The Miller Families of Randolph County, Indiana

HON. DANIEL B. MILLER. Daniel B. Miller was born in Litchfield County, Conn., November 29, 1797, and emigrated to Cinoinnati, Ohio, in 1819, and in 1822, came to Jackson Township, Randolph Co., Ind., where he was engaged in the pioneer work of clearing out a farm end establishing a home. He was industrious, frugal and successful in the management of his affairs. He removed to Ward Township in 1830, where he remained until 1870, when he located in Winchester. He was a man who always commanded the highest respect of those with whom he was associated, and in all his dealings with his fellow-men maintained a high character for honor and fairness. He was prominent in all enterprises designed to promote the public welfare, contributing from his own means and using his influence to secure the co-operation of others. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his daily life was consistent with his religious professions. He never intentionally did anything that would result in the injury of a neighbor, and was above taking an unfair advantage in a trade. He occupied a prominent position in society, and was considered one of the leading citizens of the county with which he was so long identified. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 182T, and served until 1831. From 1837 to 1844 he was Associate Judge of the Circuit Court. He never had any political ambition, and never sought office, his election in both cases being the choice of the people without his solicitation. He was a faithful officer, and was qualified for higher trusts had he the inclination to accept them. In his political affiliations, he was a Democrat, zealous in his attachments to the principles of his party, and enthusiastic in his advocacy of them. He died March 21, 1881, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, sincerely ihourried by all who knew him, leaving to his family a goodly estate and an honored name. He was married four times, and was three times bereaved by death of the companionship of a devoted wife. His first wife was Sarah Cravehs, to whom he was married ih 1823. His second wife was Dorotha Crilvens i His third Nahcy A. Boots, and his fourth, Sarah Croyle. He was the father of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity and were married, four of whom are now living— Martin B. Miller, Sakh E. Warren, Julia E. Clevenger and Lumau H. Aliller. They all live in Randolph County except Luman, who is a resident of Grant County, Ind.

Nanoy a. Boots, the third wife of Daniel B. Miller, was born in Rosa County, Ohio, in 1800, removed to Indiana in 1818, and was married to Judge Miller in 1832. She was the mother of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity. She died December 17, 1872, after a very brief illness, having lived a happy married life of over forty years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a lady of the highest personal character, discharging well the sacred duties of wife and mother, and in death mourned by a large circle of friends.

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

MARTIN B. MILLER. Martin B., son of Daniel B. and Nancy A. (Boots) Miller, was born in Ward Township, Randolph Co., Ind., March 16, 1833. His early years were spent in the ordinary routine of farm life, with only the district school of that day as a means of obtaining an education. After he was of age, he determined to strive for a more liberal culture. He attended White Water College at Centreville, Ind., during several sessions of 1853-54 and '55, paying his way in part by such services as he could render in the care of the college building. He afterward attended a part of two terms at Asbury University, in 1860. He taught during the winter of 1867, and in the autumn of that year entered Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio. In February, 1868, he began the study of law with Judge James Brown, of Winchester, where he remained until the following autumn when he went to Missouri. Reaching the end of the railroad at Tipton, in that State, he walked one hundred miles to Browning's Ferry, where he remained the following winter, teaching four months. In the autumn of the following year, he returned to Winchester and engaged for a year in the practice of law with Judge Jero Smith. In the winter of 18111-62, he attended the law department of Butler University, graduating at the close of the school year. In the summer following, he enlisted in the United States service, was commissioned as Lieutenant and recruited Company E, of the Eighty-fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, upon the mustering in of which he was made Captain, which position he filled for twenty-eight months. In January, 1861, he was commissioned Major, and soon after promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment, end for good conduct brevetted Colonel. He was mustered out of the service June 14, 1805. He with his command participated in many of the most arduous and dangerous campaigns of the war through Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, being engaged in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Roost,

Rooky Face, Dallas, Resacs, Pino Monntain, Altoona, Gulp's Farm, Peach Treo Creek, Konesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, Merrel's Mills, Franklin, Nashville, besides many others of lesser note. Through all these conflicts he passed unhurt. The only time he was ever struck was at Chickamauga, where a part of his moustache was cut off by a bullet. After his discharge from the service, he engaged in the practice of law in Winchester with Leander J. Monks as a partner, under the firm name of Miller & Monks, which continued until 1871. In June, 1872, he purchased an Interest in the flouring mills at Winchester, but sold again the following winter. He then purchased an interest in a manufacturing business at Decatur, Ind., where he continued until 1876, when he resumed the practice of his profession in Winchester. He was two years alone; then for a time in partnership with Alexander Guilett, and at the present with Hon. John Enon Neff, under the firm name of Miller & Neff. Col. Miller is Democratic in politics, firm and consistent in his advocacy of his party principles. He has never sought office, but in 1808 ran for Prosecutor in the Thirteenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Randolph, Jay, Blackford and Wayne, beating his Republican competitor in all except Wayne County, which, of course, "snowed him under." In 1880, Col. Miller led the hopeless but gallant campaign in the Sixth Congressional District against Gen. Thomas M. Browne, and while defeated, he carried his still party vote. Col. Miller is a member of the I. 0. O. F., in which excellent institution he takes high rank. He is not a member of any church, but is liberal toward all theological opinions. On February 4, 1864, he was married to Miss 8arah J. Aker, daughter of Andrew Aker, of Winchester. Mrs. Col. Miller is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a lady of excellent social character, and has proved herself a worthy companion in all respect. They are the parents of three children, only one of whom survive. They have an exceedingly elegant home, are surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, and enjoy the prospect of a highly desirable future.

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

JUDGE PETER S. MILLER. Peter S. Miller was born at Farmersburg, Dauphin Co., Penn., on the 6t:: of February, 1808. He was the son of Peter and Catharine (Schneiderl Miller of Ger sity of earning his living thus early t!

self-reliant, and developed within him the qualities of true manuooa. e nrsi, found employment in a large merchant mill, known as the " Burkley Mills," where be remained several years, acquiring in the meantime a thorough knowledge of the miller's trade. Subsequently, he accepted a position in a dry goods store, where he remained until nineteen years of age; he then ase- ciated himself with Peter Segar, and together they erected a steam flouring mill, which they conducted successfully for several years. In 1839, having sold his interest in this mill, Mr. Miller came, with his wife and family, to Indiana, and located in Randolph County, where he continued to reside until his deceose. He purchased the properly known as the Bales farm, about a mile above the mouth of Cabin Creek. On this property there was an old grist mill, which he repaired and put in operation, running it successfully for about five years, and finally selling it to Villiam R. Marine, from whom it passed to John Bond and Zimri Bond, and is now known as the " Bond Mill." The farm consisted of 240 acres, and after selling the mill Mr. Miller gave his attention entirely to the improvement of this estate, and proved himself an excellent farmer. During his residence on the farm, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and at the expiration of his term was elected Judge of the Probate Court of Randolph County. In both positions he discharged his duties with eminent ability and to the satisfaction of his constituency. After serving four years on the Probate bench, he resumed the pursuit of farming, but in 18-52 erected a storeroom at Farmland, and embarked in mercantile pursuits there with D. R. Ford, under the firm name of Miller & Ford. About twelve years later, Mr. Ford was succeeded in the firm by John Oakerson, and at a still later date Judge Miller sold his own interest to Thomas Kearns, and accepted the office of Postmaster and agent of the "Bee-Line" Railroad at Farmland. Two years later, he purchased a halt-interest in the drug store of Dr. Henning. Shortly afterward, he purchased the interest of his associate, and erected a storeroom of hii own. At a later date, he associated L. A. Gab'n with him as a pailner, and, after conducting a successful mercantile businoib for about four years, determined to abandon merointile pursuits and retire to his farm. In 1866, he purchased a farm adjoining Farmland, upon which he erected a comfortable residence. Here he resided, surrounded by his family, in 1876 Church, ( died. He id was k good man, in the best sense of that term. Throughout his life, he was a hard worker— energetic, industrious and enterprisinir, and in his business transactions scrupulously honest. He was the friend of progress and public improvement, and all enterprises inaugurate! with the view of promoting the public welfare were sure of his encounigemen: and support; he was one of the first friends of the Indianapolis & Bellefon tame (now C, ( C. vSi I.) Railroad, and served as a Director until the change in the organization of the road. Politically, he was at first a Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party he embraced its principles, and was, until his death, one of its unwavering adherents. He w.as identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was an active and zealous member of that fraternity. At the ago of nineteen years, on the 26lh of September, 1827, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Moyer, daughter.<f Jacob and Citharine Moyer, of Berks County, Penn. By this union they were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Mor'an, Mary Ann, Catharine, Francis, James, Elizabeth, Maria L., Caroline, EUsha A., Abigail, Rachel, Kllen and Matilda, of whom nine survived their father and are now married. Tli. mother still resides at the old homestead, loved and respected by all who know her.

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

WILLIAM E. MILLER.

The student interested in the history of Randolph county does not have to carry his investigations far into its annals before learning that William E. Miller has long been an active and leading representative of its business interests and that his labors have proven a potent force in keeping this county abreast of her sister counties of the great Hoosier commonwealth. During a. period of forty-two years he. has carried on a mercantile business in this county, the major portion of which has been spent in Winchester where he is now the head of one of the largest stores in this section of the state, and while he has prospered in this, he has also found ample opportunity to assist in the material, civic and moral development of the county, and his co-operation has been of value for the general good. He is one of the honored veterans of the Union army who, when the tocsin of war sounded in the nation's greatest crisis, uncomplainingly went forth to defend with his life, if need be, the honor of the old flag. His career in every respect has been one of commendation and is well worth study and emulation by the young man just starting on his life work.

Mr. Miller was born June 2, 1846 in Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Troup) Miller, both of whom were born in the vicinity of Germantown where they grew up and were married. Daniel Miller, the paternal grandfather, came from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania with his family in an early day and settled at Germantown and there engaged in the tailoring business, spending the remainder of his life there. There his son Samuel learned the blacksmith's trade.

William E. Miller was educated in the public schools. Leaving school when thirteen years of age, he began working in a bakery, and when his employer enlisted in the army he went to Dayton, Ohio and worked in a bakery there, returning to Germantown at the age of fifteen and purchased the bakery which had been formerly operated by his first employer. Young Miller had only eighteen dollars to pay down on his property, going in debt for the balance. He operated the bakery about a year and had it all paid for when the oven fell in and the party owning the building would not reconstruct it, so Mr. Miller quit the bakery business and began clerking in a grocery store. Thus we see how a seemingly minor accident changed completely a business career for he remained a merchant instead of a baker. In 1864, he became a clerk in a dry goods store, but remained there only a, short time when he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in which he served faithfully until in September, 1865.

After being honorably discharged from the army he attended Commercial College at Dayton for three months, after which he resumed clerking in Germantown in the dry goods store. In 1867 he went to Dayton and clerked in the large dry goods store of A. B. Darst, eventually becoming the general buyer for that store and made frequent trips to New York City. Having mastered the various ins and outs of the dry goods business, in the fall of 1871, Mr. Miller went to Ridgeville, Randolph county, Indiana as manager of the firm of W. E. Miller & Company, a branch of the Dayton store, and he remained in Ridgeville nine years, building up a large business. In 1872 Henry T. Kitselman, of that town became owner of one-half of the business, the firm name then becoming Miller & Kitselman, which partnership continued successfully until 1880, when Mr. Miller sold his interest to Kitselman, Seeney & Company, who continued the business. In the fall of 1880 Mr. Miller came to Winchester and began business alone handling dry goods, clothing and carpets, being successful from the first, his trade increasing with advancing years through his persistency, able management and uniform honesty and courtesy to his customers. In 1898 he organized the stock company under the firm name of The W. E. Miller Company, of which he became president.

When he opened his store at Ridgeville in 1871, Mr. Miller introduced the one price business for this part of the state, a system now in use in all first-class stores over the country. The wonderful growth of hi business he attributes to his plan of fair dealing to one and all alike.

It was in the year 1883 that Mr. Miller built his present substantial business block, and in 1898 when he organized the stock company the building was remodeled, being greatly enlarged, having now a sixty-one foot frontage and being one hundred and sixty feet deep, with three stories and a basement, all occupied by The W. E. Miller Company, one of the largest department stores outside of the large cities in the state and an extensive and lucrative business is carried on with the city and surrounding country. The store is modern in all its appointments, with electric elevators, cash carriers, etc. Everything is under a superb system and a very large and well-selected stock of goods, commonly found in all up-to-date department stores, is carried at all seasons. The store is a favorite gathering place for the country people when in the county-seat and everyone is here made to feel at home and accorded uniform courtesy and fairness.

Mr. Miller is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished alone and in the face of obstacles that would have discouraged men of less sterling fiber. From the humblest beginning he has forged to the front and is one of the substantial and influential citizens of one of the leading counties of the state. He is a heavy stockholder in the Randolph County- Bank, the Farmers and Merchants Bank and the Loan and Trust Company. He is a director in the Citizens Water & Light Company, of which he was a promoter, and he is a stockholder of the Eastern Indiana Telephone Company. He is vice-president of the Woodbury Glass Company. He also has valuable and extensive farming interests in Randolph county, owning in all over six hundred and sixty acres of fine agricultural land under a high state of improvement and cultivation.

Mr. Miller was married in October, 1871 to Mary Mosier, of Dayton, Ohio, where she was reared and educated. To this union one son and two daughters have been born, namely: Vora, now the wife of Thomas L. Ward, assistant cashier of the Randolph County Bank; Olive, now the wife of John P. Clark with The W. E. Miller Company, and John D. Miller who is associated with his father in the store. These children were all given excellent educational advantages and are all highly respected by a wide circle of friends.

William E. Miller has been a staunch Republican since attaining his majority, but has never been active in public affairs other than to encourage such movements as made for the general progress of his city and county. He is a member of the Masonic Order and also the Grand Army of the Republic, Nelson Trusler Post. His family belong to the Presbyterian church, he being a liberal supporter of the same and of all benevolent work.

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

THOMAS P. MILLER.

There is a vice in much of the publicity given to agriculture that should he eliminated. It is true, isolated cases of ignorance and indolence exist, but these instances are always the exception in any community, and the percentage of delinquents is no greater than in any other line of industry. Men who are unable to make their way in the highways of trade move from the cities to the farm and perish for want of adaptability. Agricultural missionaries, sometimes inclined to be sensational, startle the public with reports of thrilling rescues made from the furrows of ignorance. To encourage our boys we sometimes give them the garden spot of the farm and give it first preference in cultivation. The result is a larger yield, and it is heralded to the world that the child can beat his father farming. Those who are inclined to be eccentric practice fancy farming, and-enthusiasts announce the discovery of visionary methods of culture that will revolutionize farming, and these instances could be multiplied indefinitely. One of the citizens of West River township, who seems to know what to accept from the current agricultural journals and general literature regarding farming and what to reject and who is making a success of general farming is Thomas P. Miller.

Mr. Miller was born in Washington township, Randolph county, December 7, 1874. He is a son of John and Margaret Jane (Porter) Miller, and was one of twelve children, four of whom are deceased, namely: Sophia is deceased; Sarah Ellen; Ida is deceased; Minnie J., Letitia, Thomas P., John, Elizabeth is deceased; the other four are Georgia E., deceased; Harry, Maud and Mabel.

The father of the above-named children was born in Donegal, Ireland, and when nine years of age he was brought to the United States, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools. It was in the year 1844 that they landed in this country, and the family established their future home in West River township, Randolph county, Indiana. The father of our subject removed to Washington township in 1861 after his marriage. He made a success as a general farmer and he is still living at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Preble county, Ohio, and from there moved to Indiana in 1855, and she died March 22, 1878, at the age of thirty-three years.

Thomas P. Miller, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. He has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He purchased his present finely improved and productive farm in section 20, West River township, in 1897. It consists of one hundred acres, and on it stand well repaired and convenient buildings.

Mr. Miller was married December 19, 1896, to Martha Wadman, a daughter of T. J. Wadman, a farmer of West River township, whose family consisted of nine children, seven daughters and two sons, one son and one daughter being now deceased. Mrs. Miller was reared to womanhood in her native community and was educated in the common schools.

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller one child has been born, Nina A., whose birth occurred June 26, 1898. She is a graduate of the high school at Huntsville.

Politically, Mr. Miller is a Republican, and he attends the Methodist church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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