Samuel Miller

As printed in 1911

SAMUEL MILLER

Samuel Miller is classed among the oldest residents of Linn county, where he has spent the greater portion of his life, and he is therefore well known in this section of the state. He makes his home on a farm of one hundred acres, located on section 4, Cedar township, and he likewise owns other valuable farming property in Marion township. Mr. Miller was born in Marion county, Indiana, May 22, 1828, a son of James B. and Barbara (Foster) Miller. The mother died in Indiana in 1828, and in 1846 the father came with his family to Linn county. Here he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers. He later purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres and followed farming throughout his remaining days. He only lived about eight years after taking up his above in Linn county, for his death here occurred in

1854. His family numbered eight children but the subject of this review, who is the youngest, is the only surviving member. The others were: Richard S.; Vincent; John F.; James; Mary A., who became the wife of Jacob Pew; Franklin, who was born in 1824 and died in 1SG0; and William, who died in infancy.

.Samuel Miller remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of nineteen years, during which time he acquired a limited education in the district schools, and also assisted his father in the development and improvement of the home farm. Upon leaving home he found employment with his brother-in-law, Jacob Pew. at farm labor, and was thus engaged tor three years, receiving as his compensation one hundred dollars per year. He eventually began farming on his own account by purchasing two hundred and forty acres of land, which he owned four years, and then disposed of his property and in 1855 embarked in the grocery business in Marion. After a year and a half he sold his stock of groceries and engaged in the butcher business, also buying and selling stock. On the expiration of two years he sold his interests and invested his money in two hundred acres of land in Marion county, Iowa, this property remaining in his possession for fifteen years. In the meantime he purchased two more farms, his possessions aggregating four hundred and twenty acres. He disposed of the entire acreage in 18S0 and purchased one hundred and sixty-nine acres in Marion township, Linn county, which tract he still owns. Three years later, in 1883. he purchased one hundred acres in Cedar township, on section 4, and on the latter tract he has since made his home. He has made many improvements on the place and owing to his earnest efforts in former years he has made it a valuable property. For many years he was actively identified with agricultural interests but owing to his advanced age he is now leaving much of the farm work to others, although he is still managing his business affairs.

Mr. Miller has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Hannah L. Howe, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, their marriage being celebrated on the 20th of December, 1849. This union was blessed with seven children, namely: John Pugh, born in 1850. is married and now resides in Woods county. Oklahoma; Mary E., who was born in 1,852 and died in 1855; Samuel, born in

1855, resides in Marion township, Linn county; William Vincent, born in 1857, is married and resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma; George Washington, born in 1859, is married and makes his home in Monroe township, Linn county, Joseph

C, born in 1868, is at home; and Charles, who is married and lives in Marion, Iowa. The wife and mother departed this life in lS7t>. and on the l'Jth of September, 1877, Mr. Miller wedded Jane Hunter, a native of Linn county and a daughter of William and Mary Jane Hunter. The father, who was born in Ireland. September 12, 1817, was but six weeks old when brought to America by his parents. The mother was born in Virginia, the date of her birth being February 11, 1819. By the second marriage of Mr. Miller there have been born three sons but the youngest, Freddie R., is deceased. The others are: William Earl, born October 22, 1879, is mai-ried and lives in Linn county; and James B., born January 27, 1882, is married and makes his home in Cedar Rapids. On the 28th of June. 1909, Mr. and Mrs. Miller adopted a daughter, Geraldine. whose birth occurred September 20, 1901.

Mr. Miller gives his political support to the republican party and has been called to fill a number of township offices. He is a Master Mason, belonging to lodge No. 6, at Marion. Mrs. Miller affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only has Mr. Miller seen Linn county grow from a wild country with only a few white inhabitants to a rich agricultural district, containing thousands of good homes and many growing towns inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but he has participated in the work of development which was necessary to produce a change that has placed this part of the country on a par with the older east.

As printed in History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.