Aaron Miller

As printed in 1897

ARON MILLER, a prominent and substantial farmer of Madison township, Montgomery county, Ohio, is a son of John and Susan (Bowman) Miller. John Miller was a son of Daniel Miller, the noted pioneer of Montgomery county, who lived on Wolf creek, and who is frequently referred to in this volume. John Miller was eleven years of age when brought to this county by his parents in 1804, was given the best education obtainable in the country schools of his day, and was brought up to farm life and labor. Remaining at home until he was thirty-three years of age, he then married Mrs. Annie Sollenberger, a widow, whose maiden name was Winger. To this marriage there were born six children, as follows: Annie, Susan, Aaron,

Sarah, Mary and Moses. By her first husband, Mrs. Sollenberger had two children, John and Elizabeth.

John Miller settled on a farm containing 160 acres of land in Harrison township, which at the time was covered over with timber and which his father had entered. This farm he cleared up from the woods, and by prudence and good husbandry became a prosperous man. He added other acres to his possessions until he had 240 acres in his home farm, 160 acres in Madison township, and also eighty acres in Harrison township. To each of his children he gave a good home, and to each of the Sollenberger children he gave eighty acres of land in Indiana.

Daniel Miller and his sons built flat-boats, which they loaded with the products of the farm and still, and thus laden permitted them to drift down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Natchez and New Orleans, where they sold their products and boats, returning by steamboat. They made three such trips, and did well with their merchandise. Daniel Miller, after settling on Wolf creek, cut a road from his home to Dayton, which village at the time contained not more than two or three houses with shingle roofs.

Aaron Miller, the subject of this sketch, was born January 25, 1834, in Harrison township, on a farm, and was well educated in the common school. On March 18, 1855, he was married to Miss Eva Olinger, who was born in Madison township March 23, 1838, and is a daughter of John K. and Nancy (Kuntz) Olinger. John K. Olinger was born in Trotwood and was a son of John and Eva (Kagen) Olinger, coming to Montgomery county about 1804. John K. Olinger settled in Madison township, near Salem, and cleared up a farm of about 160 acres of land. He and his wife reared the following children: Susan, Eva and Mary. Mr. Olinger was a member of the German Baptist church, a republican in politics, and a man of exemplary character. He died when sixty-nine years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller, after their marriage, lived on a farm for one year, and in 1856 removed to a farm he had purchased, containing 168 acres, upon which they have lived ever since. This farm he has greatly improved in every way, but especially with excellent buildings, including a large residence. Mr. Miller’s life has been that of a progressive, well-informed farmer, and he has gained merited prosperity and success.

To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller there have been born six children, as follows: John; Jane, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Andrew, who died when twenty-one years old; Moses, who died in infancy; Martha and Lorinda. In religion Mr. Miller is a member of the German Baptist church, and in politics a Republican. Of his children, Jane married Dr. Samuel Toman, and left four children; Martha married John H. Conway, and has two sons; Lorinda married Clayte Brosier, a resident of Dayton, and John married Lizzie Gunther, and has one son. Mrs. Aaron Miller died January 20, 1896.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.