Thomas P. Miller

As printed in 1914

THOMAS P. MILLER.

There is a vice in much of the publicity given to agriculture that should he eliminated. It is true, isolated cases of ignorance and indolence exist, but these instances are always the exception in any community, and the percentage of delinquents is no greater than in any other line of industry. Men who are unable to make their way in the highways of trade move from the cities to the farm and perish for want of adaptability. Agricultural missionaries, sometimes inclined to be sensational, startle the public with reports of thrilling rescues made from the furrows of ignorance. To encourage our boys we sometimes give them the garden spot of the farm and give it first preference in cultivation. The result is a larger yield, and it is heralded to the world that the child can beat his father farming. Those who are inclined to be eccentric practice fancy farming, and-enthusiasts announce the discovery of visionary methods of culture that will revolutionize farming, and these instances could be multiplied indefinitely. One of the citizens of West River township, who seems to know what to accept from the current agricultural journals and general literature regarding farming and what to reject and who is making a success of general farming is Thomas P. Miller.

Mr. Miller was born in Washington township, Randolph county, December 7, 1874. He is a son of John and Margaret Jane (Porter) Miller, and was one of twelve children, four of whom are deceased, namely: Sophia is deceased; Sarah Ellen; Ida is deceased; Minnie J., Letitia, Thomas P., John, Elizabeth is deceased; the other four are Georgia E., deceased; Harry, Maud and Mabel.

The father of the above-named children was born in Donegal, Ireland, and when nine years of age he was brought to the United States, and here he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools. It was in the year 1844 that they landed in this country, and the family established their future home in West River township, Randolph county, Indiana. The father of our subject removed to Washington township in 1861 after his marriage. He made a success as a general farmer and he is still living at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Preble county, Ohio, and from there moved to Indiana in 1855, and she died March 22, 1878, at the age of thirty-three years.

Thomas P. Miller, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the district schools. He has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. He purchased his present finely improved and productive farm in section 20, West River township, in 1897. It consists of one hundred acres, and on it stand well repaired and convenient buildings.

Mr. Miller was married December 19, 1896, to Martha Wadman, a daughter of T. J. Wadman, a farmer of West River township, whose family consisted of nine children, seven daughters and two sons, one son and one daughter being now deceased. Mrs. Miller was reared to womanhood in her native community and was educated in the common schools.

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller one child has been born, Nina A., whose birth occurred June 26, 1898. She is a graduate of the high school at Huntsville.

Politically, Mr. Miller is a Republican, and he attends the Methodist church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As printed in Past and present of Randolph County, Indiana : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.