Mary Ellen (Perry) Shields Miller (1930)

MILLER, PERRY, GODFREY, SHIELDS, STEIBLE

Posted By: Donna J Crow
Date: 3/7/2025 at 14:47:06

Des Moines Tribune
Des Moines, Iowa
Tuesday, March 25, 1930
Page 23

MILLER – Funeral services for Mrs. Mary E. Miller who passed away at the home of her granddaughter, Mrs. J. H. Godfrey, 3803 Second St, will be held at Dunn’s Funeral Home Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. Interment at St. Charles, Iowa.
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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, April 3, 1930
Page 3

The remains of Mrs. Joel Miller, of Des Moines, were brought back here last Wednesday, for burial in the St. Charles cemetery, by the side of her husband, who died several years ago. She was a sister-in-law of E. G. Miller, of this place and formerly lived on a farm east of Truro, known as the M. R. Young farm.

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Des Moines Register
Des Moines, Iowa
Tuesday, March 25, 1930
Page 18, Column 5-6

Woman Here Who Learned at Lincoln’s Knee Dies
Mrs. Mary Miller, 82, When a Child, was Abe’s Hobby

One who sat at the knee of Abraham Lincoln died here Monday.

Mrs. Mary E. Miller, 82, of 2803 Second street, lived at Peoria, Illinois, before the Civil War. Her father, Nathaniel Perry, was a staunch friend of Lincoln. While she was confined to a wheelchair, a few months before her death, she recalled to her granddaughter, Mrs. Marian Godfrey, her memories of “Honest Abe”

Little Mary Perry was afraid of Abe, the bewhiskered. He was homely, she said, and so big. Lincoln wasn’t afraid of Mary, though, and he liked to talk to her. With his big hooked cane he would gently catch her around the neck and draw her to him so he could talk to her.

Often he would come to dinner with the Perrys and as often would tell the reluctant Mary of the big world outside. Up until the last Mrs. Miller could recall the gaunt form of Abraham Lincoln striding up the steps of their home in Illinois.

Once Mary’s father had a dispute with the neighbors over a dog fight. He employed Lincoln to carry his case into court, Lincoln won his suit.

William A. Shields, Mary Perry’s husband, was a corporal in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois infantry. At the close of the war, Gen. U. S. Grant while reviewing his company, gave Shields a cigar. That cigar is now in the possession of Shield’s granddaughter, Mrs. Godfrey.

Mrs. Mary Miller, the former little Mary Perry, the girl who knew Lincoln, died with her memories of the savior of his country Monday. Funeral services are to be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Dunn’s funeral home. Burial will be at St. Charles. Besides her granddaughter here, Mrs. Miller is survived by two sons, Ollie of Chicago, Illinois, and Richard of Jamestown, N.D. and a daughter, Mrs. Henry Steible of Chicago.

Note: This photo below was included with the article.

Transcriber notes: State of Iowa Death Certificate, Mary E. Miller, died 24 March 1930, widowed; Husband: Joel W. Miller, Father:____ Perry. Middle name of Ellen was taken from 1967 State of Iowa Death Certificate for her daughter, Ida.

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