The Miller Families of Allen County, Ohio

HENRY MILLER is a prosperous farmer of Allen County, residing in section 7, Monroe township, where he owns a fine farm of 180 acres. He was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, April 29. 1841, and is one of six sons born to Michael and Katherine (Kunkelman'l Miller. His parents came with their children to this country in 1849, landing in New York in August of that year and going at once to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where they lived for about three years in the vicinity of McKeesport. Early in the spring of 1852 they started for Allen County, floating down the river to Cincinnati, thence up to their destination in a canoe, arriving here in April. They settled on the farm adjoining that on which our subject now resides and bent every energy to make a home for themselves and children. That Michael Miller was successful in his struggle to secure a competency is shown by the fact that he had acquired 200 acres of land at the time of his death. He was 73 years of age and his wife was 80 when the summons came to them. They had these children: John; Christian; Daniel, who died in infancy and was buried in the fatherland; Leonard, who was killed in a coal mine in Pennsylvania; Henry and Adam — all are deceased except the subject of this sketch.

Henry Miller was married on November 14, 1864, to Mary Sauer, a native of Prussia, who was born January 21, 1846, and when a child of nine years came to America with her parents, Francis and Katherine (Harmon) Sauer. To this union 14 children have been born, viz: Margaret M., wife of William L.

Hofferbert. of Monroe township; John F., of Putnam County; Emma L., wife of P. J. Altstaetter, of Monroe township; Anna Katherine, wife of Jacob P. Miller, of Lima; Alice M., wife of Anthony Geib, of Lima; Sarah A., wife of Charles Irwin, of Putnam County; Caroline R., wife of James Irwin, of Putnam County; Bertha A., living at home; William H., who resides on his mother’s farm; Harmon M., who has but recently been married; Louis P.; Clara Isabel, wife of Frank Slusser, of Sugar Creek township; Grace N.; and Arthur M.

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Presbyterian Church. Mr. Miller is a Democrat and has held a number of offices, such as school director, road supervisor, etc., and has always been loyal to the trusts reposed in him.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ADAM MILLER, farmer, P. O. Columbus Grove, Putnam County, was born February 8, 1845, in Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to Allegheny County, Penn., with his parents, in 1849. They moved to Allen County, Ohio, April 9, 1852, settling on the farm of 100 acres, where the subject of this sketch now lives, two-thirds of which farm the latter had purchased from the other heirs. Our subject received his education from the district schools, and assisted his father until 1871.

farmer on shares for a time, and finally made the purchase of the farm. He was married, December 17, 1871, to Lovina C. Hartman, who was born March 7, 1856, daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Morris) Hartman, natives of Ohio. By this marriage there are three children: Mary E., John M. and Joseph W. Mr. Miller is one of the enterprising young men of his township, interested in agricultural, educational and religious matters. In politics he is a Democrat.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN B. MILLER, farmer, P. O. Lima, was born in Rockingham County, Va,, April 27, 1818, and is a son of Samuel and Barbara (Senger) Miller, who settled in 1839 in Bath Township, this county, on the farm now occupied by our subject, and there lived and died. They had three children: Daniel (deceased), John B., and Martin (deceased). Our subject came to Bath Township with his parents when twenty-one years of age, and cleared most of his farm himself. He has been married four times, on the first occasion, December 24, 1840, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sarah (Leatherman) Rigle, by whom he had six children: Samuel, John (deceased), Jacob, Sarah (wife of Abram Early), Elizabeth and Barbara (twins, both deceased). His second wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon and Lydia Miller, to whom he was married October 6, 1854. The issue of this union was five children: Rebecca (wife of Emanuel Ridenour), Mary A. (wife of Jacob Early), Lydia (wife of Samuel Clark) and two infants (deceased). His third wife was Christiana King (nee Coppis) to whom he was married October 3, 1863, and by whom he had four children: Diana, George F. and two who died in infancy; and February 14, 1871, he married his present wife, Rebecca Leedy ( nee Hockman). Mr. Miller is one of the few pioneers now living in Bath Township, and is one of its leading and substantial farmers. He and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. D. MILLER, farmer and teacher, P. 0. Allentown, Ohio, was born in Amanda Township, this county, June 18, 1858, son of Joseph and Minerva J. (Shock) Miller, the former a native of Ross County, Ohio, the latter of Allegheny County, Penn. They were early settlers of Allen County. Ohio, and are now residents of Amanda Township. Our subject, the eldest of their i*ine children, received a commercial and miscellaneous education at the National Normal School of Lebanon, and entered upon his 'career in life as a teacher, finishing his first term as such during his fifteenth year, and has followed that profession more or less till the present time. He was for two years engaged in railroad offices at Elida, and during the summer seasons for the last two years has engaged in farming. Mr. Miller was married March 5, 1876, to Miss Darthula Place, born August 21, 1854, by whom he has three children: Lehr E., Freeda G. and Minerva S. Mrs. Miller is a daughter of James Place, who was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, March 25, 1818, came to this county in 1886 and in 1841 married Susan Culver, of Delaware County, Ohio, born July 4, 1818. Both are still living. Mr. Miller has served the people of the township in several of its offices of trust, and was elected justice of the peace in 1883, since when he has done quite an extensive business in his official capacity. Politically he is considered a leader of the Democratic party in this vicinity, destined to become one of the substantial men of the township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM MILLER, butcher, Lima, was born March 27, 1831, in Germany, son of Charles G. and Mary E. (Hofferbert) Miller, of Germany, and who had a family of eleven children, six of whom came to America: Michael, Margaret (now Mrs. Rummel), Eva K. (now Mrs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES H. MILLER, wholesale and retail dealer in meats, has been in business in Lima for a period of more than twenty years, He is a son of J. J. Miller, a prominent merchant of Lima until his retirement in 1875, who died in 1903.

Charles H. Miller was born in Lima in 1870, and was educated in the common schools until he was 15 years of age, when he entered upon his career in the meat business. Opening a retail store, he conducted it continuously and in a very profitable manner until February, 1905, when he increased the business by adding a wholesale department. His establishment is most complete in every particular, being fitted with machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of sausages, bologna, etc., and also equipped with an ice plant, which has a daily capacity of 10 tons. Great care is exercised to have everything of the best, and his goods have a well-earned reputation for reliability and superiority.

In 1891 Mr. Miller was married to Elizabeth Wiermann, and a family of three children have blessed their union, namely; Rosa, Eugene and Harry. They are attendants of the German Reformed Church. Mr. Miller is a Republican, but has never been active in politics, devoting his time and attention to his business interests instead. Fraternally he is a member of the Eagles, National Union and the Knights of Pythias.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

W. MILLER, a member of the general contracting firm of Ruhlen & Miller, at Lima, has been a resident of this city since 1891. He was born in Allen County in 1869, and is a son of Marcus Miller, one of the oldest settlers in Allen County, who died in 1876.

D. W. Miller was reared and educated in this county and still owns a good farm in Bath township, although the greater part of his life has been given to the carpenter’s trade and contracting. He learned his trade in youth and followed it throughout the county until within the past five years, since when he has been associated with Mr. Ruhlen in general contracting and in operating a large planing mill. This firm is one which enjoys the entire confidence of the public and has erected a large proportion of the fine buildings in Lima. Some of the buildings in their list, and which prove the substantial character of their work, are the new residence of Edward M. Gooding on West Market street; Herman Eckhardt’s residence on Cole street; John D. Finn’s residence on McKinley street; and the Renz and Duffield blocks, both on Main street. They have also done a large amount of work in the county, have erected three schoolhouses in Bath township and are now engaged in making additions ‘to the County Infirmary.

Mr. Miller votes as does a good citizen, but he takes no active interest in politics. Fraternally, he is prominent as an Odd Fellow, being past grand of Allen Lodge, No. 223, past chief patriarch of the Encampment and a member of Canton Orion, No. 24, Patriarchs Militant.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

B. MILLER, proprietor of the Harrod Creamery and the Harrod Stave and Hub Mills, was born August 23, 1864, in York County, Pennsylvania, which was the home of the

Millers for several generations. The great-grandfather of our subject came from Germany about the year 1802 and located in York

County. There Adam Miller, the grandfather, was born, lived and died. He was a school teacher and also handled insurance. The parents of L. B. Miller are David F. and Angelina (Bortner) Miller, both natives of Pennsyivania, where they now reside.

David F. Miller was born in York County, Pennsylvania, in April, 1831, and has always carried on farming. He owns a farm of 160 acres, upon which he resides; but a stroke of paralysis has left him in feeble health and less active than formerly. He is a Democrat and has held a number of local offices. He was drafted into the army but, owing to the bitter opposition of his parents, he remained at home and sent a substitute to whom he paid $1,000. He married Angelina Borther and to them were born nine children, only four of whom are living, namely: L. B., William B., of York County, Pennsylvania; Alice, who married A. B. Albright and lives in her native county; and Howard B., who lives with his parents and has charge of the farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are consistent members of the German Reformed Church.

L. B. Miller received his education in the schools of York County and later took a business course in a commercial school in Philadelphia. He engaged in teaching for a short time and after leaving college accepted a position as bookkeeper with John Wanamaker, with whom he remained two years until failing health caused him to retire and seek a change of occupation. Returning to York County, he worked in a produce and general merchandise store, and about this time also became interested in the creamery business. This he learned, becoming thoroughly familiar-with every phase of the industry. Embarking in the enterprise for himself, he conducted his creamery in York County for six years and then came to Allen County, and purchased the cooperative creamery at Harrod, which he has operated since the spring of 1898. In addition to this business which ‘he has made a profitable one, he bought a new engine, boiler, etc., and established the Harrod Stave and Hub Mills, which manufactures walnut gun-stocks, squares for ball bats, etc., sending its output to prominent manufacturers of those articles. He has not yet begun the manufacture of hubs but expects to start that industry soon.

On August 23, 1891, Mr. Miller celebrated his 27th birthday by marrying Annie Hoke, daughter of David M. Hoke, of York County, Pennsylvania. Three children have been born to them, viz: David, born February 15, 1892, and who died at the age of two weeks; Leroy, born February 1, 1894; and Diamond May, born May 19, 1905. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Lutheran Church while Mr. Miller belongs to the German Reformed. He supports the Democratic National ticket, but in local politics is independent. Fraternally, Mr. Miller is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.:

eee es ! nOEL G. HERSH, one of Lima’s lead- A) ing professional men, with law offices situated at No. 56% Public Square, has been a resident of this county for some 16 years. He is a native of Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, and a son of the late Newton and Lydia (Chew) Hersh, his early life being spent on a farm.

Newton Hersh was born in 1834, in Richland County, Ohio, dying there in 1901, on the old homestead which had been entered by his father, Joel Hersh. The latter, with his wife, Catherine (Berny) Hersh, was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the couple settling in Richland County at an early day. Politically Joel Hersh was a strong Whig, and through life was a friend and coadjutor of John Sherman. He became one of the most prominent farmers in Richland County. He married Lydia Chew, a daughter of Samuel Chew, a substantial farmer of the county, who was killed in 1887 by burglars.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HARLES CHRISTIAN MILLER, Ph. D., president of Lima College, at. Lima, Ohio, ex-commissioner of the common schools of Ohio, and a distinguished institute instructor and lecturer, has been intimately associated with the educational interests of his native State almost from boyhood. He was born November 26, 1856, at Baltimore, Fairfield County, Ohio, and is a son of Enos S. Miller, a representative business citizen of that county.

Dr. Miller’s early educational training was secured in the common schools, from which he entered Fairfield Union; Academy, at Pleasantville, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1876. Prior to this, however, he had taught school, being but 16 years old when he obtained his first certificate. As he was mainly dependent upon his own resources, he again began to teach; in the first place, in order to pro- -cure the means with which he could secure collegiate advantages, and in the second, because his natural inclinations and evident talents lay in this direction. In the spring of 1877 he became a student at the Ohio State University, and in 1883 he was graduated from this institution with the coveted degree of A. B. During a portion of his university career, he was instructor in Latin and Greek. He enjoys the distinction of being the first graduate of the Ohio State University ever appointed a member of the board of trustees of that institution. On June 16, 1903, Ohio University, at Athens, Ohio, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Recognizing very early in his career the call of his nature in the direction of educational work, Dr. Miller bent every energy to advance himself along this line of endeavor, meeting with public recognition and substantial promotion, while still in early manhood. He continued to teach from 1874 until 1884, when not a student himself, his schools being located at Rushville, Pleasantville and Eaton, Ohio. In the latter year he was appointed superintendent of the schools at Eaton, where he continued in this position until 1886, when he accepted a similar one at Ottawa, for a period of four years, going then to Sandusky, and in 1892 to Hamilton, each change being to his material benefit and professional advancement. In order to accept the responsible position of superintendent of the city schools at Hamilton, Dr. Miller was obliged to resign his office of State commissioner of common schools, to which he had been appointed in 1891 by Gov. James E. Campbell. In 1901 he was again called to public office, being appointed State school examiner.

In 1895 Dr. Miller came to Lima to assume the superintendency of the public schools of this city, and during his incumbency of 10 years he succeeded in advancing their educational standard to a point which could not help reflecting the greatest credit upon his intellectual abilities and executive qualities. To the regret of his fellow-citizens, Dr. Miller resigned his superintendency at the close of the school year in June, 1905, to accept the presidency of Lima College, which had been tendered him.

In addition to the above enumerated honorable and responsible positions efficiently filled by Dr. Miller, he has served as county school examiner in Preble, Putnam and Butler counties and as city school examiner of the cities of Sandusky, Hamilton and Lima.

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;h. l. leilich appropriate language and presented with his oratorical ability, becomes a subject of ever recurring interest to his auditors. Crowded houses great him when he fills a lecture appointment and the various journals of the towns and cities where he has spoken are invariably pronounced in their praise. Being the exponents of the attitude of their communities, this praise is genuine. His gifts as a lecturer are such as to cause his favorable comparison with other notables in the field.

Dr. Miller was married, in 1891, to Nellie C. Wilbur, who was born in New York. The domestic circle includes two sons and a daughter, installed in a beautiful home at Lima, where, when not absent professionally, Dr. Miller enjoys the resources of an extensive library and, on occasion, dispensed hospitality to a large social circle. He is a member of numerous educational organizations, both local and national, and belongs to the fraternal orders of Masons and Knights of Pythias. He is a man of striking personality, gifted both in mind and person. He possesses the courtesy that invites confidence, the geniality which attracts friends and the dignity which belongs to the eminent position in the educational world to which his own abilities have advanced him.

Dr. Miller is the editor of the historical department of this work. His portrait is shown on page 16.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.