David Miller

As printed in 1902

DAVID SELSOR MILLER.

This well-known man was for many years a prominent farmer and dealer in stock. He is now practically retired from business, though he still retains his agricultural interests and is also a shipper of hay. Before referring more particularly to his personal career it will be appropriate to note a few facts regarding his ancestors.

David Selsor Miller is a member of one of the notable pioneer families of Ohio. His great-great-grandparents. Robert and Elizabeth Miller, of Scotland, emigrated to Prince George county. Md., in 1738. In this county their eldest son. David, was born, and here he was married to Miss Rachel Blackwood, who was also born in this county. Her mother. Ann Swain, was born in this country, but her father. John Blackwood, was a native of England. David Miller was a gallant and patriotic soldier of the Revolution and died in the service in ryyS.

His son, Robert, was born in Prince George county, Md., on the 19th day of August. 1767. He was married to Miss Mary Highheld on the 19th day of January, 1793. and in a few days thereafter removed to Buckingham county, Va. In the spring of 1797 he removed to Kentucky and settled in Mason county. He was ordained a deacon of the Methodist Episcopal church by Bishop Asbury in Cincinnati in 1809 and was later ordained an elder by Bishop Robert R. Roberts. Becoming thoroughly dissatisfied with the institution of slavery Rev. Mr. Miller emancipated his slaves in 1812 and removed to Champaign (now Clark) county. Ohio. He was an uncompromising foe of slavery and intemperance and his pronounced views on these questions were far in advance of his time. David Miller, his eldest son. and the father of David Selsor Miller, was born in Buckingham county, Va.. February 12. 1794. and was married to Sarah Bent Parker October 28, 1833. He was three years old when he was taken by his parents to Kentucky and in 181-2 accompanied them on their removal to Ohio. Here he received the advantages of such schooling as was the lot of the farmer boy in that early day. On April 7, 1827. he came to> what is now* known as Pitt township. Wyandot county, Ohio (at that time Salt Rock township. Marion county), and settled in what was then called the Sandusky Plains. He entered land and bought it at the first land sale held there, and on that tract he made his home. Altogether he entered and bought one thousand acres of land in what is now Pi{t township. W yandot county. He started active lite there a comparatively poor man. but was energetic and ambitious and si*>n gained a competency. He made a business of going

- to Indiana and Illinois to buy cattle which he brought to the Sandusky Plains and graced during the summer. He then drove them to market at Philadelphia, Penn., or to Baltimore, Md. Pie was also the pioneer sheep raiser of this. county and a breeder of tine cattle and horses. At the time of his death he was the owner of five thousand acres of land in Wyandot county. At one time he held the office of county commissioner of Marion county, Ohio, and after the organization of Wyandot county he held the same office there. He was formerly a stanch Democrat, but upon the formation of the Republican party he joined that organization. He was one of the principal supporters of the first Republican paper published in Wvandot county. David Miller was thoroughly Methodist in his religious views and his home was the stopping place for itinerant preachers. He was a man of strong mentality and was foremost in the advancement of ail worthy enterprises. He built the first frame house in Wyandot county. He died on the 28th day of August, 1855, at the age of sixty-one years, and now lies in Oak Hill cemetery, situated south of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

David Miller's wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Bent, was born on the 19th day of August, 1806. in Belpre, Ohio. She was the daughter of Abner and Elizabeth (Williams) Bent, who settled in Marion county. Ohio, at a very early day. Her ancestry dates from John and Edith Bent, residents of England, the former of whom died Julv 1 1. 1588, and the latter in [601. Her grandfather. Silas Bent, was born in Sudbury. Mass., April 14, ry 44. He saw service in Captain Ephraim Jackson's company in Canada in the French and Indian war. He served as private, ensign and first lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. On July 1. 1781. he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh Regiment, Massachusetts militia, and held this position until his removal from Rutland in 1798. He was a member of the Ohio Company at Marietta. Mr. Bent and others laid out Belpre. Ohio, which was situated sixteen miles down the Ohio river. At this place he spent the remainder of his days. He died April 4. 181S, respected by all who knew him. i he connection of his ancestors with Revolutionarywar entitles our subject. David Selsor A miller, to membership in the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Abner Bent was a farmer residing in Marion county, Ohio. He was born in 1780 and died in 1834. His daughter, Sarah Bent, was quite young when brought to Marion county. She was married in 1826 to George Parkei, who died in 1828. They were the parents of one child, Mary Ellen, who was born March 19, 1827, in Marion county, Ohio, married F. F. Fowler October 23. 1851. and died January 30, 1877, near DeWitt, Ark. Mrs. Sarah Bent Parker was again married October 28. 1833, to David Miller. She survived her husband about four years, dying on the 24th day of June, 1859, at the age of fifty-three years, and also lies in Oak Hill cemetery. She was an active and worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

David and Sarah Miller were the parents of three children, viz.: Maria M., born November 21, 1835. married in 1855 to R. X. Taylor and died April 1, 1874: Princess A., born August 4. 1837. became the wife of Tames H. Anderson in 1856, and is now living in Columbus, OhO. and our subject.

David Selsor Miller was born in Salt Rock township. Marion county (now Pitt township, Wyandot county), Ohio, on the 23d day of June. 1843. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and here he attended the district schools. Upon the death of his father, which occurred in 1855, his mother with her family moved to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where Mr. Miller attended the public schools. He also attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. Ohio, for a short time. At this time his health failed. In May. 1863, he took a trip to Europe, spending most of the time in Germany, for the purpose of recuperating his health, and returned to his native land in January, 1864. Upon his return he engaged for about one year in farming and stock raising. Then he went to Alabama, where he bought a large plantation and went into the business of raising cotton. After spending two years in the south Mr. Miller returned to this county and for two years again operated his farm in connection with stock raising. I11 1872 he became a member of the firm of G. B. Stevenson & Co., manufacturers of sawmills, engines, etc. In 1874 this firm was dissolved and Mr. Miller again engaged in the live stock business, which he followed about nine years. In 1885 he went to Pittsburg, Penn., and took a position as salesman in the stock yards in that city, being with the firm of S. B. Hedges & Co. for four years. In 1892 Mr. Miller engaged in the hay business.

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

Fraternally Mr. Miller is a member of Warpole Lodge, No. 176, F. & A. M., Mc- Cutcheon Chapter, No. 96, Royal Arch Masons, and Marion Commandery, No. 36, Knights Templar. Pie is a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and is a member of the Ancient Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has been a Mason since 1864, joining as soon as he reached the required age. Pie is a member of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

After an active life Mr. Miller is now living practically a retired life. By strict attention to the ethics of life he has won a reputation for probity and is a man whose word is as good as his bond. He has earned and enjoys the honest regard of the community in which he lives.

As printed in Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.