Obituary from Forreston Herald, May 4, 1901:

It is indeed a sad duty that is imposed upon the writer this week that of writing and printing the obituary of one who has so intimately known since babyhood. [presumable written by T.F. Haller, son of Charles and Elizabeth Nikirk Haller and editor of the Forreston Herald]

Charles Miner Haller, one of Ogle County's oldest settlers and best citizens, after a brief prostration of a week or ten days, died quietly of old age at his home in Forreston, at 6:30 o'clock, Sunday morning, April 28, 1901. Thought he did not apparently suffer any pain, yet it was distressing to see the struggles at times to get breath. For about ten days he slept almost continuously, and in his apparent waking hours, was not sensible of anything that transpired around him. For the past four or five years he has been afflicted with blindness and deafness, and for the past two years was somewhat childish, and delighted in playing with children, something unusual for him in his younger days, as his mind was then more occupied with his business. For several days on earth he slept, and from that he quietly passed into that sleep which knows no awakening. [verse of 2 stanzas follows]

Charles Miner Haller was born in Boonsborough, Washington County, Maryland, November 15, 1819 [The same year as Queen Victoria]. His ancestry traces back to Colonial days. His maternal grandfather, Captain Meach, was commander of a bessel which took part in the Revolutionary war. His daughter married Robert Hewitt, who was of English-French ancestry, who also took part in the Revolutionary War. Robert Hewitt was a native of Connecticut, and his wife and family emigrated to Maryland in 1815. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the mother of Mr. Haller was the fifth in order of birth. The grandfather died in 1830, and was buried at Middleburg, Penn. His wife survived him many years and came with her family to Illinois in 184-? [unreadable] and died in November, 1855 in her 94th year. Her remains lie in the Hewitt Cemetery in this place.

Mr. Haller's mother was the daughter of Robert Hewitt and Abigail Meach Hewitt. She was born in Tolland, Windham County, Conn., in the year 1800.

The head of the family on the Haller side, so far as can be traced was Peter Haller, who emigrated from Germany to this coutry and settled near Hollidaysburg, Penn. He met and married his wife near Cavetown, Md., she being also a native of Germany. The grandparters, after marriage, settled in Loudon County, Va., where were born to them three sons and eights daughters, Charles A., the father of our subject, being the youngest. When he was about eleven years of age the parents and younger childred moved to Frederick County, Md. After working at farming until of proper age, he was apprentised to learn the trade of wagonmaker. He married Katharine Brunner, April 14, 1804. [?] who was also of German parentage. Four children were born to them. She died in Boonsborough Md. One of the daughters: Katherine: was the wife of Jacob Dovenberger, who resided near Adeline, this county, many years, and who are both deceased.

On January 20, 1819, [?] Charles A. Haller married Abigail Hewitt. There were born to them seven children: Abigail Jane Hamilton; Sarah A. Flautt; James R, Lewis M., George I., Joseph and Thomas. All are now dead except Joseph who is a prominent physician in Lanark having particed in that city nearly forty years.

Charles M. was the first born, and developed into manhood in his native place, working on the farm in summer and attending school in winter until he attained his majoriety, when he became assistant teacher with James Brown.

Contributed by Carol Palmer Schmidt

Return to Ogle Co. Genealogy Site