Peter S. Miller

As printed in 1882

JUDGE PETER S. MILLER. Peter S. Miller was born at Farmersburg, Dauphin Co., Penn., on the 6t:: of February, 1808. He was the son of Peter and Catharine (Schneiderl Miller of Ger sity of earning his living thus early t!

self-reliant, and developed within him the qualities of true manuooa. e nrsi, found employment in a large merchant mill, known as the " Burkley Mills," where be remained several years, acquiring in the meantime a thorough knowledge of the miller's trade. Subsequently, he accepted a position in a dry goods store, where he remained until nineteen years of age; he then ase- ciated himself with Peter Segar, and together they erected a steam flouring mill, which they conducted successfully for several years. In 1839, having sold his interest in this mill, Mr. Miller came, with his wife and family, to Indiana, and located in Randolph County, where he continued to reside until his deceose. He purchased the properly known as the Bales farm, about a mile above the mouth of Cabin Creek. On this property there was an old grist mill, which he repaired and put in operation, running it successfully for about five years, and finally selling it to Villiam R. Marine, from whom it passed to John Bond and Zimri Bond, and is now known as the " Bond Mill." The farm consisted of 240 acres, and after selling the mill Mr. Miller gave his attention entirely to the improvement of this estate, and proved himself an excellent farmer. During his residence on the farm, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and at the expiration of his term was elected Judge of the Probate Court of Randolph County. In both positions he discharged his duties with eminent ability and to the satisfaction of his constituency. After serving four years on the Probate bench, he resumed the pursuit of farming, but in 18-52 erected a storeroom at Farmland, and embarked in mercantile pursuits there with D. R. Ford, under the firm name of Miller & Ford. About twelve years later, Mr. Ford was succeeded in the firm by John Oakerson, and at a still later date Judge Miller sold his own interest to Thomas Kearns, and accepted the office of Postmaster and agent of the "Bee-Line" Railroad at Farmland. Two years later, he purchased a halt-interest in the drug store of Dr. Henning. Shortly afterward, he purchased the interest of his associate, and erected a storeroom of hii own. At a later date, he associated L. A. Gab'n with him as a pailner, and, after conducting a successful mercantile businoib for about four years, determined to abandon merointile pursuits and retire to his farm. In 1866, he purchased a farm adjoining Farmland, upon which he erected a comfortable residence. Here he resided, surrounded by his family, in 1876 Church, ( died. He id was k good man, in the best sense of that term. Throughout his life, he was a hard worker— energetic, industrious and enterprisinir, and in his business transactions scrupulously honest. He was the friend of progress and public improvement, and all enterprises inaugurate! with the view of promoting the public welfare were sure of his encounigemen: and support; he was one of the first friends of the Indianapolis & Bellefon tame (now C, ( C. vSi I.) Railroad, and served as a Director until the change in the organization of the road. Politically, he was at first a Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party he embraced its principles, and was, until his death, one of its unwavering adherents. He w.as identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was an active and zealous member of that fraternity. At the ago of nineteen years, on the 26lh of September, 1827, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Moyer, daughter.<f Jacob and Citharine Moyer, of Berks County, Penn. By this union they were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Mor'an, Mary Ann, Catharine, Francis, James, Elizabeth, Maria L., Caroline, EUsha A., Abigail, Rachel, Kllen and Matilda, of whom nine survived their father and are now married. Tli. mother still resides at the old homestead, loved and respected by all who know her.

As printed in History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.