 |
Larry and Nola Miller live on the farm and operate the B&B. |
|
The first pioneer to put down roots in these parts was Jonas Stutzman, who settled here in 1809. He owned much of what became Walnut Creek Township, and the land has been subdivided many times since.
The 67 acres that are now Indiantree Farm were part of the original purchase by Stutzman and have been in our family ever since. It is now owned by the eighth generation of his family. Read about Stutzman and how Larry portrays him in period costume by clicking here.
The main house and barn were built about 100 years ago by Great-great-grandpa C.J. Miller, who was a carpenter and farmer. The "dowdy" house was built by his son, John, and grandson, Paul, when Paul took over the farm in the 1930s. Those were hard times on the hill, and since they couldn't afford lumber, they tore down the abandoned one-room schoolhouse that Paul and his brother, Tom, attended in the early 1900s and used that lumber to build the house. The schoolhouse bell sits in the yard between the two houses.
Paul's son, Larry, a great-great-great-grandson of Jonas Stutzman, now lives at the farm with his wife, Nola, and they formerly operated a bed and breakfast here.
Tom Miller, who grew up on the farm, went on to become a renowned local artist, and he is responsible for the many Swiss scenes that adorn businesses in Sugarcreek, Berlin and Wilmot. In his later years and since his death, his paintings have become increasingly valuable and routinely draw big crowds and high prices at area auctions. Read more about him here.
________________________________________________________________________
|