was spelled "Mierz"; in 1860, Alfred "Mires", wife Pamalia, and daughter Mary E. were still residing in Washington Township, Shelby County, Indiana.  The biography of John Miller used the spelling "Meyers" and in Nancy's obituary the spelling was "Myers".

This obituary also indicated that Nancy's son, John, had two sons, Lee and Cleo; Cleo was a girl.

The Miller children:

i.	Mary A. Miller, born about 1853 in Indiana; she died between February 2, 1932, and January 18, 1938.
ii.	Martha Ellen Miller, born March 19, 1854, in Vigo County, Indiana, near Terre Haute. She died January 18, 1938, in Hancock County, Illinois.  Burial at Majorville Cemetery.
iii.	Alfred Miller, born about 1857, died between February 3, 1932 and January 18, 1938.
iv.	Matilda "Tillie" Miller, born about 1859.  She died November 22, 1935, at Carthage, Hancock County, burial location undetermined.
v.	Jennie Sarah Miller, born about 1862, died between May 2, 1907, and February 3, 1932.
vi.	Walter J. Miller, born December 21, 1864, died August 25, 1939.  Interment at Moss Ridge Cemetery, Carthage, Hancock County.
vii.	Charles Ellsmen Miller born August 8, 1868.  He died May 2, 1907, at Jacksonville, Illinois, and was buried at Majorville Cemetery.
viii.	John L. Miller, born in 1871.  He died June 14, 1938, in Hancock County, burial at Majorville Cemetery.
ix.	Amanda Miller, born about 1874.  She died after August 25, 1939, the last surviving Miller sibling.
x.	Alice Miller, born June 28, 1877, died April 13, 1896, burial at Majorville Cemetery.

John Miller, 28, male, laborer, born OH

Alfred Mierz, 40, male, farmer, value of real estate 300, born KY
Pamaly, 40, female, born KY
James H, 17, male, born IN, attended school within the year
Nancy J, 13, female, born IN, attended school within the year
Thomas, 11, male, born IN, attended school within the year
Sarah A, 9, female, born IN, attended school within the year

John Miller, 34, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 1500, born OH
Nancy J, 25, female, born IN
Mary A, 7, female, born IN
Martha, 5, female, born IN
Alfred, 3, male, born IL
Matilda, 2, female, born IL

Miller, John L, 42, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 7000, value of personal estate 1000, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Nancy J, 38, female, white, keeping house, born IN
Mary A, 17, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Martha E, 16, female, white, born IN, attended school within the year
Alferd, 13, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Matilda, 11, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
Sarah J, 8, female, white, born IL, attended school within the year
John W, 5, male, white, born IL
Charly, 1, male, white, born IL

Miller, John L, white, male, 53, married, born OH, both parents born Prusia
Nancy J, white, female, 43, wife, married, keeping house, born IN, both parents born KY
Alferd, white, male, 23, son, single, farmer, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
Matildy, white, female, 21, daughter, single, keeping house, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
Sarah J, white, female, 18, daughter, single, keeping house, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
John W, white, male, 15, son, single, farmer, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
Charles E, white, male, 11, son, single, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
John L, white, male, 9, son, single, attended school within the census year, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
Manda, white, female, 6, daughter, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN
Allice, white, female, 3, daughter, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN

Miller, Nancy J, head, white, female, July 1835, 64, widow, married for 40 ? years; mother of 10 children, 9 living; born IN, both parents born KY, could read, write and speak English, owned her farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 5

John L, son, white, male, Oct 1871, 28, single, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English

Anderson, Jessie, granddaughter, white, female, April 1889, 11, single, born IN, both parents born IN, attended school for 9 months, could read, write and speak English

Kimbrough, David F, boarder, white, male, March 1877, 23, single, born IL, both parents born IL, laborer, months not employed - 5, could read, write and speak English

Miller, John, head, male, white, 38, married (1st) for 7 years, born IL, father born OH, mother born KY, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, rented his farm home, farm schedule 2

Linda, wife, female, white, 26, married (1st) for 7 years; mother of 2 children, both living; born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Leo, son, male, white, 3, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Cleo, daughter, female, white, 1, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Nancy, mother, female, white, 73, widow; mother of 10 children, 8 living; born KY, both parents born KY, spoke English, own income, could read and write

Miller, John, head, renter, male, white, 49, married, could read and write, born IL, father born OH, mother born IN, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, farm schedule 142

Linda J, wife, female, white, 38, married, could read and write, born IL, father born KY, mother born IL, spoke English

Leo L, son, male, white, 13, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Cleo F, daughter, female, white, 10, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1919, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Nancy J, mother, female, white, 85, widow, could read and write, born IN, both parents born KY, spoke English

Miller, John, head, owner, [no entry for home value], owned a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 57, married, age at first marriage - 30, could read and write, born IL, both parents born PA, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 34

Linda, wife, female, white, 47, married, age at first marriage - 20, could read and write, born IL, father born TN, mother born IL, spoke English

Leo, son, male, white, 23, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no

Nancy, mother, female, white, 95, widow, age at first marriage - 18, could read and write, born PA, both parents born PA, spoke English