The Miller Families of Wayne County, Ohio

ALBERT MILLER is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born in 1830, a son of Michael and Margaret Miller. His parents hud ft family of nine children, but five of whom are living — Isophena, Albert, Michael, Augustus and Elizabeth. The names of the deceased are Mary, Adaline, Isabella and Adolph. Michael was an early settler of Wayne County, his first purchase of land being PH) acres in Greene Township, which he subsequently sold and I bought eighty acres in Wayne Township, on which he lived the rest of his life. He

' died in 1850, aged forty-eight years, his widow in IN (id, aged sixty-two years. They were natives of Germany, coming to America with their parents in their youth. He was a successful farmer, and one of the respected citizens of Wayne Township.

Albert Miller was reared in his native township, which has always been his home, and he received good educational advantages. He was early instructed in the duties of farm life, and since attaining manhood has devoted his energies to that calling. Tn 1807 lie married Maria Lehman, daughter of John Lehman, of Wayne County, and to them have been born a family of four children: F. 4. F. C.,

E. A. and Annie 13. In politics Mr. Miller cases Iris suffrage with the Democratic party. He has always taken an active part in the public affairs of his township, and lias served as school director and township trustee.

HEN 11 V SHELVE, son of Thomas Shreve, was born in a stone house jj west of Shreve, in Clinton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. His father’s place of nativity was Washington Mills, near Perryopolis, Fayette Co., Penn., where he married Mary Wigle. In 1813 he made a tour through this county in search of a desirable location, and, being satisfied with the results of his prospective trip, he, in 1815, purchased a tract of land. In INIS he built the first barn, made of hewn logs, in Clinton Township, and had to make a journey. on horseback to Pittsburgh, in order to procure nails for use in the construction of the roof of his barn, which was 32x50 feet in size. This barn was built on the farm now owned by Cameron and others, on the line of Holmes and Wayne Counties.

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

M. M. MILLER.

An analyzation of the life work of M. M. Miller shows that he has been dependent upon no inheritance or influential friends for what he has acquired, but has through his own continued effort and capable management, gained a desirable property whereby he is classed among the self-made and influential men of Canaan township, Wayne county. His birth occurred in Wayne township, near Guyer Chapel, April 6, 1842, the son of Michael and Margaret (Miller) Miller, both natives of Gerhartbruna, Rhinish Germany. They came to America about 1815 and located m Pennsylvania, where they remained for a short time. Later they came to Columbus, Ohio, then in a short time settled in Wayne county, this state. At that time there were but three houses in Wooster (about 1820). They first bought one hundred and sixty acres of land north of where Smithville now stands. After clearing five acres of the same, they sold it and bought ninety acres near Guyer’s Chapel. In those days the early settlers went to mill on horseback, the residents of this locality being compelled to go as far as where Alliance now stands. Game was plentiful, and it is related that twelve deer were seen on going from Michael Miller’s place to Smithville. Adolph Miller, the maternal grandfather of M. M. Miller, came to this county with Michael Miller and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Smithville and he remained there until his death, that farm having been retained in the family until 1907. Part of it is now owned by a Mr. Yoder. Michael cleared the farm he purchased near Guyer’s Chapel and lived there the balance of his days.

M. M. Miller, of this review, remained on the home farm until he was sixteen years of age, when he began learning the trade of stone-mason with Adam Kieffer and Peter Presler, and he followed that vocation until 1865. He saved his money and at the close of the Civil war he began to make investments in land.

Mr. Miller was married February 18, 1865, to Catherine, daughter of Samuel Sommers. Her father was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, the son of Abraham and Maiw Magdalene Sommers, who came from that locality in the early thirties and settled in Wayne township, Wayne county, Ohio, taking up a quarter section of land which they cleared, living there until 1865, when Mr. Sommers moved to Fayette county, Illinois, where his death occurred.

Augustus B. Miller, brother of M. M. Miller, enlisted in the Union army at Wooster when the last call for troops was made.

M. M. Miller is a.self-made man, as already intimated, having made

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At the June primaries in 1893 he became the choice of the Democratic party for a member of the board of county commissioners, and he was elected by a triumphant majority. He made a very faithful official, and was reelected to the same office in 1896, having then been made president of the board, very ably fulfilling the duties of this important place. The fact that his majority in 1896 was eight hundred would indicate that his standing among his constituents was of the best, and that he was popular with his party and voters from other parties as well.

imr. Miller accumulated in all one hundred acres of land, purchashig sixty acres in 1865, and an adjoining forty in 1881. He lived on his fine farm, bringing it up to a high state of improvement and prospering by his general crops and stock raising, until 1897, when he ret-’red from active life, moving to Creston, where he has a beautiful and modern residence and a small lot. He retired from his office in September, 1900. He has served as a member of the city council in Creston. He and his estimable wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Their children are; Emmit U., Zeno S.; Frankh'n died when one year old; Ella Irene. This family stands in the front rank of Wayne county's best citizenship. Mr. Miller is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Seville Lodge No. 268.

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

MICHAEL MILLER is a well-known citizen of Waynes County, and is a native of Pennsylvania, born in York County, November 12, 1813. His parents, both natives of the same State, were Michael and Ann M. (Horn) Miller, who had eleven children, of whom four are yet living, our subject and. two others in Wayne County, and one in Williams County, Ohio. In the spring of 1835 the parents came west with their family, settling in Wooster Township, where both died, the father at the age of eighty-three years.

The subject of these lines had but limited opportunities for learning. As a lad he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter’s trade, and he attended night school to obtain an education* hen he was twenty-two years old he settled in Wooster, working at his trade. December 21, 1837, Mr. Miller was married to Hannah, daughter of John and Polly Kauke, a native of Wayne County, born in 1820. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom twelve grew to maturity. They wore named: Perry; Elizabeth, now Mrs. II. M y 'or; Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of John Stevens; Araminta, also became the wife of Mr. Stevens; Kate, wife of Lambert Sellers; Henry Harrison, Otto and Benjamin, all of Wooster; Ellen was Mrs. C. ’Webster, of Indianapolis, Ind., and is now deceased; Nellie is the wife of Frank Maxhimer, of Stark County, Ohio; John is deceased; one child died in infancy, and Anna is the wife of Aug. AY. Eberly, of AVooster.

On first coming to AVooster our subject, not finding work, went to Cleveland in search of it, going on foot, not being able to pay stage hire. Returning to Wooster, he found employment, and from a poor journeyman he grew to be the most extensive contractor and builder in AVooster, where he 1ms erected most of the principal buildings and many fine residences. Ho built all the school buildings in the city, the university, county jail and infirmary. Politically he is a Democrat, and has filled a number of public offices. He has been township trustee, township treasurer, and for a number of years a member of the city council. He and his devoted wife are members of the Disciples Church, and in lsST had the pleasure of entertaining a large number of friends at their golden wedding g. Mr. Miller is one of Wayne County’s best known and most highly respected citizens, whose success in life is soll\ tin result of his own energy, integrity and business tact. Beginning life a poor boy, lie has won for himself not only wealth, but an honorable name and place in the community. About ten years ago ho partially retired from active labor, and although still engaged in business, takes life much easier.

Otto, next to the youngest son of our subject, was born in Wooster January 13, 1801. He attended the Wooster High School, and in 1882 entered a medical college in Cincinnati, but his health failing he returned to Wooster and miLomed.

in the grocery business with his brother Benjamin, the firm being Miller Bros. June 7, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Maud Jackson, daughter of William and Hannah Jackson, and a native of Wooster. The father died in Crestline, Ohio; the mother is now living in Wooster. Mrs. Miller is a graduate of the Crestline High School.

JAMES 0. SIDLE, son of John and I Joanna (Carson) Sidle [see sketch of John C. Sidle, was born February 13, 1850, in Plain Township, Wayne Co., Ohio. He was married April 27, 1871, to Mina Tyler, of Plain Township, Wayne County, and by her has the following-named children: Clill'e, born July

27, 1873; Shirley, born August 19, 1879, and Riley Tyler, born April 27, 1SS7, all now living.

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

ISAAC MILLER, farmer, Chester I Township, was born in Wayne County,

— Ohio, August 8, 1834, a son of Abraham anti Sarah (Rough) Miller. Abraham Miller was born in Berks County, Penn., in 1803, and in 1805 his father, Jacob Miller, moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, where he was reared. In 1820 he moved to Wayne County, and settled in Chester Township, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which lie subsequently added until he owned 2-10 acres. Jle was by trade a blacksmith, at which he worked in connection with farming twenty-live or thirty years. He was twice married; first to Sarah Rough, and to them were born thirteen children, viz.: William, Jacob, Abraham, Mary, Isaac, Sarah, Samuel, John, George Haniel, Franklin, Amanda Jane and Benjamin N. Four of these children are deceased. After the mother’s death the father married Lizzie Shenborger, and they have had four children: Matilda and Melinda (twins),

Isaac Miller was reared in his native county, receiving fair educational advantages. When seventeen years of age he learned the blacksmith’s trade, following that vocation three years. He is now one of the prominent farmers of Chester Township, where he has a good farm of sixty-eight acres, all under cultivation, with good building improvements. He was married, in 1804, to Sarali Gaerte, daughter of Henry Gaerte, of Stark County, Ohio, and they have a family of four children, viz.: Ella J., David E.,

Zeno A. and Anna Z. (twins). In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

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

SAMUEL HARRISON MILLER,

manufacturer of agricultural implements, Doylestown, Ohio, was born in Northampton County, Penn., May 28, 1839, a son of John and Susan ( Bauer) Miller, natives also of Northampton County, his father born November 15, 1802, and his mother born October 29, 1798. in May, 18-13, his parents moved to Summit County, Ohio, and settled in

Norton Township, where his father still lives. His mother died March 7, 188(1. They had a family of twelve children, eight of whom — three sons and five daughters— are still living. Samuel H. Miller was reared in Summit County, Ohio, and was given good educational advantages, attending. the district schools, and later the Akron High School. He remained on the farm until twelve years of age, and then obtained employment as clerk in a dry goods store at Akron, which he followed six years, and in 1857 returned to the farm in Norton Township, where he remained about six years. December 15, 1803, he came to Doylestown, and for two years was employed as clerk by Cline, Soiberling A Hower, manufacturers of reapers and mowers. September 1, 1805, he became a member of the firm of Cline, Seiberling A Co., which was subsequently changed to Seiberling, Miller A Co. This is one of the largest manufacturing establishments of the kind in the county, and they employ a number of hands, and in connection with J. F. Seiberling A Co., of Akron, Ohio, have entire control of the manufacture of the Empire mowers, reapers and self-binders, which are sold in every State in the Union. Mr. Miller was married August 29,.1807, to Ella L. Schneider, who was born in Montgomery County, Penn., January 27. 18 17, a daughter of Alfred and Clarissa (Clewell)

Schneider, both natives of Pennsylvania, her father of Montgomery County, born March 1, 1813, and her mother of Northampton County, born September 11, 1820. They moved to Norton Township, Summit Co., Ohio, in 1852, and still reside there. Of a family of seven children, six daughters are living.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had a family of eight children, of whom four — Alfred J., William R., Sydney L. and Lucile M. — are living. In politics Mr. Miller is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but is in no sense a politician or office seeker, the only public office he ever held being that of member of the Board of Education, and village treasurer. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, but is not a member of any religious denomination.

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

SAMCEL HARRISOX MILLER.

The biographer can see nothing but good results flowing from the life work of the ancestors ot the gentleman whose name forms the introduction to this sketch, for they were persons of the highest respectability and of unusual intelligence, therefore were leaders in their respective communities and useful citizens, their influence having always been strong for upright living and steady industry. Many of these traits seem to be possessed by Samuel H. Miller, a well-known business man of Doylestown. Wayne county. He is the son of John and Susan (Bauer) Miller and was born in Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 28. 1839, and in May, 1843. he came with his parents to Norton township, Summit county. Ohio. He was educated in the district schools, also attended the high school at Akron, and, being a close student, he received a very serviceable education. He left the home farm when twelve years of age. and, having very early in life shown an inclination to the mercantile life, he began clerking in the store of Milton W. Henry, of Akron, Ohio, where he remained for a period of six years, rendering that gentleman very efficient service. In December, 1863, he came to Doylestown and engaged as bookkeeper for Cline, Seiberling & Hower. manufacturers of mowers and reapers. So faithful and efficient were his services that on September 1, 1865. he was admitted to the firm and the name was changed to Cline. Seiberling & Company, and it was again changed on December 31, 1878, to Seiberling, Miller & Company, composed of John F. Seil:erling, of Akron; James H. Seiberling and Samuel H. Miller, of Doylestown. In March, 1896, the firm was changed to Seiberling & Miller. John F. Seiberling having withdrawn. This firm continued with usual success until March, 1901, when the firm was incorporated under the laws of Ohio under the name of Seiberling & Miller Company, and they have thus continued in business to this date, manufacturing mowers, reapers and binders of a very high grade and which find a ready market owing to their excellent qualities, the business rapidly growing and invading new territory.from year to year. Their plant is well equipped with modern machinery and a large force of the most skilled artisans is kept constantly employed.

Samuel H. Miller was married on August 29. 1867, to Ella L. Schneider, daughter of Alfred and Clarissa ( Clewell ) Schneider, who was born in Hanover, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, on January 27, 1847. In 1852 the family removed to Norton township. Summit county, Ohio. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, four of whom are living, namely: Fred J., born December 8. 1868, is living at Cuyahoga Falls. Ohio; William R., born March 6, 1875. a mechanical engineer at Akron; Sydney L., born April 5, 1885, is living at Doylestown, Ohio: Lucile M. (Shinier), born November 3, 1886, is residing at Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Miller is treasurer and director of the Indiana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company, of Jonesboro, Indiana, and he is also interested in farming. He has been very successful as a business man owing to his close application to individual affairs and his genteel demeanor in his relations with his fellowmen.

Mr. Miller has always been a Republican, having voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has never held public office, except having served on the local board of education and as village treasurer. He is a member of the lodge and encampment. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Masonic lodge, chapter, council and commander, and Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Cleveland, also Alkoran Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Cleveland, Ohio.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected.

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

Josejih Miller was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the 2d day of May, 1828, and is a son of John and Mary Miller, who were early settlers in that city. They were of German descent and in the subject were embodied many of the elements which have made citizens of that nationality such a desirable addition to our great cosmopolitan population. Mr. Miller was educated in the public schools of the city of Baltimore. In 1852, when about twenty-four years old, he came to Wayne county, Ohio, and for a while worked at farm work for others. In 1855 he began working for himself and thereafter he successfully carried on farming operations until his death. He was a man of progressive ideas and kept in close touch with the most modern ideas relating to the science of agriculture and therefore was able to reap abundantly where he had sown. In 1899 he moved from the farm to the town of Burbank, Avhere he lived until his death, though still maintaining a personal supervision over his farming operations.

Mr. Miller’s private life was rudely interrupted in the early sixties when the tocsin of war was sounded throughout the land, and in response to his country’s call for aid he enlisted, in 1861, in the Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under the immediate command of Captain Horn, and during the following three years he rendered valiant and faithful service in defense of his country’s integrity. He took part in a number of heavy engagements, besides many minor battles and skirmishes, and gained an enviable record as a faithful and courageous soldier.

On the /th of July, 1853, Mr. Miller married Sarah E. Stoops, a native of Franklin county. Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Stoops. The father died in his native state and the mother brought her family to Ohio in 1853, her death occurring here in 1884. To this union were born ten children, named as follows: Margaret Jane, Elizabeth, George, Rebecca, Christopher (deceased), Charles, Edward, Lee Della and Clara. In politics Mr. Miller was an ardent Democrat and took a deep interest in the success of his party at the polls. He was a quiet and unassuming man himself, however, and made no effort to secure public preferment for himself. He was a man of steady and commendable habits and had the happy faculty of winning friends wherever he went, his friends being in number as his acquaintances.

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

Conspicuously identified with the business and material interests of Burbank and the township of Canaan is the subject of this sketch and he has won for himself an honorable position in the community and is a distinctive type of the successful self-made man. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. Identified in a prominent way with various interests, and having attained prestige by successive steps from a modest beginning, it is eminently fitting that a sketch of his life, together with an enumeration of his leading characteristics, be given in this connection, as he is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material lines and today is recognized as one of the progressive men of the county of Wayne. Mr. Miller is widely and favorably known in the community and stands high in the esteem of all who know him.

Joseph Miller is a native son of Ohio, having been born at Rocky River, Medina county, Ohio, in 1838. He is the son of John and Adeline (Addleman ) Miller, the former of whom was a native of France. Early in the nineteenth century John Miller left the vine-clad hills of sunny France and came to the United States with the intention of improving his material condition. Going to Cleveland, Ohio, he had an opportunity to buy land there for one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre, but, not liking the appearance of the sandy soil there, he located in Aledina county, this state, and took up a farm of one hundred acres. He entered at once on the task of clearing this and rendering it fit for cultivation and in the course of time he found himself the possessor of one of the best farms in that section. He made that his home during the remainder of his life and died there at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In connection with his farming operations, he dealt extensively in livestock, in which also he was successful. He and his wife became the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. John Miller was a man of many worthy parts and stood high in the community in which he lived.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Medina county, his attendance at school being somewhat limited, as at the age of fourteen years he began to learn the dual trade of blacksmith and machinist. He developed into an expert workman and followed these occupations during the following sixteen years. In 1860 Mr. Miller moved to Burbank, Wayne county, where he worked at his trade for six years, and at the end of that time he entered the hotel and livery business and also secured the contract for carrying the mail, which at that time was a good business. He was occupied in this way for thirty-eight years, when he suffered the loss-of the hotel by fire. Since that time he has lived practically retired from active participation in business. He still retains a strong interest in the welfare of the town, however, and in 1907 he erected the largest store building in Burbank, in the residence of which building he now lives. In addition to this property, Mr. Miller owns several farm properties in Wayne and Medina counties, and on these he is extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of pure-bred Holstein cattle. He is an alert and progressive business man and is alive to the best interests of the community. In evidence of this fact, he states that he will rent his fine new store room in Burbank at a mere nominal rental in order to induce another store to open in the town. He evinces a public-spiritedness that reflects greatly to his honor and it is this spirit which has gained for him the exalted position he now occupies in the community.

Mr. Miller was married to Lizzie Stein, who was born in Medina county, the daughter of Andrew Stein, an early settler of that county and who died in Toledo, this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller four children have been born, namely: William; Lizzie, the wife of O. D. Odenkirk, of Wooster; Jennie the wife of John Spreng; Rose, the wife of Frank Watson.

In politics Mr. Miller renders a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and takes a keen interest in local public affairs.

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

JOHN H. MILLER.

The two most strongly marked characteristics of both the East and the West are combined in the residents of the section of country of which this volume treats. The enthusiastic enterprise which overleaps all obstacles and makes possible almost any undertaking in the comparatively new and vigorous western states is here tempered by the stable and more careful policy that we have borrowed from our eastern neighbors, and the combination is one of peculiar force and power It has been the means of placing this section of the country on a par with the older East, at the same time producing a reliability and certainty in business affairs which is frequently lacking in the West. This happy combination of characteristics is possessed by the subject of this brief sketch, John H. Miller, who was successfully engaged in the hardware business at West Salem, Wayne county, Ohio.

Mr. Miller is a native of Medina county, Ohio, where he was born September II, 1874. He is the son of Alonzo and Rachel (Inman) Miller, the former of whom was born at Massillon, Ohio, in 1841, and the latter in Medina county. Alonzo Miller is a prominent man in his native county, owning four hundred acres of land, which he successfully cultivates. A Democrat in politics, he has been very active in party affairs and has several times been the nominee of his party for public office. He was the candidate for Congress in 1896 and for State Senate in 1898, but each time the large Republican majority in his district precluded any chance of his election. Eor a number of years he served as postmaster at Spencer, where he owns and operates a large flouring mill. Besides the subject, he has three other children, namely: Mrs. William Rullkoetter, of Springfield, Missouri; Mr. Rullkoetter is a professor in the Missouri State College; h'rank 1. Miller, a farmer; Charles E. lives in New Jersey. Alonzo Miller is a man of marked ability and stands high in his community. During the dark days of the Civil war y\alonzo Miller e\ ined his patriotism by enlisting in Company R, Forty-second Regiment Olr'o Volunteer Infantry, in which he became a corporal.

1 128 and he took part in a number of severe engagements during his three years of service, including the siege of Vicksburg, Fort Donelson, the Red River campaign, and was with General Butler at the battle of New Orleans.

John H. Miller received a good education in the public schools at Spencer, including the high school course. This education was supplemented by a course at the Spencerian Business College at Cleveland. On leaving the school room he was employed in a clerical capacity in Cleveland for three years. In 1900 he came to West Salem and engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued with fair success for four years, at the end of which time he sold that business and started a hardware store. In this latter business he achieved a distinctive success, having been compelled to double his stock during the five years in which he was in business. He is a wide-awake, energetic and progressive business man and received his full share of the public patronage. Courteous in manner, accommodating in his treatment of patrons, and a man of many fine personal qualities, he has made a host of warm personal friends and is considered one of the leading men of the community.

In politics Mr. Miller gives his support to the Democratic party in elections where national policies are involved, but in local elections he takes the stand that the personal fitness for candidates for the offices they seek should he of prime importance. His religious affiliation is with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is an earnest and generous supporter.

On April 28, 1903, Mr. Miller wedded Jennie Ferguson, a native of this county and a daughter of Reuben Ferguson, one of the county’s representative farmers. To this union have been born two children, Dorothy and Paul. The family move in the best social circles and their home is a center of refined hospitality.

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

JACOB A. MILLER.

The life history of him whose name introduces this review is closely identified with the history of Wayne county, which has been his home for many years. His business career was begun in this county, and throughout the years which have since come and gone he has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by comparatively few. He is of the highest type of business man, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose enterprise and abilities have enabled them to climb the ladder of success and whose sterling qualities have been widely recognized in their native county.

Jacob A. (Miller, who is now engaged in the operation of the old Miller homestead in section 20, Greene township, was born on this farm on the 7th of January, 1850. He was there reared and secured a fair education in the common schools of the locality. He assisted his father in the work of the farm until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account.

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