Samuel W. Miller

As printed in 1906

IAMUEL W. MILLER, a prominent and substantial citizen of Pickaway County, resides on his fine estate known as “White Oak Grove Hill Farm,” a finely improved property consisting of 320 acres, located in Muhlenberg township, on the Darbyville and Circleville turnpike and situated one mile south of Darbyville. Mr. Miller was born March 21, 1858, at Darbyville, Pickaway County, Ohio, and is a son of William A. and Paulina Hill (Thompson) Miller:

Mr. Miller comes of very distinguished ancestry and among his kindred are found names which carry with them the memory of brilliant gifts and solid services to their country. On the material side, the great-great-grandfather of Samuel W. Miller was Thomas Lewis, most probably a native of Wales or of Welsh parentage. His three eldest sons bore the names of John, Andrew and Thomas. Of these, all were officers under General Washington in the Revolutionary War and were members of that little band who assisted their chief by their courage and advice, during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. They accompanied Washington in the New Jersey campaign and it is on record that John and Thomas Lewis were present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. Andrew Lewis’ military career did not end here as we learn that he was with General Wayne in the expedition against the Indians and in this campaign lost an ami.

Thomas Lewis appears to have added statesmanlike qualities to his military valor. He was the colonial surveyor of Augusta County, Virginia, and became a member of the House of Burgesses. In 1776 he was elected a member of the Virginia Convention and in 1777 he was one of a committee appointed to treat with the defeated Indian tribes.

Col. Fielding Lewis, a son of Thomas Lewis, was associated closely with the family of George Washington. He married (first) Catherine Washington, who was a cousin of George Washington. His second marriage was to Betty Washington, a sister of George Washington, and the children of Colonel Lewis were subsequently adopted by their distinguished uncle. A great-great-uncle of Samuel W. Miller was Meriwether Lewis, the American soldier, traveler and explorer and later the Governor of Louisiana, whose exploits in the Lewis and Clark expedition have so recently been celebrated by a great Pacific city.

The paternal grandfather of Mr. Miller was William Miller, who also took part in the Revolutionary War, a member of a Virginia contingent. He died in Ohio while visiting his son, William A. Miller. The latter, the father of our subject, was born at Shepherdstown, Virginia, January 3, 1818. In 1848 prior to his marriage, he came to Ohio, locating at Darbyville, Pickaway County. Here he engaged for many years in a general mer-

Googl( cantile business and became a man of substance and was held in universal esteem. During the Civil War he testified to his loyalty by generous assistance given to the government. His death occurred October 30, 1875. From being an old-line Whig, in 1852 he identified himself with the Republican party.

William A. Miller married Paulina Hill Thompson, who was born at Darbyville, Ohio, March 20, 1827, and died July 17, 1903. She was a daughter of Samuel H. and Hannah (Hill) Thompson, the former one of the pioneers of Pickaway County, and the latter a daughter of Rev. Hill, who was an early explorer and a missionary in this part of Ohio. The mother of Mr. Miller, although afforded only the meager advantages offered by the educational institutions of Darbyville in her youth, became a well-educated woman and a school teacher. The children of William A. Miller and wife were: William, who died in infancy; James D., a resident of Tacoma, Washington; Jennie T., wife of Ira W. McCollister, of Tacoma, Washington; Belle G., who died aged 1 7 years; George W., a merchant at Darbyville; Samuel W., of this sketch; Mary T., widow of Dr. John E. Miller, late a Representative in the General Assembly, who died May 8, 1904; and S. Arnold, a practicing physician at Lancaster, Ohio.

Samuel W. Miller resided at Darbyville until 1880. His education was obtained in the village schools at Darbyville, which were excellent for the time. When but 14 years of age, he began to teach school. After one term of teaching he entered the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, but left this institution in his sophomore year and resumed teaching. He continued to be more or less interested in educational work until 1880, when he moved to Ashville and entered into partnership with his brother, James D. Miller, in a general mercantile business, under the firm name of Miller Brothers. At a later date he bought his brother’s interests and continued the business until called to official life, having been elected auditor of Pickaway County. The election occurred in 1887 and he assumed the duties of the office in 1888, removing then to Circleville, where he resided until 1891.

Mr. Miller was elected to the important office by the Republican party, overcoming the Democratic majority in Harrison township, where he then lived, by a majority of 230 votes and carrying the county by 68 votes, the Democratic majority of which usually footed up to 1,200. He was the first county auditor to have his offices in the new Court House. He entered upon the duties of the position under some discouraging conditions, the defalcation of a prominent official leaving the county a debt of $50,000. Through the tact and fidelity of Mr. Miller, this unfortunate circumstance was so adjusted that the county lost nothing and a full account may be found on the books of the county. He left office, as he had entered, with a clean record and unblemished reputation.

During his residence at Ashville, in Harrison township, Mr. Miller was one of the incorporators of the village, was its first treasurer and served as township clerk, being the first Republican ever elected to the office.

On July 14, 1896, in Covington, Kentucky, Mr. Miller was married to Jessie Fremont Work, by Rev. J. W. Mitchell, pastor of the Eleventh Street North M. E. Church. Mrs. Miller was born December 6, 1869, in the fine old brick Work homestead, which is situated in Monroe township, Pickaway County, Ohio, near Pherson. She was educated at the Wesleyan University at Delaware. Her parents were Hon. Wesley and Catharine Work, the former of whom died November 4, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had two children, viz.: Samuel Wesley, who was born May 22, 1897, and died January 4, 1905; and Howard Work, who was torn December 12, 1900.

In 1891 Mr. Miller purchased his present fine estate, which formerly was known as the William Scott place. It is one of the fine old homes for which this section of Ohio is noted. Mr. Miller devotes his time and attention to the careful operation of this valuable farm. The home is not only known in this community for its beauty and comfort, but also for its hospitality. Its fine library indicates the cultured tastes of the occupants of the home.

Mr. Miller is a leading member of the

Methodist Rpiscopal Church, is a steward and trustee and is assistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is also a teacher and has a class of 35 young men. He is very prominent in Masonry, belonging to all the higher branches, having attained the 32nd degree. He belongs also to Jumbo Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, at Darbyville and is president of the Farmers’ Institute at Williamsport.

A picture of Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their son, Howard Work Miller, accompanies this sketch, being shown cm a preceding page.

As printed in History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.