The Miller Families of Johnson County, Iowa

LOUIS AVILLARD MILLER

Louis Willard Miller belongs to one of Johnson county's old pioneer families, one that has been represented in the community by four generations. He is well known and has served in various local offices, and his son is now (1912) holding the important county office of superintendent of schools. Mr. Miller was born in Fremont township, Johnson county, May 11, 1853, a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Barrett) Miller, and grandson of Benjamin Miller. Like other men of his time, Benjamin Miller erected a log cabin from native timber, and there his family made their home when first coming to Johnson county. At that time there were plenty of deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens. He was a native of West Virginia, and died in 1839. He was one of that noble band who braved the trials and dangers of the frontier and paved the way for a later civilization. There were nine families who came with thirteen wagons and ox teams, from Jefferson county, Indiana, and reached Iowa river May 10, 1838. They were the following: Green Hill and family, Joseph Stover and family, Benjamin

Miller and family, William Kelso and family, David Sweet and family, and the widow Ralston, who remained, and the following who returned the same fall: Mr. Witter and family, William Ward and family, and John Yarner. Of their descendants the following resided in the community in 1911: Sion Hill, of Iowa City, aged ninety-one years; Jacob Stover, of the same place, eighty-nine years old; William and Caleb Sweet, of Fremont township; and several of the Miller family, all of whom are given mention in these pages. Benjamin Miller started the first ferry in Johnson county in the winter of 1838-39, just below the mouth of the stream known as Ralston Creek, a little below where the Rock Island railroad crosses Iowa river.

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

VALENTINE MILLER (Deceased)

The late Valentine Miller was for many years prominently identified with the most important interests of Coralville, Iowa, and spent the larger part of his life in the vicinity. He was well known as a successful business man and was held in high esteem and respect for his activities in other lines, being a friend to every movement to aid in the general progress and welfare. He left a memory that is dear to his family and to the whole community, and left an honored name, of which his descendants and friends may well be proud. He came to Johnson county the year before the Rock Island railroad was completed to Iowa City, and in early days appreciated the opportunities offered to men of ambition and foresight in the rapidly developing region. His widow still resides in Coralville, the scene of his most important operations, in the home provided by his loving care, and associated with many happy memories. She was a good helpmeet and sympathized in his ambitions and successes, being a woman of superior intelligence and judgment.

Mr. Miller was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 5, 1834.

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

JOHN W. MILLER

Josephine Babas, a native Bohemian. She died at Iowa City in 18S9. The Miller family, on its paternal side, was descended from Bavaria, Germany. Three children were born to.John B. and Josephine (Babas) Miller: William II., John W., our subject, and Charlotte, wife of W. F. Burger, all residing in Iowa City.

Our subject was educated in Iowa City, being a graduate from the high school and the business college. He learned the trade of painting and decorating, and later became a contractor in that line.

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

GEORGE HENRY MILLER

George H. Miller, born, reared and educated in Graham township, Johnson county, has continued to reside there since reaching manhood's estate and choosing his career in life. He is notably a self-made man, and beginning with a small farm, for which he went into debt, has cleared himself of incumbrances and has added to his holdings until he has one of the finest states in his neighborhood. He raises some remarkable crops of hay, corn, and like products, and is a farmer of recognized ability and enterprise. He and his wife have a vivid memory of their first days on the farm, when she often walked across country to Iowa City with eggs for the market, and he made a like journey with butter, trading for necessities not furnished by their work on the farm. When they first located on the place it contained a small log house, and its present substantial and modern buildings have been erected by them. They have reared a fine family of children and have given them good education, preparing them for their future activities.

Mr. Miller was born July 31, 1863, one-half mile south of his present home, a son of John and Annie Barbara (Barschel) Miller, the former a native of Germany. The father died at the age of seventy-six years and the mother at the age of sixty-six. They left seven living children: J. J. of Minnesota; Minnie, now deceased; George Henry; John, now deceased; Margaret, wife of Bert Baumgardner, of Graham township; Mary married Elmer Lawyer, D. D. S., of Iowa City, a sketch of whom appears in these pages; Ed, of Minnesota, and Charles, of Canada. The father of these children was one of the respected pioneers of Johnson county and spent the remainder of his life in Graham township.

In boyhood George H. Miller attended the district school near his father's farm and early began to assist with the farm work. He remained at home until reaching young manhood, and at the age of twenty-four years began farming on a 160- acre farm for himself. He was obliged to incur debt on this place, which is located on sections 16 and 17 of Graham township, and it was but little improved. He replaced the loghouse which stood thereon as soon as he was able and now has a comfortable farmhouse. He has added to the size of his farm, as well as to its appearance and productiveness, and is now the owner of 203 acres of valuable farm land. He has fields divided with hog-tight fences and carries on a general line of farming, with special attention to raising stock. In 1911 he produced 3,500 bushels of corn on fifty-nine acres of land, and a ton of hay to the acre on other parts of his farm. His fine modern barn, 50x52 feet, has a capacity of 60 tons of hay, and he has another one, 52x56 feet, with 20-foot posts, part of which is devoted to the storing of hay, which will hold 45 tons.

In the affairs of his community Mr. Miller takes a prominent part, and may be depended upon to advance every worthy cause which he believes will serve the interests of the people. He is now secretary of the board of school district No. 4, has been trustee four years, and chairman one year. He is a democrat in political faith and is active in the councils of his party. He has served as delegate to democratic conventions and is regarded as a level-headed, public-spirited citizen. He and his family are devout Catholics. He is a member of St. Mary's church committee and his wife of the Willing Workers of the church. He also belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, No. 1474, of Morse, and to Camp No. 5059, Modern Woodmen of America, of Oasis.

Mrs. Miller's maiden name was Caroline Dvorskv and she was born in Bohemia, being brought to America when a babe, by her parents, Frank and Anna (Amert) Dvorsky. Mrs. Dvorsky died February 21, 1906, but Mr. Dvorsky survives and makes his. home with his son James. Eight children were born to Mr. Miller and wife, of whom seven now survive. They are: John Charles, Matilda, Frank, Elizabeth (deceased), Agnes, Blanche, Genevieve, and Marcella, all intelligent and wide-awake young people and a credit to their parents.

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

JOSEPH P. MILLER, a resident of Sharon township, post-office, Iowa City; was born March 22, 182-1, in Summerset county, Pennsylvania. He was married December 17, 1843, to Miss Sarah Stutzman, of Fairfield county, Ohio. This union is blessed with five living children: Samuel J., Barbara J., Lucy A., wife of Jonas M. Miller; Catherine J., Nancy J. He came to Iowa and settled in Sharon township, Johnson county, in 1856. A republican in politics. Was a member of the board of supervisor from Sharon township under the law electing a member from each township; he has filled the offices of township trustee and treasurer of the school board for a great many years. He is a member of the Amish society of Sharon township — the society of Sharori* township is divided into two districts of about forty families in each district. They have no church; they hold their meetings at the dwelling house of the members as convenience and the circumstance may justify, when they fix the time for religious services.

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

AARON P. MILLER, farmer, Monroe township, post-office, Western Linn county, Iowa; was born in Stark county, Illinois, August 8, 1846. Is the son of John and Mary A. Miller; his father is eighty-two years old., When Aaron was seven'years old, his parents came to Iowa, and first settled near Iowa City; they sold their farm of 160 acres there and went to Buchanan county, lived there seventeen years; in 1869 they purchased 190 acres of land in this county in section 12, where Aaron now resides. About this time he went to Colorado, and there on the 13th of February, he was married to Miss Nellie Foote. To them were berry two children: Mary C. and John P. He then returned to Iowa on account of wife's health, where she died on the 8th of October, 1880. He went aam to Colorado, and married Miss Florence Kershner, formerly of Buchanan county, Iowa, July 22, 1881; he then returned to Iowa, and since that time has followed farming and stock-raising. Mr. Miller is a member of the I. O. O. F.; has filled the office of clerk, assessor and justice of the peace, and is now the nominee for justice of the peace. He attended Western College and taught three terms of school in his district.

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