Louis Willard Miller

As printed in 1912

LOUIS AVILLARD MILLER

Louis Willard Miller belongs to one of Johnson county's old pioneer families, one that has been represented in the community by four generations. He is well known and has served in various local offices, and his son is now (1912) holding the important county office of superintendent of schools. Mr. Miller was born in Fremont township, Johnson county, May 11, 1853, a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Barrett) Miller, and grandson of Benjamin Miller. Like other men of his time, Benjamin Miller erected a log cabin from native timber, and there his family made their home when first coming to Johnson county. At that time there were plenty of deer, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens. He was a native of West Virginia, and died in 1839. He was one of that noble band who braved the trials and dangers of the frontier and paved the way for a later civilization. There were nine families who came with thirteen wagons and ox teams, from Jefferson county, Indiana, and reached Iowa river May 10, 1838. They were the following: Green Hill and family, Joseph Stover and family, Benjamin

Miller and family, William Kelso and family, David Sweet and family, and the widow Ralston, who remained, and the following who returned the same fall: Mr. Witter and family, William Ward and family, and John Yarner. Of their descendants the following resided in the community in 1911: Sion Hill, of Iowa City, aged ninety-one years; Jacob Stover, of the same place, eighty-nine years old; William and Caleb Sweet, of Fremont township; and several of the Miller family, all of whom are given mention in these pages. Benjamin Miller started the first ferry in Johnson county in the winter of 1838-39, just below the mouth of the stream known as Ralston Creek, a little below where the Rock Island railroad crosses Iowa river. This

As printed in Leading events in Johnson County, Iowa, history (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.