The Miller Families of Muscatine County, Iowa

BARNEY MILLER, a farmer residing on section 11, Bloomington Township, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1842, and was the fifth in a family of six children born to Frederick and Sophia (Raze) Miller, who were also natives of Germany. Of their children five are yet living: Henry, a physician residing in Muscatine; Frederick, who is married and resides in Moscow Township; Charles, a widower, residing with our subject; Christina, now Mrs. Kaufman, of Cedar County, Iowa; and Hannah, now Mrs. Gottbried, of Muscatine. The father was a mechanic, but also engaged in farming in his native land. In 1848 he crossed the broad Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, and for a short time remained in Texas, but thence removed to New Orleans, and in 1850 came to Muscatine County, Iowa. He took up his residence in Moscow Township, where he purchased a small farm of eighty acres, partly improved, and continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred in 1865, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Miller survived her husband for about ten years, dying in 1875, at the age of sixty-nine.

When a lad of six years our subject came with his parents to this country. In early life he learned the mason’s trade, which he followed for some time, and later engaged in plastering and bricklaying, which occupation he followed in the South for several years. He Avas married in the city of Muscatine, in October, 1863, becoming the husband of Carolina Rlioda, a native of Hanover, Germany, who came Avith her parents, Ernest and Caroline Rlioda, to this country in 1854. Her father was a mechanic, and first located in St. Louis, but later removed to Muscatine. After remaining some time in that city he once more went to St. Louis, where his death occurred in 1887. Ilis Avife is still living, and resides in St. Louis.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller nine children have been born, eight of whom are living: Matilda is the wife of Mr. Ilegermen, and is living in Muscatine. The other members of the family are Mary, Emma, Lena, Ella, Augusta, William and Barney, all yet at home. Bertha died at the age of two months.

After his marriage Mr. Miller took up his residence in Bloomington Township, where he had previously purchased a small farm. lie subsequently sold it, and in 1873 bought 320 acres of partially improved land, and immediately began its cultivation, and now has one of the best farms in the community, upon which many improvements have been made. He has erected a good residence, built a large barn, and made other desirable changes. He gives some attention to the raising of stock, keep ing on hand a good grade of Jersey and Short-horn cattle, and horses of the Norman breed.

Mr. Miller has held various offices of public trust in Bloomington Township, and lias assisted in the organization of the school districts. He is practically a self-made man, having gained all that he now possesses by industry, frugality and good management. In the Avork of cultivation and improvement, which has placed Muscatine County on a par with any in the State, he has always borne his part, and to any enterprise for the public welfare he lias always given his earnest support. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in high regard, both as citizens and friends, throughout the community.

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

CHARLES H. MILLER.

Although Charles H. Miller has been identified with the business interests of Moscow for but a few years, he is well known in Muscatine county, where for a number of years he followed agricultural pursuits. He is now engaged in selling cream separators and gas engines and also ship's cream. Mr. Miller is a native of Moscow township, born December 8, 1864, and is a son of Frederick J. and Martha Elizabeth (Foehauer) Miller. The family came originally from Germany, where both the father and grandfather were born. The latter, Frederick Miller, Sr., emigrated to the United States with his family in 1844, in which year he located in Moscow township, this county, so that the family is an old and prominent one in this section of Iowa. He followed farming throughout the years of his residence in Muscatine county and passed away here in 1865. He was a democrat in his political views and affiliations and was numbered among the progressive and successful farmers of the community. His son, Frederick J. Miller, who became the father of our subject, was born in the fatherland in 1834 and was therefore but ten years old when brought to the new world. He was reared to general agricultural pursuits and made farming his life work. After reaching man's estate he was married and started out to make his own way in the world. His first marriage was with Miss Martha Elizabeth Foehauer, who was likewise born in Germany. She became the mother of seven children, but three of the number have departed this life, while four still survive. Regina is the wife of J. C. Kemper, residing near Fairport, Iowa. Frederick E., the next in order of birth, was born January 17, 1862, and was educated in the common schools. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-nine years of age, after which lie began farming on his own account and now owns a tract of two hundred and three acres in Muscatine county. He has made good improvements on the place and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1891 to Miss Ida May Funk, of Sweetland township, and they have had five children: Joy May, Roy Frederick, Ina Ellen, Frederick Charles and Fern Anna, but the last named is deceased. In his political views Frederick Miller is a democrat and both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a steward. Charles H. Miller, whose name introduces this record, is the next of the family. Anna, the youngest, is the wife of C. Desmond, a resident of Davenport, Iowa. The father was married a second time, this union being with Anna Schumberg, and unto them were born six children: Emma, the wife of Adam Otto, of Davenport; Edward E., a resident of Moscow township; Bertha, the wife of Otto Kruger of Muscatine; Lillie, Edna and Cora, all at home. The father was called to his final rest on the 22d of May, 1901, and thus the county lost one of its old and honored citizens, whose labors had been a factor in the early development and improvement of this section of the state.

Charles H. Miller was a little lad of nine years at the time of his mother's death, after which he remained with his father on the home farm. He pursued his education in the common schools and continued to work with his father until he had attained the age of twenty-seven. At that period in his life he began business on his own account, choosing as his occupation the work to which he has been reared. For fourteen years he was engaged in farming in Moscow township, and although he met with substantial success, he eventually decided to abandon agriculture, and accordingly took up his above in the village of Moscow, where he has made his home for six years. He is now engaged in selling cream separators and gas engines and also ships cream to the city markets, the various branches of his business bringing him a gratifying annual income. He also owns a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located on sections 16 and 17, Moscow township, and from this he derives a good rental. He occupies a nice home in the village, which he owns, and on his property he has erected a good and substantial barn.

In 1890 occurred the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Agnes Elizabeth Marticke, who was born in Moscow township, a daughter of Edward and Minnie (Schultz) Marticke. The father was born in Germany, whence he emigrated to the United States in the early '40s.

Politically Mr. Miller is in sympathy with the democratic party, in his public life evincing fidelity to its principles, and he does all within his power to advance the best interests of his constituents. He served on the township board for six years; is also a member of the school board, and is now township clerk. He is a devout Methodist, and since 1896 has served as a steward in the church, while for ten years he was a trustee and is now secretary of the board of trustees. He is also active in the work of the Sunday school, having for the past nine years filled the office of superintendent, while at various times prior to that he has filled the same office. His wife is likewise active in the various departments of church and Sunday school work and for the past twelve years has served as secretary of the school and she is also filling the same office in the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Miller is a prominent Mason, holding membership with Wilton Lodge No. 167, in which he has served through part of the chairs. Realizing the fact that zealand energy constitute the basis of success, he has pursued his work diligently, and this combined with honorable business methods has gained him a place among the highly respected and substantial citizens of Muscatine county.

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

FREDERICK MILLER, retired, res. Fourth St., Wilton; prominent among the early settlers and long identified with the growth, development and progress of Muscatine Co. He is a son of Michael Miller and Polly Young; born in York Co.,

Penii., April 13, 1808, where his ancestors had resided for several generations, having emigrated from Germany; his grandfather Miller having obtained his land in that county from the English Government; his grandfather on his mother's side was Frederick Young, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America and settled in York Co., where she was born, being one of nineteen children. The parents of both had lived to an extreme old age; his grandmother Young was 97; his grandmother Miller, 85 years of age, at death The father of our subject, Michael Miller, was an extensive farmer, but having met with severe losses, during the war of 1812, at his death (which occurred when Frederick was a mere boy) left the family in destitute circumstances, and at the age of 13, he was obliged to go among strangers; was employed at farming until 16 years of age, at which time he learned the blacksmith trade, and for. several years worked at journey-work. At the age of 23, in Lancaster Co., he married Catharine, daughter of Robert and Polly Thompson, nee Linch, both of whom died previous to the 3d year of her age; she was born in Centre Co., Penn., May 5, 18 —, and was brought up by her mother's parents. Mr. Miller continued to work at his trade in Lancaster Co. until 1834, when he was ordained Pastor of the Evangelical Association, and traveled through his native State and Virginia for six years; then, again, he took up his trade in his native county; in April, 1843, they came to Iowa, making most of the journey by water, arriving at Pittsburgh during the terrible fire of that year; they were nearly six weeks making the journey to Bloomington (now Muscatine), where Mrs. M. says they did not know when Sabbath came; he bought a lot on Mulberry St., cor. Fourth, what is now Court House square, on which was standing a double log cabin, one part of which he converted into a blacksmith-shop, the other containing the family and household goods, and in this manner they lived for three years, when he erected a brick shop, 20x40, and, in 1849, built (on the same lot) a fine brick hotel, two-story and basement, 28x50, in which he soon did a flourishing business; having to abandon his trade, he converted his shop into a barn and also built one, 24x120 ft., both of which containing double rows of horses, were filled to the full capacity each and every night, his bills amounting to $50 and 160 per day; in 1858, he exchanged this property for a farm of 240 acres, near Sweetland Centre, where they remained until 1863, and removed to Wilton, where Mr. M. erected a warehouse where the elevator now stands, and speculated in grain for two years; after which his eldest son, D. T., and himself, erected a store on Fourth St., in which they engaged in the dry goods trade for four years, when he retired. They have six children — D.T., born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 3, 1834, now of Chicago, on Board of Trade, a bachelor; Fred. P., born Feb. 8, 1838, now of Newton, Jasper Co., grain and lumber merchant; Sarah, born June 26, 1840, the wife of Stephen Whiders, of West Liberty, engaged in the boot and shoe trade; Catherine, born April 1, 1842, the wife of Tunis Burdge, of Boonsboro, Iowa, tailor; Harriet A., born Jan. 10, 1846, the wife of Chiirles Axtell, of Newton, Jasper Co., dry goods merchant, and Marshall H., born Oct. 31, 1849, a conductor on the 8. W. R. R.; his res. is Wilton. Mr. Miller believes in the universal salvation of all mankind, while Mrs. M. is a member of long standing in the Presbyterian Church.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Although more than two decades have passed since Robert Miller left the scene of earthly activities, he is still remembered by many of the older residents of Muscatine county as a prosperous agriculturist and representative citizen, owning at the time of his death.five hundred and sixty acres of valuable land. His birth occurred in Ireland on ihe.15th.of December, 1832, his parents being William and Mary Miller, who were likewise natives of the Emerald isle. They emigrated to the United; States 'in 1847, first locating in West Virginia and later coming to Muscatine county,_.this, state, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their children were eight in number, two of whom are yet living.

Robert Miller began learning the stone mason's trade when a youth of fourteen and worked at that occupation until 1853, when he went to California in search of gold, remaining in the mines there for four years. He then returned to Virginia and after a couple of months came to West Liberty, Iowa, being here engaged in the dry-goods business for three years. On abandoning mercantile pursuits he became identified with farming interests, purchasing and locating on a tract of land in Wapsinonoc township. There he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life and that his undertakings as an agriculturist were attended with success is indicated in the fact that at the time of his demise he had accumulated five hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he raised shorthorn cattle for fifteen years, this branch of his business adding materially to his income.

In 1859 Mr. Miller was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria Keith, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1839, her parents being Alexander and Eliza (Ball) Keith, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. They took up their above in this county in 1864 and here spent the remainder of their lives. They had ten children, three of whom still survive, as follows: Mrs. Miller; Ada, who is the wife of John Miller and resides in California; and Mrs. Flora W. Vawter, living in Rome, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had five children, namely: Julia, now the wife of C. E. Pickering, of Des Moines, Iowa; Celeste V., who is at home with her mother; Howard W., a resident of North Dakota; Hal K., of Los Angeles, California; and Russell A., who is deceased.

Mr. Miller gave his political allegiance to the republican party, believing its principles most conducive to good government. He was a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge and the commandery. His demise, which occurred on the 2d of September, 1888, was deeply mourned by all who knew him. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his widow also belongs and in the work of which she has always taken an active and helpful part. Mrs. Miller now resides in West Liberty, owning a fine residence at No. 718 Calhoun street. She has a host of warm friends and is one of the highly respected ladies of the community.

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