The Miller Families of Lee County, Iowa

DANIEL F. MILLER, Sr.

Daniel F. Miller, Sr., was born in Maryland in October, 18 14, his parents removing to Ohio while he was still young. His education was secured principally in the Ohio schools, and at Pittsburg where he attended school when about fifteen years old. For some three years he was a teacher in Alleghenv. and for some three years was engaged in reading law in the ofce of an eminent lawyer of that date. In 1839 he removed from Pittsburg to Fort Madison, where he practiced his profession for twenty years, and then made Keokuk the scene of his professional activities. In 1843 he was elected to the General Assembly and in 185 1 was elected as a member of the national house of representatives, in which he served one term as a memljer of congress. At one time he was elected presidential elector, and was also a candidate for juflge of the supreme court on the Democratic ticket. At one time he was a candidate for the United States Senate anrl was so voted for by the Democrats in the General.Vssembly, but as his party was in the minority was not elected.

During his active career Mr. Miller had one of the largest criminal practices in the state, and his success was marked. He married Rebecca Phillips in 1841. in Pittsburg, and became the father of ten children, of whom only four are now living.

The life of Daxid V. Miller was as op- I)fortune as it was al)le. He was I)om into the world at a season befitting a nature that was adventurous, brave, enduring, loving and great-hearted. He was naturally equipped for a life of difficulties. The pioneer era was comforting to his spirit. and he engaged in it with the enthusiasm of the school boy. I'or half a century he was a commanding figure in Town, and its lawmaking was largely influenced by him, as well as its law-giving ami its literature and morals. He was also a marked figure in its social life. In all of these he was a strong personality and his work was very strengthening in its splendid example to all who cherished intelligent ideals. His heart was pure, his mind grand and intent, and his brain a lexicon and a cyclopedia. It was in literature that Mr. Miller manifested the possession of the Wery highest powers. He was a great lawyer and jurist by profession; and, somewhat of necessity, in his professional work there was a bare hint only of the imaginati\c fault)' that wonlfl have made him famous..Ml his life he had but tnnched on the field of literature because he held to ideals that could not be cherished in any other manner.

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

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

DANIEL F. MILLER, Jr.

The legal profession in the City of Keokuk, Iowa, has long had a brilliant following, and some of its more distinguished representatives have won a national reputation. Others, who have not been fortunate enough to attain so wide celebrity, have still been noted for their mastery of the fundamental principles of their great work, and have been noted for their forensic ability, voluminous learning and analytic powers. The bar at Keokuk is regarded as second to none in the state, and there the gentleman with whose name this article begins occupies no subordinate place. He is prominent in the city as a lawyer who understands the principles of right and justice, and who may be depended upon to apply those principles as a matter of equity and right to the details of common life. Courtly and urban in his manner, his knowledge of the law is broad and accurate and his personal character high.

Daniel F. Aliller, Jr., was torn in Washington township, Lee county, Iowa, May 27, 1851, being a son of Daniel F. and Rebecca (Phillips) Aliller, and was taken by his parents in 1859 to live in Keokuk, where his earlier education was obtained in the public and private schools of that city. He was a student at a later period of the Christian Brothers' College at St. Louis, and also of the Iowa State University, from the law department of which he graduated in due time. He immediately located at Fort Madison, where he established himself in the practice of his profession. Shortly afterwards, however, he entered into professional associations with AI. B. Davis, under the firm name of Davis & Miller, which became, some years later on the dissolution, the firm of Aliller & Sons, the subject of this sketch moving to Keokuk for the purpose of practicing his profession in that city.

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

RICHARD PETER MILLER.

In a history of the legal profession in Lee county it is imperative that mention be made of Richard Peter Miller, now deceased, who was one of the well known criminal lawyers of his section of the state. As a practitioner he ranked among the most able and resourceful and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all the members of the local bar by reason of his close conformity to the highest standard of professional ethics. He was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, on the 27th of May, 1855, and was one of a family of eight children whose parents were Daniel F. and Rebecca (Phillips) Miller. The father, also an attorney, specialized in the practice of criminal law and spent many years of his life in Keokuk, where he was uniformly regarded as an able member of the profession.

Richard P. Miller studied law in Mount Pleasant and was graduated from a college in that city in the spring of 1874, when but nineteen years of age. Upon attaining his majority he was admitted to the bar, entering upon active practice in 1876. He removed to Keokuk and was actively identified with the practice of his profession in this city throughout his remaining days. He possessed notable oratorical powers which enabled him to strongly present his argument, while the logical trend of his mind was seen in his deductions. In 1899 he was elected district judge of the superior court and served for two years upon the bench, his course being in harmony with his previous record as a man and lawyer, distinguished by unswerving integrity and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution.

On the 28th of February, 1888, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Elizabeth Leary, a daughter of John P. and Mary (Kenney) Leary, of Hamilton, and they have one daughter, Ruth, now at home. Mr. Miller was a Catholic in his religious faith, holding membership in St. Peter's church. He was a democrat in his political views and was interested in all public affairs. He was a great over of children and was generous in his support of all worthy charitable and benevolent enterprises and projects. His tastes were scholarly and in addition to writing poetry he was the author of various interesting magazine articles and was well informed upon a broad variety of subjects. He traveled for five years in the west for the benefit of his health before his death, which occurred on the loth of May, 1901, when he was at the comparatively early age of forty-six years. He left behind him the record of a well spent life, a life that may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing to what possibilities and heights one may attain when laudable and honorable ambition lead the way.

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

HARRISON F. MILLER.

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Mr. Miller is a member of a family comprising seven children, of whom only three are now living, and is the son of Corbin and Amanda Frank Miller, both of whom were natives of West Virginia, and resided in that state until removing to Ohio in 1856, whence he later came to Iowa and farmer for a short time, or until his death, which occurred in the eighty-second year of his age on the farm now occupied by his son, our subject, and he is here buried, while his wife, whose death preceded his own by several years, is buried in Illinois.

In 1855 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Miller, daughter of Aquilla B. and Rebecca (Fravel) Miller, who were born in West Airginia and remi.ived aljout the year 1836 to Clark county. Illinois, where the father continued his occupation of farming, and where they both passed the remainder of their lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been bom two children, a son and a daughter. Florence, the elder, who was born in West Virginia, is now a resident of Missouri, and the wife of Mills Coleman, a very prosperous and enterprising citizen of that state. Corbin B.. who is a farmer by occupation, owns a farm of too acres in Harrison township, on which he resides, and is very successful in the conduct of his affairs. He married Miss Clara (irimni and to them have been born three daughters and one son, all natives of Harrison township. These are Bertha. Ethel, Stella and Elmer, the latter of whom died at the age of five years.

Although Mr. Miller's father was a member of the Democratic party, he is himself a staunch Republican, believing thoroughly in the applicability of that party's principles to modern conditions, and while he has never sought public office for himself, he has rendered valuable service to the local branch of his party, always evincing a strong interest in public affairs, and being a consistent advocate of all worthy movements having for their object the promotion of the community's interests. As a farmer he has been highly successful by reason of his business ability and his attitude of readiness toward opportunities, coupled with a sane, sound judgment and keen foresight that have enabled him to carry his ventures to the desired issue; and as a man and a citizen he enjoys the general respect because of his honorable and upright methods in all matters in which he comes into contact with his fellowmen.

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

CALVIN T. MILLER.

Calvin T. Miller, who for a number of years has been well known as a general contractor of Keokuk, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, June 15, 1844, his parents being John and Sarah (Allen) Miller, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Miller was descended from Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, while his wife was of English lineage and was a grand niece of Ethan Allen, the distinguished patriot of Vermont. They were married in Ohio and became the parents of ten children: Calvin T.; Julia, deceased: John, of Ohio; ALary, the wife of Newton Byers, of Ohio; Jane, the wife of Will Xash, of Kansas; Newton, of Ohio; Ida. the wife of Daniel Gannon, of Keokuk; Milan, of Ohio; Rebecca, the wife of George Van Ostran, of Ohio; and Minnie deceased.

Calvin T. Miller was reared in the state 01 Iiis nativity, pursued his education in a district school and spent his boyhood days upon the home farm. In early manhood he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting when but twenty years of age, in 1864, as a memljer of Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Infantry,, under Captain Johnson and Colonel Armstrong, of the Army of the Cumberland. He spent some time in the vicinity of Richmond. Virginia, doing provost duty and on the skirmish line, and was discharged in September, 1864. In the year 1866 he renioN'ed to Macon county, Missouri, where he rented a tract of land and carried on agricultural pursuits. He afterward engaged with the \Vabash Railroad Company for four or five years as a bridge builder, part of the time acting as foreman. In 1882 he came to Keokuk and for several years conducted the feed yard for the Wabash Railroad. He then entered into Inisiness relations with the Keokuk & Western Road on construction, hauling dirt and buildingvvood, and erecting bridges, etc., for eight years. In 1902 lie retired from connection with the railroad, has since done levee work, also handled sand and to some extent engaged in farming, having a tract of land of thirty-three acres.

Mr. Aliller was united in marriage on the 5th of September, 1865, in Alechanicsburg, Ohio, to Miss Florence Shepherd, who was born in Champaign county, Ohio, September 19, 1847, c parents being Jasper and Susan (Taylor) Shepherd. Her father, born in Ohio, was a representative of an old Kentucky family, while her mother was a native of Massachusetts. In their family were six children: Clarence, who resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Miller; Josephine, the wife of Zepeniah Atterberry, of Texas; Edward, who is living in Hardin, Missouri; Elizabeth, the widow of Alelvin Broeffle, and a resident of Atlanta, Missouri; and Birdie, the wife of Walter Baldwin, of Stanberry, Missouri. Four children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller: William C, the eldest, born July 15, 1868, resides near Alexandria, Missouri. He married Libby Sage, and has one daughter, Florence. Charles C. Miller, born July 15, 1872, married Nellie Turner, by whom he has two daughters, Frances and Mildred. He resides in Centerville, Iowa, and is employed as brakeman on the Keokuk & Western Road. Frederick.A. Aliller, born October 10, 1876, a brakeman on the Wabash road, wedded Mary Appleton, of Aloberly, Alissouri, and has one son, Fred Eugene. Jasper J. Miller, born January 21, 1882, married Hattie Appleton and lives in Keokuk.

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

WILLIAM A. MILLER.

William A. Miller is the owner of three hundred and forty acres of Iowa land, which is conceded to be of unrivaled excellence for agricultural purposes, and he carries on stock-raising and general farming successfully, being one of the well-to-do residents of Fleasant Ridge township. He was born at Mendota, LaSalle county, Illinois, September 24, 1859, a son of Asher and Nancy D. (Church)

Miller, natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. The subject of this review is the only one of their three children who survives. The family removed west in the spring of 1864, locating in Pleasant Ridge township, this county, where the father passed away eight years later at the age of sixty-one. His widow survived him for many years and was seventy-five years old at the time of her demise.

Williain A. Miller received his education in the public schools and did his share of the work upon the home farm. He has remained an agriculturist and now operates his splendid farm of three hundred and forty acres with the assistance of his son, engaging not only in the raising of grain, but also in the feeding of stock for the market. His hogs and cattle bring him a good sum annually and he is also a breeder of horses of good grade. He is a splendid example of the modern, intelligent and businesslike farmer who finds in agriculture opportunities for an independent and prosperous life.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Box in 1886 in Henry county. One son, LeRoy, was born to their union, the date of his birth being November 3, 1889. The mother passed away during the succeeding year, and in 1895 Mr. Miller was again married. Miss Rachel E. Harvey becoming his bride. She is a native of Lee county and her parents are John L. and Eliza (Canada) Harvey, who came to the Hawkeye state from Indiana. Mrs. Miller was born in the same year as her husband. The son, LeRoy Miller, attended the public schools and subsequently the Denmark Academy, and has since aided his father in the cultivation of the home farm.

The family are members of the Congregational church and conform their lives to its teachings. Father and son are republicans in their political allegiance and take a keen interest in all affairs of public concern. The family hold to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of all who know them and are valued residents of the community.

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