The Miller Families of Linn County, Iowa

Samuel Miller is classed among the oldest residents of Linn county, where he has spent the greater portion of his life, and he is therefore well known in this section of the state. He makes his home on a farm of one hundred acres, located on section 4, Cedar township, and he likewise owns other valuable farming property in Marion township. Mr. Miller was born in Marion county, Indiana, May 22, 1828, a son of James B. and Barbara (Foster) Miller. The mother died in Indiana in 1828, and in 1846 the father came with his family to Linn county. Here he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He later purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres and followed farming throughout his remaining days. He only lived about eight years after taking up his above in Linn county, for his death here occurred in

1854. His family numbered eight children but the subject of this review, who is the youngest, is the only surviving member. The others were: Richard S.; Vincent; John F.; James; Mary A., who became the wife of Jacob Pew; Franklin, who was born in 1824 and died in 1SG0; and William, who died in infancy.

.Samuel Miller remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of nineteen years, during which time he acquired a limited education in the district schools, and also assisted his father in the development and improvement of the home farm. Upon leaving home he found employment with his brother-in-law, Jacob Pew. at farm labor, and was thus engaged tor three years, receiving as his compensation one hundred dollars per year. He eventually began farming on his own account by purchasing two hundred and forty acres of land, which he owned four years, and then disposed of his property and in 1855 embarked in the grocery business in Marion. After a year and a half he sold his stock of groceries and engaged in the butcher business, also buying and selling stock. On the expiration of two years he sold his interests and invested his money in two hundred acres of land in Marion county, Iowa, this property remaining in his possession for fifteen years. In the meantime he purchased two more farms, his possessions aggregating four hundred and twenty acres. He disposed of the entire acreage in 18S0 and purchased one hundred and sixty-nine acres in Marion township, Linn county, which tract he still owns. Three years later, in 1883. he purchased one hundred acres in Cedar township, on section 4, and on the latter tract he has since made his home. He has made many improvements on the place and owing to his earnest efforts in former years he has made it a valuable property. For many years he was actively identified with agricultural interests but owing to his advanced age he is now leaving much of the farm work to others, although he is still managing his business affairs.

Mr. Miller has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Hannah L. Howe, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, their marriage being celebrated on the 20th of December, 1849. This union was blessed with seven children, namely: John Pugh, born in 1850. is married and now resides in Woods county. Oklahoma; Mary E., who was born in 1,852 and died in 1855; Samuel, born in

1855, resides in Marion township, Linn county; William Vincent, born in 1857, is married and resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma; George Washington, born in 1859, is married and makes his home in Monroe township, Linn county, Joseph

C, born in 1868, is at home; and Charles, who is married and lives in Marion, Iowa. The wife and mother departed this life in lS7t>. and on the l'Jth of September, 1877, Mr. Miller wedded Jane Hunter, a native of Linn county and a daughter of William and Mary Jane Hunter. The father, who was born in Ireland. September 12, 1817, was but six weeks old when brought to America by his parents. The mother was born in Virginia, the date of her birth being February 11, 1819. By the second marriage of Mr. Miller there have been born three sons but the youngest, Freddie R., is deceased. The others are: William Earl, born October 22, 1879, is mai-ried and lives in Linn county; and James B., born January 27, 1882, is married and makes his home in Cedar Rapids. On the 28th of June. 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Miller adopted a daughter, Geraldine. whose birth occurred September 20, 1901.

Mr. Miller gives his political support to the republican party and has been called to fill a number of township offices. He is a Master Mason, belonging to lodge No. 6, at Marion. Mrs. Miller affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only has Mr. Miller seen Linn county grow from a wild country with only a few white inhabitants to a rich agricultural district, containing thousands of good homes and many growing towns inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but he has participated in the work of development which was necessary to produce a change that has placed this part of the country on a par with the older east.

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

This gentleman dates his residence in Linn county from January, 1853, and as a progressive agriculturist he was prominently identified with the growth and development of the county for over a quarter of a century, but he has now laid aside all business cares, and is living retired in Cedar Point. A native of New York, he was born near Syracuse, September 8, 1821. His father, \Villiam Miller, was born and reared in England, and when a young man came to the United States. He was married in New York to Miss Loraine Fountaine, who was born in that state of French and German parentage, and there they continued to make their home throughout life.

Milo Miller remained a resident of the Empire State until nineteen years of age, and then went to Warren county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the lumber camps for about six years. The following year was spent near Alilan, Ohio, and at the end of that time he removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where he rented land and engaged in farming for a time. Fie next made his home near Walparaisi>. Indiana, fur ab(_iut five years, and from there removed to Jackson county, Iowa, where he bought a farm of two hundred acres, of which sixty acres had been placed under the plow. After residing there for two years he sold that place and came to Linn county, in 1853, purchasing a partially improved farm of two hundred and twenty acres in Grant township. He planted the first crop raised upon that place, and to the cultivation and improvement of that farm he continued to devote his time and energies until his removal to Center Point in 1876. He added to his property and erected thereon good and substantial buildings. Feir some time after locating in Center Point he was engaged in the real estate business and has handled considerable property. He has made several farms by buying raw land which he has broke and improved by the erection of a good set of farm buildings, and he has also improved considerable village property, which he either sells or rents. He is still the owner of about a dozen residences in Center Point and two business blocks, besides five farms aggregating six hundred acres of valuable land. He has been a man of industrious habits, progressive and enterprising, and to his excellent business and executive ability he owes his success in life, for he started out in the world for himself empty-handed. Mr. Aliller has been twice married. In 1843, '" Pennsylvania, he wedded Miss Patience Meeker, who died in Indiana. By that union he had two children, of whom one died in infancy. The other, Elmira married George Fee, of this county, and died in 1899. Mv. IMiller was again married in Indiana, in 1848, his second union being with Miss Cyuthia Sprague, who was born in Allen county, Ohio, and removed to Porter county, Indiana, with her father, Solomon Sprague, locating near Walparaiso Unto them were born four children, namely: Delia, now the wife of Theodore Lampman, a farmer in Linn county, Iowa; Samuel, a resident of Center Point; Paulina, wife of Edward Sarchet. also a farmer of this county; and Anna, wife of Oliver Hines, of Center Point.

Mr. Miller takes no active part in politics or has never cared for office. During his long residence in this county, covering almost half a century, he has materially aided in the growth and building of his town and county, and has become widely and favorably known as an upright, reliable business man of strict integrity and sterling worth.

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

GEORGE F. MILLER

George F. Miller is closely identified with the financial interests of Otter Creek township as cashier of the Alburnett Savings Bank and in this capacity has gained a reputation throughout the community for keen business discernment and strict integrity. He is yet a young man but has given manifestation of many sterling business qualities, his experience and training well qualifying him for the conduct of the banking interests.

He was born in Linn county in 1SS3 and is a son of Jacob B. and Sarah E. (Albaugh) Miller, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. They came to the middle west in 1846, first settling in Illinois, but two years later they removed to Linn county, Iowa, establishing their home on a farm in Monroe township, which the father operated for thirty-six years. At the end of that period he put aside business cares and he and his estimable wife are now living retired in Kenwood Park. Their family numbers eight children: "Walter J., of Garber, Oklahoma; John A., a resident of Cedar Rapids; D. Earl, of Robins. Iowa; D. Loyd, of Lavina, Montana; Elsie, the wife of L. J. Varner, of Seattle. Washington; Anna, the wife of F. J. Harris, of Sherwood, North Dakota; Mamie, who died March 30, 189-4; and George F., of this review.

George F. Miller was reared on the home farm, remaining with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, having in the meantime acquired his preliminary education in the common schools. Farm life did not appeal to him, however, and ambitious to enter commercial fields, to this end he attended the Cedar Rapids Business College for one year. At the end of that period he entered the employ of the Merchants National Bank at Cedar Rapids and after eight years' connection therewith, he became cashier of the Savings Bank at Alburnett, which position he is now most capable filling.

On the 18th of September, 1907, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss lone McQueen, who after graduating from the high school at Coggon, attended the Wayland Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. She is the youngest of three children, whose parents are J. C. and lone (Payne) McQueen, both of whom are natives of New York but who were married in Linn county. Their other daughters are: Gertrude, the wife of E. M. Adams, of Didsbury, Alberta, Canada; and Mattie, the wife of C. E. Fish, of Linn county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have an interesting little son, Richard M., whose birth occurred September 25, 1908.

Mr. Miller gives his political support to the republican party. He is a Mason, belonging to Crescent Lodge, No. 25, at Cedar Rapids. He is a young man of strong personality and of marked individuality and is classed with the able young financiers of eastern Iowa. Everywhere he is held in high regard and his friends are legion.

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

BENJAMIN P. MILLER in the later years of his life Benjamin B. Miller lived retired but for many years was identified with general agricultural pursuits. His well directed labor and intense energy and close application brought him the success which enabled him in his declining years to put aside business cares and rest in the enjoyment of those comforts which a goodly competence permitted him to secure. He was born April 1, 182S, and died on the 9th of May. 1900, respected by all who knew him A native of Vermont, his birth occurred at Moretown. his parents being John and Sarah (Pierce) Miller. The father was also a native of the Green Mountain state. The mother came of the same ancestry as President Franklin Pierce

In the schools of Vermont Benjamin P. Miller pursued his education and was graduated from one of the thorough institutions of learning there. He was about thirty years of age when he became the owner of a farm in Delaware county Iowa turning his attention to the further development and improvement of his tract of forty acres. For thirty-five years he followed general farming, eapablv directing his labors m accordance with the modern methods of tilling the soil Good results were achieved and as the years passed on he added to his financial resources until his competence was a goodly one. He then sold his property and for several years lived retired.

[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.