William C. Miller

As printed in 1914

WILLIAM C. MILLER, M. D.

Dr. William C. Miller, engaged in the active practice of medicine and surgery in Independence and recognized as one of the leading representatives of the homeopathic school in this section of the state, was born in Buchanan county in 1863, a son of Samuel Miller, a native of Ohio. His youth was spent upon the old homestead farm and when twenty years of age he began its cultivation, devoting two years to tilling the soil. In 1885 he went to Walker, Iowa, where he purchased stock and grain for his father. In the fall of 1885 he went to Yankton, South Dakota, where he spent the winter and in the following spring began farming near Aberdeen, that state, but because of the brought he returned to his father's farm in Iowa and spent one year thereon.

In 1887 he began the study of medicine and was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College, now the Hahnemann Medical College, in 1891. Following his graduation he located for practice in Edgewood, Iowa, where he remained for four and a half years and then came to Independence, where he purchased the practice of Dr. Howard. Here he has been located continuously since and his pronounced ability has brought to him a large and growing practice to which he devotes practically his entire time. He closely studies the different phases of professional work, is careful in the diagnosis of his cases and is seldom, if ever, at fault in anticipating the outcome of diseases. He is constantly reading along the line of his profession and his knowledge is now comprehensive and exact. At the present time he is serving as health officer of Washington township.

In February, 1893, Dr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Cora Held, who was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and spent practically all of her life prior to her marriage in Chicago. Her father, Adolph C. Held, is a native of Canton, Ohio, and her mother, who bore the maiden name of Ella Williamson, was also born in Ohio but lived for many years in Buchanan county, to which place her parents had removed during her early girlhood. Mr. Held devoted his early life to the holder's trade and won advancement that brought him eventually to the position of foreman of the Dearborn Foundry of Chicago. He is now living retired and makes his home in Paw Paw, Michigan. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, going to the front from Ohio together with six brothers, all of whom were members of the same regiment. One of the number was killed in battle. Mr. Held was very active in republican politics but occupied no political office, preferring always to devote his entire attention to his business. The iron work of the new Northwestern depot in Chicago was the last work which he superintended as foreman. In the Held family were three children, of whom Mrs. Miller is the eldest and by her marriage she has become the mother of two sons: Harold R., who was born in Edgewood, Iowa, in 1894 and is now a student in the Independence high school; and Walter S., who was born in Independence in 1899 and is now attending school.

Dr. Miller is a democrat in his political views but has never been an aspirant for public office. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and along professional lines is connected with the State Homeopathic Association. The high ideals which he cherishes find embodiment in practical effort for their adoption and because of the innate refinement of his nature he rejects every thing opposed to good taste. Mrs. Miller is quite prominent in social circles.

As printed in History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.