The Miller Families of Summit County, Ohio

LEWIS MILLER, manufacturer and inventor, Akron, the youngest of three sons of John and Elizabeth (York) Miller, was born in Greentown, Lake Township, Stark Co., Ohio, Aug. 24, 1829. His parents were respectable and industrious people. His father, a cabinetmaker, house-builder and farmer, originally came from Marjland, removing to the West in 1812. He was a man of sterling integrity, and universally esteemed, holding a prominent position in his community. Lewis, the subject of this article, spent his boyhood on a farm, until about 17, attending school in one of the old-time schoolhouses built of logs, having slab benches, etc. In 1846, he learned the plastering trade, serving two years with a man named Wm. Essig; he worked at this trade for five years, also attending academies in Illinois during winter seasons and teaching in Stark Co., Ohio, two terms, in that time having moved to Plainfield, 111, near Chicago, in the meanwhile. In 1851, he returned to Greentown, where he connected himself as a partner with the manufacturing firm of Ball, Aultman & Co. (afterward of Canton) and by patience, determination and energy, soon mastered the machinist's trade, serving for but 50 cents per day at first while learning. In the fall of 1851, the company with $6,000 capital in all, removed to Canton. The partners were six in number, viz: E. Ball, C. Aultman, David Fouser, Lewis Miller, Geo. Cook and Jacob Miller. They first manufactured threshing machines, stoves and plows, and old Obed Ilussey reapers, and did repairing. They had no competition in reapers except one shop on the Ohio River. During 1849, our subject worked on the old "Hussey" reaper, and ever since that time he has been experimenting on reapers, every season, in harvest field. His remarkable aptitude for the machinist's trade, manifested itself so plain, that, in a short time after his apprenticeship he was advanced to the superintendency of the works, and while in this position he invented the world-renowned "Buckeye Mower and Reaper" — known in the market as the double-hinged floating-bar — a distinctive feature from which all two-wheeled floating-bar machines are patterned. To this great and valuable invention he afterward added others of scarcely less utility, chief among which is his table rake (a self-rake), which he invented in 1865, and which attained a wonderful popularity, within a few years. With the manufacture of the "Buckeye" the business of the Canton house became so largely increased that, in 1863, it was found necessary to establish a branch concern at Akron, under the incorporated name of Aultraan, Miller & Co., and in the following year he removed to Akron to take charge of the works here, since which time he has been superintendent and had full charge of the same. In this position he has lived to see the once insignificant shop expanded into wider halls, wherein is executed a business which, of its kind, is one of the most extensive in the country, which grand success is due, no doubt, to each partner giving all his time and attention to active work, wearing, so to speak, when the business was first commenced at Canton, the work apron himself, instead of hiring other men to do it. No dividends were declared until 1 866. They attained success thi'ough hard labor, and some disappointments. On May 5, 1855, while they were all filled with machines ready for market, their entire establishment burned to the ground, with a loss of $50,000, there being only $7,000 insurance. It was in June, 1856, that the first patents were granted for the "Buckeye," and at various times over one hundred patents were granted to the firm, one of which was for "Miller's Binder," which machine is the result of Mr. Miller's study. The business has increased from six threshers and ten or twelve reapers per year, to twelve hundred threshers and about twenty thousand reapers and mowers per year, or one complete machine to every four and one-half minutes during working hours. They began building the traction engine in 1877, the capacity now being five hundred engines per year. At the present time, he is President of the Canton manufactory, and of the Akron Iron Co.; also Superintendent of the Akron manufactory, and member of Board of Directors of the Weary, Snyder Manufacturing Co., of Akron. He is a Director of the Bank of Akron, and a stockholder in the First National Bank of Canton. He is a member of the Board of Education and was twice President of the same. He has taken a deep interest in politics, and worked in the Republican party, being an anti-slavery man, he is now connected with the National party. He became a member of them. E. Church in 1843, has held all positions in the church, and been Sunday School Superintendent for twenty-eight years. He was three times a lay delegate to the General Conference of the church, and has been honored from time to time with other prominent positions of trust. He was President of the Ohio Sunday School Association; and of the Chautauqua Association, having been the originator of the Chautauqua scheme, and, as coworker with Dr. J. H. Vincent, has infused new life into the methods of Sabbath school work, always the President. In educational matters he has taken a great interest, especially so in the case of Mt. Union College. He is President of Mt. Union College Board of Trustees, and is a Trustee of the Ohio Wesleyan University, and of Allegheny College. On Sept. 16, 1853, he married Mary D. Alexander, of Plainfield, Ill., who bore him eleven children, ten of whom are living, and are viz., Jennie, Ira M., Edward B., Robert A., Lewis A., Mina, Mamie, Grace, John V. and Theodore W. Eva died when 16.

JOHN McGregor, Secretary and Treasurer of the Akron Steam Forge Company; he was born in Columbiana County, near Wellsville, June 14, 1836; his parents, John and Margaret (McBean) McGregor, are natives of Scotland; they emigrated to America in 1828, and settled in Columbiana County, where they now reside. The subject of this sketch was raised on his father's farm, and, in 1861, entered Jefferson College at Cannonsburg. Penn., from which institution he graduated in 1863, standing sixth in a class of thirty'-nine; he then entered Ohio Law College, at Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained one year.

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

LEWIS MILLER. Few citizens of Akron, now passed off the scene of life, have more claims to remembrance than the late Lewis Miller, the genius who invented the Buckeye Mower and Reaper. He was born July 24, 1829, at Greentown, Stark County, Ohio, and his useful life closed February 28, 1899.

Mr. Miller completed his education in the Academy at Plainfield, Will County, Illinois. From 1846 until 1851 he taught school during the winter seasons and worked as a plasterer in the summers. All the time he was studying out inventions, many of which have been since patented and put on the market.

In 1851 he became a member of the firm of Ball, Aultman and Company, manufacturers of stoves, plows, threshers, and the old Hussey reaper. After the firm removed to Canton, Mr. Miller became superintendent of the plant. Then followed his invention of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper, and in 1865 of the Buckeye Table Rake and still later, the self-binders. To his inventive genius, Akron and other manufacturing cities of Ohio owe a large part of their prosperity. In 1864 works were erected at Akron for the further enlargement of the business, under the firm name of Aultman, Miller and Company, Mr. Miller being the president and superintendent of the organizations with which his name was connected. His capital became invested in numerous other manufacturing plants, particularly at Akron and Canton, as well as in links and other business organizations. He was a trustee of Mt. Union College, of Allegheny College and the Ohio Wesleyan University, and at Akron was connected prominently with educational work. Although a good citizen he was never a prominent politician, being too busily engaged otherwise, but at various times he consented to serve on the City Council, and gave generously of hi time to promote all civic measures of importance. Thousands each year enjoy the benefits of the Chautauqua Association, of which he was the originator and founder.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage, September 16, 1852, to Mary V. Alexander, a native of Macoupin County, Illinois, who was born December 6, 1830. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight, are now living, namely: Ira, who resides in Akron; Edward, also of Akron; Robert, postmaster of Porto Rico; Lewis, residing at the family home in Akron; Mina, wife of the distinguished inventor, Thomas A. Edison, of Llewellyn, New Jersey; Mary, who is single and resides at home; Grace, a teacher in a select school at Cleveland, and John B., who is associated with Mr. Edison in his scientific work. Those deceased are: Eva, who died just before reaching her sixteenth year; Jennie, who was the wife of Richard Marvin, who is also deceased; Theodore, who was killed in Porto Rico during the Spanish- American war.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

EDWARD B. MILLER, manager of the People's Improvement Company, at Akron, ha been a resident of this city since childhood, and has been identified with many of the city's important industries. He was born February 15, 1859, at Canton, Ohio, and is a son of Lewis Miller, who was the originator and founder of the Chautauqua As.sociation.

He was scarcely more than five yeai-s old when his parents moved to Akron, where he attended school. He later entered the Ohio We.sleyan Univei"sity, remaining three years. In the meantime he evinced a natural leaning toward mechanics, and this led him to enter Stevens' School of Technology, at Hoboken, New.Tersey, where he took a course in mechanical engineering. Mr. Miller then went for a tour of Europe, and on his return he entered the foundry department of his father's concern, the Aultman-Miller Company, with the determination of learning every detail of the business. This plan he carried out and became assistant superintendent of the.shops, remaining for eight years with that company. Later he was superintendent of the Akron Iron Company for eight years. During all this period he had been quietly investing in land in and around Akron, which since then he has been platting and building thereon comfortable homes for the public. His foresight has proven him a man of business faculty of high degree. His land is well improved, and, while materially benefitting him.self, he has added much to the general attractiveness of his city. Since childhood he has been united with the Firat Methodist Episcopal Church at Akron.

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

LEWIS A. MILLER, one of Akron's capitalists and men of large business interests, whose investments and dealings in real estate in city and vicinity include the handling of some of the most valuable property in this section, is also interested in the manufacture of electric automobiles, and he is vice-president and a director of the Byrider Auto Company of Cleveland.

Mr. Miller was born at Canton, Ohio, in October, 1863, and is a son of Lewis Miller. His parents moved from Canton to Akron when he was six months old. Lewis Miller, the father, was the inventor of the Buckeye mower, reaper and binder, and he was also the founder of the great Chautauqua movement, in 1874.

Lewis A. Miller was reared at Akron, where he attended the public schools and for a time was a student at Mt. Union College. He then made a tour of Europe, afterwards returning to Akron, For the fifteen years following, Mr. Miller was connected with the firm of Aultman and Miller, as a department manager and as a member of the board of directors. He also acted as assistant.secretary to his brother. For the past si.x years he has given his main attention to investments of a realty character, as mentioned above. Mr. Miller is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Akron, and belongs to its official board. He still retains his membership and interest in his Greek fraternity at Mt. Union College.

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

GEORGE MILLER, retired farmer, Akron, whose portrait will be found in this work, has been a resident of the State since 1810; was born Dec. 14, 1807, in Perry Co., Penn., eldest child of Jacob and Sarah (Lutman) Miller. The Millers are of German stock, and were among the better class of that nationality who left the " Faderland " to cast their lots with America and its varied interests. At the age of 3, our subject " came West " with his parents, who made their first settlement in Can field Township, Trumbull Co. He was a carpenter by trade, but his worldly possessions were very limited indeed. His first purchase of land was 60 acres, which he partially cleared. The country at this time was a dreary wilderness, the inhabitants were very few and much scattered. He immediately began the arduous task of clearing a spot for cultivation, and soon had a cabin erected in which he resided until 1816, when he moved to what is now Wadsworth Township, Medina Co.

(then Portage), where he purchased 120 acres of Gen. Wadsworth at $3 per acre. Here he found as uninhabitable a place of settlement as in Trumbull Co. The nearest settlement on the east was that of Joseph Harris, of Harrisville Township, sixteen miles distant. Upon this place he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1859; his wife preceded him nearly a score of years. Of the family born to this couple were George and his twin, who died young; Samuel, who died aged 1 year, Petsey, who died at 14; David was killed at Akron while in the discharge of his duties as fireman at a fire; John; Aaron died while on his wa- to California in 1851; Catharine married Reuben Baughman; Mary now Mrs. Alexander Beck; Harriet, now Mrs. Shaflfer; and Susan married Henry Parmelee. George was raised to hard labor; what schooling he obtained was the plainest rudiments of the cabin schools, but was increased by careful study at his father's fireside. His father being a carpenter and cabinet-maker, George soon learned the use of tools and assisted his father in his labors as a house-builder, and manufacturing such articles as were required by the early settlers who came to their western homes without tables, (chairs, or scarcely any furniture. Coffins were manufactured for the unfortunate ones, which were split out of logs, then hewn out to encase the mortal remains of the lone pioneer. Mr. Miller left home at the age of 23, made his first purchase of land in Sharon of 60 acres of unimproved land, which cost him $4 per acre; he afterward added 1 5 acres, and then 27. After a residence of three years, he returned to Wadsworth, where he purchased 100 acres, which he cleared up, remaining on the same until 1853, when he moved to his present place on Tract 4, which has ever since been his place of living. In 1831, he married Rebecca Baughman, daughter of Paul Baughman. Upon Mr. Miller's arrival here he purchased of Gov. Tod 240 acres at $25 per acre. He has now 231 here, and 120 in Wadsworth. His faithful wife was taken from him in the j'ear 1868, leaving him four children — Paul, now in California; Sarah, who married S. Coplin, and has five children — Charles, George, RoUin, Homer and Oscar; Martha married Frank Springer, now of Medina, having one child, Fred, by her first husband; John F., at home, he married Charity Brouse, daughter of William Brouse, of Wadsworth;

John F. has one child, Elton. Paul married Matilda Horn, and by her has two sons. Mr. Miller has already passed the limit allotted to mankind and is now spending the eve of his life in the sweet quiet of his home. He is held in high esteem by all who know him. Politically he has been Democratic, and always true to the principles embraced by his party. Religiously, he was reared a Lutheran, but later in life he has become impressed with the doctrine of universal salvation. He has been a man of industrious habits, and been prospered in all of his business undertakings; he has taken an active part in whatever was calculated to advance the interests of the people at large; has been a substantial member of the community, and liberal in his contributions to charitable and educational purposes. He has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, never seeking the publicity- of office, yet, at the solicitations of friends, has filled several offices of trust in the community. While in Medina Co., he served as Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, Treasurer and Assessor. Acting independently of sector denomination, yet has favored everything known to be right and opposed to wrong; honestly and open* laboring to promote good morals and advance the common interests of all good citizens. By his frugality and industry he has acquired a handsome property, and is one of the self-made men of the county.

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

JOHN F. MILLER, a general farmer, residing on his valuable farm of forty-eight acres in Portage Township, was born at Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, July 29, 1844, and is a son of George and Rebecca (Baughman) miller.

Jacob Miller, the grandfather of John F., was one of the earliest settlers in Medina County, locating at AVadsworth in 181(5, and purchasing a farm one mile east of the village. In journeying from Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller and family pa&sed through. Middlebury, then the infant Akron. They stayed for one year at Oanfield, MaJioning County, before pursuing their journey farther west. Jacob Miller, anxious to secure good land, examined its quality in.several.sections before purchasing. He was offered a farm for $3 per acre, which is now in the very heart of Akron, on the site of the Perkins public school. He was not satisfied, however, and went on to Medina County, where he invested his money. The maternal grandfather of

John F. Miller came also from Pennsylvania. locating between Wadsworth and Doylestown.

George Miller was born in Pennsylvania, and was a boy when his parents came to Ohio. His older brother, John Miller, went into partnership with John Pardee, in a mercantile business at Wadsworth, which was one of the earliest enterprises there, and when the brother died, George assumed his interests and continued in partnership with Mr. Pardee for some time. A few years later he bought a fai-m on Silver Creek, near Wad- worth, on which he lived for a few year. selling it at a later date. In 1853 he bought 240 acres, and on a part of this property Jolm F. Miller now lives. George Miller carried on farming and.stock-raising on this land quite extensively. In 1856 he built the substantial stone house which is still standing. He was a very just man, and divided his land so that all his children were provided for. He made three farms of the 240 acres he owned in Portage Township, and the old Miller homestead in AVadsworth Township he left to the heirs of his davighter, Mrs. Springer. There he died, four days after his both birthday.- George Miller married Rebecca Rauarhman and they had four children: Sarah, Paul, Martha and John F. Sarah, residing in Portage Township, married Solomon Koplin, Paul has lieen a resident of California since 1860. Martha, now deceased, was married, first to Dr. F. F. Falk, who died at Western Star, aged twenty-eight years. She married, second. Frank Springer. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 1868 on the home farm.

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

Mr. Miller recently sold twelve acres of it, for which he received $1,000 per acre, the purchaser being W. B. Miller, of Akron. Mr. Miller also owns another farm of sixty-four acres in Medina County, Ohio.

In October, 1868, Mr. Miller was married (first) to Charity Brouse, who died in February, 1892. They had four children: Elton Harry, Paul and Laura, of whom Laura died when aged fourteen months. Elton Miller, who resided on the farm in Wadsworth township, which is owned by his father and sons, was accidentally killed there September 13, 1900, by an accidental explosion of the steam pipes in a saw mill. He married Nellie Blackford. Harry Miller is foreman of the shipping department of the Quaker Oatmills at Akron; Paul Miller assists on the home farm. On October 20, 1897, Mr. Miller married (second) Mrs. Christeen (Mohn) Palmer.

For twenty-five years Mr. Miller was identified with the Prohibition party, and then united with the Democratic party. For four years he served as trustee of Portage Township. He has long been a prominent member of the AVest Congregational Church at Akron. In 1904 he and his wife took a trip to California, where he revisited.scenes made familiar to him in his first trip. On the way they visited the exposition then in progress at St.. Louis.

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

JONAS FRANKLIN MILLER, farmer; P. O. Loyal Oak; is a son of " Uncle John Miller," whose history appears in another place in this work; was born Nov. 3, 1832. His education was limited, the principal part of it being practical, such as could be acquired by spending most of his time clearing in the woods and in general farm work upon the place where he now lives, and upon which his father settled in 1 841. He was married, Jan. 17, 1856, to Marietta Schlabach, daughter of George and Esther Ami (Lichtenwalner) Schlabach; her father is still living, in his 82d year, he a son of Jacob Schlabach, who came fi-om Germany about 1799, and settled in Northampton Co., Perm. Her gi'andparents on her mother's side were Peter and Susan (Oswold) Lichtenwalner, residents of Northampton Co. There have been nine child'en born unto them — Uriah A., born Jan. 7, 1857; Alice M., April 17, 1858; Milton Henry, Dec. 4, 1860; Ida M., died in 6th year; Harry E., Jan. 21, 1868; John G., July 29, 1870; Ella S., Sept. 17, 1873; Freddie Allen, died in infancy; Lizzie Catharine, Feb. 8, 1877. Uriah A. was married, June 5, 1877, to Addie Koplin, by whom he has two children. He is engaged in farming in noi'there part of Norton; Alice M., now the wife of Harvey A. Myers, a farmer in Copley Township. Mr. Miller has been Trustee of his township, and held other offices of trust. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the prominent stock men of the township, dealing: in graded and thorouohbreds, as well as being engaged in general farming.

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

URIAH A. MILLER, a prosperous agriculturist of Copley Township, where "he is cultivating a fine farm of fifty-two acres, was born on his grandfather's farm in Norton Town.ship, Summit County, Ohio, and is a son of Jonas Franklin and Marietta (Slaughback) Miller.

John Miller, his grandfather, was the first of the family to come to Ohio, making the trip from Pennsylvania in wagons, with about sixty other pioneers, and settling on the partly cleared lands of Norton Township. His home was one of the first frame houses in that section, and he became the owner of two farms, of eighty and 175 acres, respectively, which are still in the family name. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. F. Seiberling. John Miller and his wife had a family of eleven children, eight daughters and three sons, of whom three survive: Catherine, who married J. F. Seiberling; Pollie, who is the widow of John Lahr; and S. H. Miller, of Doylestown.

Jonas Franklin Miller was a boy of eight or ten years when he made the trip from Pennsylvania with his parents, and he was reared on his father's farm, experiencing all the hardships of pioneer life. Thronghout his entire active period, Mr. Miller was a hardworking, industrious citizen, and at the time of his death had accumulated a fortune estimated at $20,000, most of which was invested in land in Norton Township, Barberton and Loyal Oak. His death occurred at Loyal Oak, Ohio, Febiiiary 1, 1907. Mr. Miller married Marietta Slaughbaek, who was born at Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and who still survives, her Iiome being at Loyal Oak. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, namely: Uriah Augustus; Alice, who became the wife of H. F. Myres; Milton H.; Ida, who is decem.sed; Harry E.; John G.; Ella, who married James Harter; Ellsworth, deceased; and Elizabeth, who married Charles Gable.

Uriah Augustus Miller, the direct subject of this sketch, lived on his grandfather's farm in Norton Township until he wa.s eight years old, at which time the family removed to his grandfather's 170-acre property in the same township, where he resided until attaining his majority. He then spent seventeen years and a half on his father's property. On February 14, 1894, he purchased his present farm from Frank Seiberling and Frank Wilcox of Akron, it being known as the California property, Mr. California having been the original owner. The farm has been improved to a high state of cultivation, and under Mr. Miller's able management yields large crops.

In June, 1877, Mr. Miller was married to Adaline Amelia Koplin, who was born in AVadsworth Township, Medina County, Ohio, a daughter of David and Mary A. (Moser) Koplin. Her parents were natives of Summit County, to which Mrs. Miller's grandfather, Christian Koplin, came from Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. He died in Wadsworth Township when his son David was a child of four years. Jlrs. Miller died April 23, 1891, aged thirty-three years, having been the mother of four children, namely: Morris E., who died in infancy;; Inez, who lives in Akron; Nellie, who resides at home;

and Raymond, who is an employe of the Barberton Rubber Company, at Barberton, Ohio.

On Febiniary 22, 1899, Mr. Miller married for a second wife, Sarah Jane Stocker, who was born in Norton Township, Summit County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Phillip and Mary (Acre) Stocker, both of whom are living. Phillip Stocker came from Pennsylvania, and was married to Mary Ann Acre, who had come to Summit County at the age of fourteen years with her parents, who were pioneers of Summit and Medina Counties.

Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics, to which party his father also belonged, his grandfather having been a stanch Whig. He served his township as ditch commissioner the only year that the office was in existence. With his wife he attends the Lutheran Church of Loyal Oak.

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

RALSAMON MILLER, Ghent. Ralsamon Miller was born Dec. 7, 1838, in Granger Township, Medina Co., Ohio. He is the son of William and Electa (Crosby) Miller, both of whom were natives of the " Empire " State. The Millers came to this county in 1817, and settled in the northwestern part of Northampton Township. William Miller is one of the wealthy and leading agriculturists of Summit Co. He resides in Copley Township, where he is well and favorably known. Ralsamon Miller was raised to farm labor, receiving the benefits of a common-school education. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Harshey, Oct. 21, 1858. She was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Oct. 12, 1832. From this union there were four children, viz., Elizabeth, Sarah L., Ida M., and Alpha L. In early boy'hood, Mr. Miller manifested a strong liking for handling and being where live stock were being handled. After reaching man's estate, he embarked in the live-stock trade, and has since that time handled a great deal, 'usually buying and then preparing them for market. He has been uniformly successful, and his judgment is seldom at fault. He owns a well-improved farm of 240 acres, also a grist-mill two miles east of Ghent, and is quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of cheese. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and has creditably filled several township offices.

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

WARREN MILLER, who is well known throughout Summit County as a former successful buyer and seller of stock, to which business he devoted many years, now carries on general farming on his valuable tract of sixty-four acres, situated in Copley Township, ten miles west of Akron, on the township road of Bath and Copley, and the county road of Summit and Medina Counties. He was born in Bath Township, Summit County, Ohio, August 18, 1840, and is a son of William and Electa (Crosby) Miller.

William Miller, his father, was born in 1817, in the State of New York, a son of Morris and Hettie (Lucas) Miller, who came to Ohio in 1818. For a short time they lived with the Turner family on the very farm that Warren Miller now owns, and then moved to Bath Township, locating west of Ghent, where Morris Miller cleared up a farm. He died in Bath Township, after which his widow returned to Copley Township and died at the home of a daughter. They had the following children: John, William, Aaron and Morris, all deceased; Harriet, now deceased, who was the wife of N. Hubbard; Charlotte, who is the widow of B. Lee; and Laura, who married George McMillan, and. with her husband, is now deceased.

William Miller attended school for a short time at Lamb's Corners, not far from his son's present farm, but the greater part of his boyhood was passed in Bath Township. He married Electa ' Crosby, whose parents came to

Summit County at an early day, from New- York, settling in Granger Township. Afterward, he and wife lived for a short time on Liberty Hill, Granger Township, and then settled in Bath Township, remaining there until 1858, when they moved to Copley Township, living here for a number of years. Later, AVilliam Miller bought the Harris mill in Bath Township, but subsequently returned to Copley Township. Afterwards he built a fine residence at Akron, where he died in 1893. His widow married a Mr. Findlay, who died in 1904,.she surviving him up to the present time. There were two children born to William Miller and wife: Ralsamond and Warren, the former being now deceased.

Warren Miller spent his boyhood on the farm, and obtained his education in the schools at Stony Hill and Sharon Center. For a number of years and until quite recently, he devoted the larger part of his time to dealing in stock. In 1870 he purchased his present farm from the Turner heir.s — Mrs. Turner and Mrs. Sackett. The present residence was then standing, Init he built the substantial barn in 1880.

Mr. Miller was married (fir.st) in November, 1863, to Eliza Hawkins, who died in 1870, leaving one son, Forrest C. The latter married Effie Hoeglan, and they have one child, Florence. Forrest C. Miller is engaged in farming in Coj)ley township. Mr. Miller was married (second) in June, 1877, to Emily Huntley, who is a daughter of Seymour and Eveline (Miller) Huntley. One son, William H., has been born of this union. Mr. Miller is one of the solid, substantial men of his community and has the esteem of hi.s fellow-citizens.

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

CHARLES C. MILLER, farming and gardening; P. 0. Akron; was born in Akron, Ohio, Dec. 11, 1832. He is the eldest child born to Ansel and Lucy A. (Hawkins) Miller, who were parents of two sons — Charles C. and James N. Mr. Miller, the father, was a native of Bridgewater. Yt. When a young man, he left home and went to Boston, Mass., where he worked at his trade, carpenter and joiner. While here, he assisted in building the Quincy Market House, on which he worked, scarcely missing a day, for 466 days. From Boston, Mr. Miller went to Rochester, N. Y., living there one year. In 1828, he started West on a "prospecting" tour, and coming to Akron, he was so well pleased with the then village and surroundings, that he returned to Rochester, and the next year, 1829, came to Akron for the purpose of making that his permanent home. Nov. 22, 1831, he married the mother of Charles C. and James N. From the time of his arrival in Akron, until 1840, Mr. Miller steadily followed his trade. About this time, he purchased an interest in a boat-yard there, and engaged in the manufacturing of boats. During the winter of 1859-60, he sold out, and then went to live with his son Charles, with whom he resided until his death, Dec. 16, 1879, aged over 81 years. Charles C. Miller was reared and educated in Akron principally. He was married in August, 1860, to Mary A. Philbrick, daughter of Daniel Philbrick. of Michigan,' and by her had a family of five children, as follows: Frank E. (deceased), Lottie A., x\nsel P., Lute H. and Carl E. Mrs. Miller was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1843. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Miller came to their present place of residence, in Copley, where they have since resided. Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics, and an intelligent gentleman.

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

CHARLES MILLER, manufacturer, Akron; was born in Upper Nazareth Township, Northampton Co., Penn., Nov. 29, 1815 (a more complete history of whose family appears under the head of Norton Township). The first nineteen years of his life were spent on the farm and in receiving a very meager education; the following spring, he went to learn the carpenter and joiner's trade with one Charles Glass, hiring for two years, which he served with the exception of about three months; his salary was board, washing and mending, with a few tools at the expiration of his apprenticeship; the cause of his not serving the full time was on account of a hard master, and being compelled to do a great deal of work after night. During the time of his apprenticeship, he was engaged on the Beaver Meadow & Hazleton Branch Railroad, from Beaver Meadow to Mauch Chunk, which was at that time one the first railroads in the State. In the spring of 1838, he came to Guilford Township, Medina Co., where he followed his trade until late in the fall, when he returned to Pennsylvania, and worked at White Haven, which was at the head of the Lehigh Canal; later he returned to Northampton Co., remaining there until in 1843, when he again came to Ohio, stopping for a time in Wayne Co. He worked at his trade and engaged in farming until in 1857, when he entered into a partnership with Abraham Krotz in the sale of farming implements for C. M. Russell & Co., of Massillon, in which they continued two years; the partner appropriating the money obtained from sales and dying on his way home from Illinois where they had been operating, left Mr. Miller in almost destitute circumstances when the indebtedness was paid up. In 1861, after John F. Seiberling began the manufacture of the Excelsior, at Doylestown, Mr. Miller acted as general agent, operating in a large territory and selling, himself, nearly half of the machines manufactured by that company. In 1863, he purchased a quarter interest in the Seiberling patents, and subsequently was compelled to expend hundreds of dollars in the purchase of other prior inventions to make their patents valid. In 1865, he having prior to that time formed a partnership of several of Akron's prominent business men and purchased the ground for the manufacture of the Excelsior Mower and Reaper, they built the works of that company on Broad street in the city of Akron. John F. Seiberling afterward became connected with the firm which stood until in 1875, when they made an assignment, at which time Mr. Miller was the owner of $65,500 in stock, besides having loaned the firm several thousand dollars, which has been almost a total loss. In 1879, he, in connection with his sons, purchased the chain works of a Mr. Matherson, at Cuyahoga Falls, and moved the same to Akron, having purchased the Schevere works where they are now extensively engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of chains and running from sixty to eighty men. He was married in February, 1843, to Hannah Bechtel, daughter of Abraham Bechtel; by this marriage there have been four sons and three daughters — Emma Elizabeth, Henry D., Amanda Ann, Harvey F., Levin J., S. Samuel, Cora 0.; four are married and residents of Akron — Emma E., now Mrs. Frank Reifsnider, he a traveling salesman for the rubber works in Cleveland; Henry, married to Miss Minnie Sigley; Amanda, now wife of Mr. Kratz, superintendent at the Thomas Planing Mill; Harvey, married to Miss Mary Hayes. Levin J. is engaged in business in the West. Mr. Miller has been a man of great energy and business ability, and the manner in which he has adjusted the great losses which he has suffered has made him many warm friends in his declining age.

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

VOLNEY MILLER, farmer; P. O. Hudson; is a son of Samuel and Sally (Ozmun) Miller. Samuel Miller was born in Orange

Co., N. Y., and his wife in Tompkins Co., where they were married. They were pioneers of Boston Township, locating there in 1810, upon the State road, where he purchased 150 acres of unimproved land, and where for some 3'ears they resided, their lives being replete with the toil and hardships to which the " advance guards " of the army of civilization are subject. They next removed to Hudson Township, disposing of part of his farming interests in Boston. Here he resided for twenty-five years, engaged in farming, and then removed to Michigan, where he died at the age of 77, his wife having died in Summit County many years previous. Volney is the only child of this union living. He was born in Boston Township July 20, 1811, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits for the most of his life. He has, with the exception of three years' residence in Hudson, lived at the old homestead, where his parents first settled. His property now consists of 314 acres of land, a good portion of which is improved. He has improved the farm since it came into his possession with a fine brick residence and in commodious outbuildings until it is a most desirable home. Mr. Miller has served the township as Trustee and Constable. In education and its interests, he has always been forward, and as a citizen is respected and trusted. He was united in marriage, June 4, 1835, to Miss Susan Thompson, a daughter of Abram Thompson, one of Hudson's first settlers, where she was born June 3, 1813. They have had two children — Louisa S., who died at home, and Virgil T., who resides with his parents upon the old homestead. He was married, July 3, 1862, to Miss Helen S. Danforth, of Hudson Township. She has borne him three children, viz., Millie L., Minnie M. and Ora V.

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

ELIAS MILLER, one of the most respected old-time farmers of Bath township, Summit county, was born in Stark county Ohio, March 12, 1824, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Williams) Miller, the former of whom was born October 5, 1796, and v.as a son of George Miller, who was born November 7, 1763.

Peter Miller married Miss Mary Williams February 13, 1823, and came to Bath township, Summit county, in 1848, and settled on a farm one-half mile east of the center thereof, where he continued to follow his life-long vocation as an agriculturist and attained a considerable degree of popularity and influence with his fellow-townsmen, whom he served as township trustee, school director and justice of the peace, having been elected by the democratic party, of which he had been a member until a few years before his death, when he became a republican. In religion he was from boyhood a convert to the Evangelical faith and was a consistent member of the church of that name. He lost his wife, Mary, in 1826. She had borne him two children: Elias, the subject of this biography, and Robert S. For his second helpmate he married Nancy Sprankle, who gave birth to three children: James, Joseph and Milton. Joseph died February 25, 1843, and the death of Peter Miller occurred March 31, 1870.

Elias Miller was well educated in the district schools of Stark and Summit counties, and was reared by his father to the honorable and noble pursuit of agriculture. He married, April 16, 1848, Miss Sarah Sprankle, who wa. born June 16, 1827, a daughter of Jacob Sprankle, who was born in America in 179S. Mrs. Sarah Miller died May 10, 1895, mother of the following-named children: Jacob S.. who was born November 12, 1849, married Miss Mary Ei Ball, of Copley township, January 1, 1874, and died at Canal Fulton, May 7, 1878; Elta Ann, who was born November 28, 1851, was married to Wait Hopkins, and died January 13, 1896; Nancy, born December 18, 1854, now the wife of Daniel Mull, and a resident of Cleveland; Mary A., who was born February 27, 1857, is married to Newton Hockett and resides in Bath township, on the old homestead, Emma A., born February 19, 1859, died October 3, 1871; Sarah D., born June 13, 180.1. was married to John Rothrick, and died Juiy 18, 1892, and Peter Milton, who v.'as born in

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

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

STEPHEN D. MILLER, farmer; P. O. Sherman; is a son of John Miller, born the 15th of November, 1802, in Northampton Co., Penn.; he a son of Jacob, born in April, 1777, died Jan. 12, 1836; he of David, born in 1756, died 1831; he of Walter, born in 1716, died in 1808; he came from Germany; John is in possession of a fine old leather pocket-book, brought from Germany by the last-named ancestor nearly 150 years ago; also, an old-fashioned clock, which is still keeping time faithfully, brought by a branch of his mother's family by the name of Bair. His mother was Margaret Serfass, her father William Serfass. They have followed farming throughout their lives. John was married, Oct. 14, 1823, to Susannah Bauer, sister of Daniel Bauer, whose history appears in another place in this work. They had twelve children, eight of whom are living; they were among the early settlers of Norton Township, coming in with the large number who came from Pennsylvania in 1843. Stephen was born July 19, 1827, in Nazareth Township, near Easton, Northampton Co., Penn., where he resided, attending school and assisting on farm, until in 1843, when he came to Ohio with his parents, with whom he remained until 24 years of age, when he was married, Nov. 6, 1851, to Mary Ann Musser, born Sept. 15, 1831, in Trumbull Co., where her parents settled about the year 1812, and resided until 1840, when they moved to the farm on which Stephen now lives; she is a daughter of David and Mary Ann (Read) Musser, natives of Pennsylvania. They have six children: Sarah Jane, born July 1, 1852; Albert, May 21, 1859; Norman F., Oct. 26, 1861; Harriet O., March 13, 1863; Charles O., Nov. 11, 1866; Mary Susannah, Aug. 23, 1870. Sarah Jane, a Mrs. Columbus Seiberling, whose sketch appears in another place in this work. Mr. Miller, at the beginning of the war, held for two years the position of Deputy Revenue Assessor for a part of the 18th Congressional District; he has also held the most responsible township offices, and, for about eight years, acted as agent, on his own account, for the Doylestown Machine Company, then traveled seven years longer as general agent throughout the different States, for same company. He is a man having at heart the improvement of all the affairs pertaining to the good of his community, and with his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

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

L. MILLER, a prominent young, farmer of Norton township, Summit county Ohio, was born in Medina county, January 29, 1860, and is of-rmau descent.

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

The marriage of Mr. Miller took place on the 2ist day of March, 1883, to Miss Alice L. Strobl, who was born in Norton township January 13, 1861, a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Reamsnyder) Strobl. The father of Irs. Miller, Jacob Strobl, was a native of Lancaster county. Pa., born in 181S, and while jet a single man came to Ohio and located in Stark county, where he married Miss Reamsnyder, who was born June 7, 1825. In 1848 Mr. Strobl came to Norton township, Summit county, bought sixty-five acres of land and made a good home for himself and family, which consisted of the following-named children: Sarah, wife of Jacob Smith; Lucy A., wife of J. W. Hall; Haitie, married to Henry Everhart; Melinda, now Mrs. Silas Strotter; Mary E., wife of William Fendenheim; Mahalia A., wife of George Shook; Alice L. (Mrs. Miller); George A.; Wellington, and Efne G., wife of Richard Lee. George A. died May 13, 1894. The family were all reared in the faith of the Reformed church, of which the father was a deacon:;nd pillar. Tne children born to Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Miller were seven in number and named as follows: Lucretia M. (deceased, Wadie E., Gracie f., Maud A. (deceased), Ruth A. Gay E. and Fern A.

Mr. Miller has an excellently improved farm of eighty-three acres, on which he has lived ever since he has been a resident of Norton township. He is a member of the Roy'ai Arcajium lodge, No. 382. of Doleston, Ohio, in which he has filled all the offices, and which he has twice represented in the state lodge. In politics he is popular not only with his party, but with the community at large, and is recognized as a worthy and public-spirited citizen.

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