The Miller Families of Butler County, Ohio

WILLIAM C. MILLER.

William C. Miller was born in the Schwartzwald (Black Forest) district, in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, July 31, 1847. His father, John Martin Miller, and grandfather, John George Miller, and ancestors for generations before were millwrights. His paternal grandfather, however, was for seven years sheriff of his district and a member of the town council for twenty years. He was a soldier in Napoleon’s grand army in 1812 and saw Moscow in flames, and was one of the few survivors of that terrible campaign. The boys of that district for forty years after, of which the subject of this sketch was one, were taught that when a veteran of the Napoleonic wars passed by they must cease their play, stand erect with hats off until the veteran passed by. Dr. Miller’s maternal grandfather was an ally of Napoleon’s in his early wars and when the dukedom of Wurtemberg was made a kingdom by Napoleon

Christian Kempf was made one of the counsellors of state for life. He was a man of influence and standing in his community, and an adviser and promulgator of all *public affairs, and of inflexible rectitude. Besides his state position, he served his town as magistrate and burgomeister (mayor) for a number of years. He died in 1836. In 1837 Dr. Miller’s father entered the army and became first lieutenant in the First Wurtemberg Cavalry, and was honorably discharged May 9, 1843. He had, on the 24th of June, 1836, received his degree in the Technical School at Tubingen as fellow craftsman in the art of millwright and on the 1 6th of June, 1844, received his diploma as master mechanic at the same university. He married, July 9, 1844, Fredericka, youngest daughter of Hon. Christian and Maria Dingier Kempf. In 1848 he took an active part in the South German revolution, and when it was crushed left his native land for the asylum of all oppressed, the United States of America, with his wife and two children, arriving in New York November ist, and at Hamilton, Ohio, November 4, 1854, after a fifty-days voyage on the Atlantic. He continued at his trade as millwright until his death, August 18, 1872. Dr. Miller, upon his arrival in Hamilton at seven years of age, at once entered the public schools, and for his education in German attended the then parochial school of St. John’s church, held during the summer months and presided over successively by Revs. Gerwig, Goehring and Ileinisch. In May, 1864, he entered the drug store of Peter Jacobs as an apprentice at seventy-five cents a week. He continued in his employ until January, 1870, when Dr. Markt called him at a salary quite in excess of what he was then getting. He served him until July 31, 1871, when he entered business for himself with William B. Falconer, under the firm name of Falconer & Miller. In September, 1874, he sold out to Mr. Falconer, determined on the study of medicine. He matriculated at the Miami Medical College October 1. 1874. and graduated therefrom March 2/, 1877* His vacations were spent in the meantime in the drug store of A. T. Wittich, Dayton, Ohio, and after graduating he was taken in as partner by William Weusthoff in the same store under the firm name of Weusthoff & Miller. His desire to return home to his widowed mother caused him to sell out in Dayton and on the 29th of March, 1879. he purchased the drug store of Barton S. James, recently elected clerk of the court. In January. 1867, he became a member of the United Presbyterian church, the church with which he had been identified since a child of ten years, and this was accomplished linger that most divine and upright man, the pastor of the congregation. Dr. Wm. Davidson, and his Sabbath school teacher, Mrs. David Crawford. In February, 1874, he became a member of the Masonic order, and for five years, from 1893 to 1899. was its treasurer. In 1895 he was chosen deacon of the United Presbyterian church, but resigned the charge in 1898. In 1892 he was elected a member of the trustees of Lane Free Library, and chosen forty-four years of age, Mrs. Erin Corwin Miller was called to eternal rest. She was a woman of the highest culture and refinement; a teacher in the public schools for twelve years, honored and respected by all; of a gentle disposition; poetically inclined; a over of her home, her church and her family above all. September 2, 1896, Dr. Miller married Mary Symmes Hunter, youngest daughter of William N. and Esther Symmes Hunter. Mrs. Hunter was a niece of President William H. Harrison, daughter of Judge Symmes, a nephew of John Cleves Symmes, purchaser of the Miami valley in 1788, and closely connected with Benjamin Harrison, late President of the United States. This last union has been a most happy one— as happy as the one before it— to Dr. Miller. At this writing. December, 1904, he is still at his business. He is a man historically and politically inclined; has written many articles for the press on these topics, and is deeply interested in these subjects as well as medicine and religion His recent paper read before the Butler County Medical Society on the “Trials and Triumphs of Medicine,” was a masterpiece, and his recent deductions as to “Who Crucified Christ?” and “The Republics of the World.” have never been excelled.

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

WILLIAM C. MILLER.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In April, 1876 — his mother and sisters still living at i Hamilton — lie came back to this city and purchased the ! drug-store of the late B. S. James, on the corner of ! Main and Front Streets, where he is now doing a good business. He has fought his way up to his present, stand point in life, and with excellent prospects in the future, Dr. Miller was married in September, 1880, to a very ! estimable young lady, daughter of the late Hun. Jesse ! Corwin, and niece to Governor Tom Corwin of Ohio, One child, William Corwin Miller, has thus far blessed their home. Dr. Miller is now in his thirty-fifth year, j in comfortable circumstances, and with the best of life I lief ire him. Strictly temperate in habits and enjoying health, he intends to make the most of it.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

WILLIAM C. MILLER, a physician and druggist in Hamilton, located at this place in 1854. He was born in the kingdom of Wurtemberg, July 31, 1847, being the son of John M. and Frederika (Kemp) Miller, both natives of Germany. The family came to the

United States in 1854. The father was a millwright and master mechanic. He came to this country in fairly good circumstances, and here ' worked at his trade. He built many flouring-mills in the vicinity of Hamilton, and the last job of work was adjusting the shaft in the Niles Tool Works. He was born in 1816, and died in 1872. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and gave all of his time to his trade. He cast his first ballot in 1860 for Lincoln. His wife, who was born in 1821, lives in Hamilton. They were the parents of five children.

Our subject in 1864 became drug clerk for Peter Jacobs. In 1870 he clerked for Dr. C. Markt, and in 1871 he formed the partnership of Falconer & Miller. After selling out this business in 1874, he studied medicine and moved to Dayton. In 1877 he graduated from Miami Medical Gollege, and in 1879 he bought his present place, where he has since managed a successful business.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

M. E. MILLER.

The representative farmer and estimable citizen of whom the biographer writes in this connection is a native of Pennsylvania and a son of William and Mary (Davis) Miller, the father born in the Keystone state and the mother in Indiana. These parents were married in Pennsylvania and spent the greater part of their lives in that commonwealth, their union resulting in the birth of eight sons and three daughters. Five of the children have always lived in their native state, the subject and a sister, Mrs. Pleasant Cook, of Somerville, being the only members of the family in Butler county.

M. E. Miller, whose birth occurred in I'avette county, Pennsylvania, on January

23, 1844, was reared a farmer and enjoyed the advantages of the district school, which he attended as opportunities afforded until acquiring a thorough knowledge of the fundamental branches. He remained on the family homestead until 1864, when he came to Butler county. Ohio, to visit a brother and sister who had previously removed to this part of the state, and, being pleased with the country, he decided to make it his permanent place of above. To earn a livelihood he worked for a considerable length of time as a farm hand and in this way supported himself until his marriage, which was solemnized in 1867 with Miss Miranda Cook, who was born in this county in 1847, her parents moving here a number of years before from their native state of South Carolina.

Immediately after taking with himself a wife Mr. Miller rented a farm in Milford, which he now owns and cultivates and, setting up a modest domestic establishment, addressed himself to the task of making a home of his own. After farming a number of years for a share of the proceeds, he succeeded by persevering industry and economy in saving sufficient means to purchase the place on which he lived, since which time his progress has been very commendable, as he is well situated to enjoy the fruits of his frugality and thrift, his farm being in excellent condition, with many substantial improvements, and his home plentifully supplied with the comforts and conveniences calculated to make country life not only prosperous but a very pleasing and desirable experience as well. The career of Mr. Miller has been that of a common, unassuming man. a man of the people, whose industrious habits, sterling integrity and sturdy worth have gained the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens and bound them to him in bonds of friendship like unto bands of steel.. Honesty and devotion to duty and right are among his more pronounced characteristics, to which may be added mature judgment, sound common sense and other estimable qualities of head and heart that never fail to win the good will of all with whom he has relations of a business or social nature. Mr. Miller’s political creed embodies the principles and doctrines of the Democratic party, which he has earnestly endorsed and supported ever since old enough to exercise the rights and privileges of citizenship. He served six years as trustee of Milford township and discharged the duties of the position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the public, his administration being straightforward and business-like, and he left the office without a stain upon the record which he so faithfully and honorably made. Mr. Miller has served a number of terms on the board of education, of which he has been a member for the period of three years His fraternal relations include membership with Lodge No. 665, Knights of Pythias, at Somerville. in which he has passed all the chairs, his present title in the order being that of past chancellor. He also belongs to Covenant Lodge, No. 54, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Somerville, in which lodge he has filled all the chairs. *

Mr. Miller’s mind early yielded to the gentle but powerful influence of religious training and for many years he has been an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, holding at this time the position of elder in the local organization to which he and his wife belong. Mr. and

Mrs. Miller have had three children, all daughters, the oldest of whom, Florence M., was born in 186c) and died in the bloom of young womanhood in the year 1888; Anna O., whose birth occurred in 1871, is pursuing her studies in the Normal University at Valparaiso, Indiana, and Della B., born in 1873, departed this life in 1892.

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

ARLES CHRISTIAN MILLER, the Superintendent of city schools at Hamilton, has been in this position since March 1, 1892. He is a native of Baltimore, Ohio, born November 26, 1856, a son of Enos Strawn and Elizabeth ( Radebaugh) Miller, both natives of Fairfield Township. The father is a wagon-maker by trade, and lias resided nearly all his married life at Baltimore, Ohio, where he was in business for many years.

Our subject passed his early life on the farm, and attended the common schools in the winter seasons. He completed a course of study in the village school at Baltimore, and then taught in the country. He received his first certificate at the age of sixteen years, and as soon as of legal age commenced teaching. In 1876 he was graduated from the Fairfield Union Academy, having paid his own way. He entered the University of Columbus, and graduated in 1883 as a Bachelor of Arts. He was a tutor for two years in Latin and Greek at the university.

In 1884 he was elected Principal of the high school at Eaton, and in 1886 was-elected to a similar position at Ottawa. While there, in 1889, he was a candidate for State Commissioner of common schools for the state of Ohio. In 1891 he was elected Superintendent of schools at Sandusky, and upon the death of Dr. Hancock, in June, 1891, he was appointed State School Commissioner of common schools by Governor Campbell, and served in that capacity until February, 1892.

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