William Martin Miller

As printed in 1906

ILLIAM MARTIN MILLER, cashier of the Citizens’ Bank of Ashville, and a prominent citizen of the town, was born February 14, 1860, and is a son of Samuel M. and Angeline (Boerstler) Miller.

John C. Miller, the grandfather of our subject. was born in Pennsylvania, moved to Ohio and in this State resided until his death, in

Samuel M. Miller and his wife were both natives of Fairfield County, Ohio. Mrs. Miller died in September, 1905, at the age of 63 years. They had three children: William M., the subject of this sketch; Alice, who married C. C. Staiger, of Ashville; and Emma, who lives at home.

When William M. Miller was two years old, his parents moved to Pickaway County and located in Walnut township. Here he resided until 1887, attending the common schools of the township, next taking a business course at Lebanon in 1879, after which he taught school for nine years and also clerked for some time in a store. In 1887 he moved to Ashville and took a position as bookkeeper with the Hughes Elevator Company. Later he was appointed assistant county auditor by County Auditor Samuel W. Miller, but subsequently resigned to enter the grain business. He engaged in business with James Ward under the firm name of Ward & Miller; they purchased what was known as the Hughes elevator and conducted it until 1894. when they organized the Citizens’ Bank at Ashville. Mr. Miller has been cashier of the bank since its organization.

Mr. Miller was married October 21, 1890, to Agnes Wright, a daughter of William and Caroline Wright, the latter of whom is deceased. Two children have been born to this union — Grace and Harry.

Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics. While a resident of # Walnut township, he served three terms as township clerk; the fact that he was thrice successful in living elected in a township which normally goes Democratic by from 60 to 80 votes shows the estimation in which he was held in that township. Mr. Miller was elected mayor of Ashville in 1888 and subsequently re-elected three times. He was twice elected a member of the Board of Education of Harrison township. At his second election, in 1903, he made the matter of a new building for the High School an issue, although the project had been defeated at a previous election. Mr. Miller takes great pride in the fact that he was instrumental in securing for Ashville a High School building which would be a credit to towns of much larger population. After the new code separating the town from the township went into effect, Mr. Miller was again elected and is at present a member of the Ashville Village District Board of Education. He served in 1896 as chairman of the Republican Central Committee and in 1897 as chairman of the Republican Executive Committee.

Fraternally. Mr. Miller is a member of Palmetto Lodge, No. 513, K. of P., at Ashville. He is also a Knight Templar Mason, being a member of Lithopolis Lodge. Xo. 169. and of the Chapter and Commandery at Circleville.

nSAAC C. DCXKEL, an esteemed resident of Circleville township, was born in Washington township, Pickaway County, Ohio, February 12, 1853, and is a son of Amos and Catherine (Stout) Dunkel, a sketch of whom will be found in this work.

Mr. Dunkel came to Circleville township with his parents when three years old and has made this his home ever since. He was educated in the common schools of the county and later attended the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, after which he taught school for some time. He was married on November 1. 1877, to Rosa A. Kellstadt, a daughter of Jacob and Rosa (Bowers) Kellstadt. Mr. and Mrs. Dunkel have had four children, namely: Walter R., born August 25, 1878; Wilson, born October 17, 1880; Amos J., born October 30, 1882; and Frances Matilda, the only daughter and the youngest member of the Dunkel family, who died at the age of one year. Walter R. Dunkel, the oldest son, who is a teacher in the county schools, was reared and educated in his native county. He married Fannie Brown and has one child — Kenneth Ray. Wilson Dunkel teaches school in Wayne township. Amos J.. the youngest son, after completing his school course in this county, attended the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He is now teaching school in Circleville township, and is a county school examiner, being in all probability the youngest school examiner in the State.

Mr. Dunkel is a Democrat and has served as township assessor. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters and Modern Woodmen of America.

ffHN O. BECKETT, one of the leading citizens of Commercial Point as well as of Scioto township, who is proprietor of a mercantile business which was founded in 1844 hy his grandfather, has been identified with this section all his life. He was born at Commercial Point, Pickaway County, Ohio, October 22, 1852, and is a son of James A. and Margaret (Coontz) Beckett.

The material ancestors of Mr. Beckett, who were of German extraction, located at an early day in Scioto township. The paternal grandfather, Wiley H. Beckett, came from Albemarle County, Virginia, in 1830 and settled in Scioto township, where he resided until his death.

James A. Beckett was nine years of age when, in 1830, his parents made the trip from Virginia to Ohio in a covered wagon, and settled in Scioto township a short distance west of Commercial Point. Here he lived until his death in 1884, after a successful commercial career of many years. He married Margaret Coontz, who was born in Scioto township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and who survived her husband but three years. They had five children, viz.: Ellen G., who is the wife of W. H. Migley, and resides in Scioto township; Cornelia A., who is the wife of Thomas H. Dur'ret and resides at Commercial Point: Clara R., who is the wife of John Peters and resides in Scioto township; Laura J., deceased in childhood; and John O., of this sketch.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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.