In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1878
From History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912)
JAMES WILLIAM MILLER,* a well known member of the Bucyrus bar and for six years secretary of the Bucyrus Loan and Building Association, an important enterprise of this section, was born at Bucyrus, Aug. 5, 1878, and has always maintained his home in his native city.
The grandparents of Mr. Miller were Joseph and Sarah (Henry) Miller, and while they were of Scotch extraction they were born in Londonderry, Ireland. They married and lived there until 1844, when, with their three children, they-crossed-the Atlantic Ocean to Canada and established themselves in Stratford, Ontario; and both died on their farm there, the grandmother in 1895 " the grandfather in 1905, he being then in his 92nd year. They were members of the Presbyterian church. They had six sons and three daughters born to them, some of whom still reside in Canada, while others are residents of the United States.
John Robert Miller, the eldest son, was born in Ireland, Nov. 13, 1839, and was about eight years old when his parents came to Canada, where he grew to manhood and assisted his father in farming and dealing in horses. As his father's representative he came to Ohio for.the purpose of buying horses to send-to Canada, and on one of his numerous visits he met Miss Mary E. McKinstry, who was then a teacher at Bucyrus. She was born Jan. 28, 1849, in Marion county, O., and still survives, residing at No. 856 South Sandusky Street, Bucyrus, which city has been her home for 50 years. She is a daughter of James and Rebecca (Garberson) McKinstry, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, June 18, 1811, and in 1831 came to Knox county, O. He was of Scotch ancestry while his wife was of German extraction. In 1861 they moved to Bucyrus, where Mr. McKinstry died in 1902, the death of his wife having occurred ih 1869. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Three of their children are yet living, namely: Amanda, who is the wife of T. F. Shotwell, who is an attorney at Detroit, Mich.; Mathew, who is in the real estate business in Colorado, and who married Kaitherine Mealer and has one daughter, Myrtle Amanda; and Mrs. Miller. On May 5, 1874, John R. Miller was married to Mary E. McKinstry and then came to Bucyrus to live, establishing himself in the lumber, carpenter and building business. His death was caused by an accident, on Aug, 21, 1884, he being injured on his father-in-law's farm by some Jersey cattle. His children all survive. Gertrude, who was born June 7, 1878, is the widow of Frank W. Cory and resides at Cleveland, O. James William is the second born. Sarah, who" was born in December, 1880, married" G.''M. Meridith, of Indiana, and he is now a bookkeeper with the American Clay Machinery
Company, at Bucyrus. John Robert, Jr., who was born May 23, 1884, is a civil engineer on the West Division of the Ohio Central Railroad, with headquarters at Columbus.
After completing the High School course at Bucyrus, James William Miller entered the law department of the Ohio State University at Columbus, where he was graduated in 1901 and was admitted to the Ohio bar. He has been interested in the Bucyrus Loan and Building Association since its organization in February, 1887. Its present officers are: W. F. Earth, president; Frank L. Hopley, vice president; George C. Gormley, treasurer; and James.William Miller, secretary: The business is capitalized at $200,000, and the company operates mainly in Crawford county.
Mr. Miller was married at Bucyrus to Miss Edith Tapling, who was born June 23, 1880, at Lindsay, England, and was two years old when she was brought to Bucyrus by her parents, Francis E. and Elizabeth (Rose) Tapling. They reside at Bucyrus, the father being a carpenter by trade. Mrs. Miller graduated from the Bucyrus High School in 1898 and was a successful and popular teacher previous to her marriage. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Mary, who wa:s born June ir, 1910. They are active members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Miller belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge, Chapter and Council, at Bucyrus, and for six years was secretary of the Blue Lodge, and also is past chancellor of Demas Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias.
As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.