Moses J. Miller, b. 12 January 1811, d. 6 May 1897, an Amish bishop and leader, was the second Amish child and the third white child born in Holmes County, Ohio. His parents, with three other families, all young people, moved from Somerset County, PA, to the western wilderness in Walnut Township, arriving on 6 May 1810. Indian raids drove them back to Somerset County during the War of 1812, but in 1815 they returned to Holmes County. In 1834 Moses married Katherine Dunn, an Irish girl. They became the parents of ten children, of whom only three outlived their father. He was ordained minister in the Amish Church in 1835 and bishop in 1847. He was one of 14 bishops and ministers in the Holmes-Tuscarawas congregations to attend the first Amish ministers' meeting held in Wayne County, Ohio, in June 1862. Three Moses Millers were present at that conference: Moses J. (Gross or Big Mose) Miller of Walnut Creek; Moses H. Miller of Winesburg; and Moses Miller of Shanesville. One of the latter was known as "Klein (Small) Mose" and was so designated in the conference report. There was also another Moses B. Miller from Johnstown, PA. The subject of this sketch, "Big Mose," took an active part in the conference discussions and took a broad-minded, conciliatory attitude in current issues. He strongly advocated leniency in enforcing the ban between man and wife, favored allowing non-members in the counsel meeting when Christian duties were under consideration, and urged tolerance on the mode of baptism, "in the house" or "in a running stream." Moses J. Miller did not attend the general Amish ministers' meeting again until it met in Wayne County in 1865. Nineteen Holmes-Tuscarawas bishops, ministers, and deacons attended. Since the report does not include the statements of individual ministers his reactions cannot be stated with certainty. Tradition records that he cast his lot with the old order during the period when meetinghouses were built and other "new things" introduced. He attended no more of the Amish conferences, not even the one held in the vicinity of Walnut Creek, Holmes County, Ohio, in 1869. By this time Abraham Mast and a few other Holmes County ministers had become regular attendants and led one of the five Amish congregations into the progressive Amish Mennonite group. Tradition records that Moses J. Miller was a wise counselor and able leader, keeping his people in the old paths.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 691. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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