The family of which the subject of this review is an honored representative is of German lineage and dates its history in America from a very early period. The first of the Millers to come from Germany to the United States were three brothers, one of whom, David, was the great-grandfather of David K. Among his children was Michael C. Miller, the subject's grandfather, who in a very early day settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he purchased land and became a prosperous tiller of the soil. He was twice married and reared perhaps the largest family in the county of Montgomery, the two wives bearing him twenty-two children. The oldest son was John C. Miller, whose birth occurred October 15, 1807. He was reared a fanner and followed that vocation all of his life, first in Montgomery county, Ohio, and later in the county of Darke, where he entered a tract of land about seven miles northeast of the city of Greenville. He married in the former county Miss Gertrude Krider, who was born November 15, 1815, and it was shortly after taking to himself a wife that he moved to the farm in Darke county on which he spent the remainder of his life. Mrs. Miller died August 29, 1837, after bearing her husband twelve children, namely: Michael K., Aaron K., David K., Sarah, Mary, Moses, Noah, Daniel, Fannie, Catherine and two that died in infancy unnamed. John C. Miller departed this life, on the 2nd day of September, 1891.
David K. Miller, whose name introduces this sketch, was born in Darke county, Ohio, May 22, 1836. He learned his first lessons of practical life on the farm as soon as old enough to do manual labor and in such schools as the country afforded received a fair English education. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he decided to make farming his life work and with little exception his attention has been devoted to til1ing the soil ever since leaving his parental home; the exception referred to was a limited experience in operating a saw-mill and several years spent at the carpenter's trade.
Mr. Miller was married in Darke county, Ohio, November 18, 1860, to Miss Magdalena Wise, whose birth occurred in the same county on the 20th day of December, 1840. Her parents, Jacob and Christena (Shope) Wise, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, were married in the latter state and sometime thereafter moved from Miami county to the county of Darke, where the father died April 28, 1877, in his sixty-seventh year. The mother subsequently went to live with one of her daughters in Preble county, where her death occurred on the 25th of April, 1898. Jacob and Christena Wise were the parents of twelve children whose names are as follows: Benjamin, Isaac, Magdalene, Moses, Barbara, Sarah, Fannie, Jacob, Aaron, Samuel, Noah and Nancy.
In February following his marriage Mr. Miller disposed of his interests in Ohio and moved to Kosciusko county, Indiana, purchasing the place in Jefferson township upon which he has since lived. He found the land covered with heavy timber, thickly interspersed with underbrush and no improvements of any kind in the way of a habitation or other buildings. With a resolute purpose he began the task of clearing the land, an undertaking requiring a vast amount of hard work, and in due time the effect of his labor began to be visible. He developed from the green and prepared for tillage the larger portion of the place, besides erecting a comfortable dwelling and other buildings which temporarily answered the purpose for which intended. Subsequently more substantial structures were built, the area of cleared land was increased and a system of drainage inaugurated by means of which a large part of the place originally covered with swamps and swales was reclaimed and made tillable. This part of the farm is now far more ferti1e and productive than the timbered portion and represents a greater value per acre than most land by which the farm is surrounded. Indeed it may be said that the Miller farm yields to no other in the county in productive capacity, and acre for acre it is perhaps worth as much as the most valuable farm lands in northern Indiana.
Much credit is due Mr. Miller for the work he has done in developing what was formerly considered an undesirable tract of wet land and transforming it from its wild state into one of the most beautiful rural homes within the geographic limits of Jefferson township. All of the modern mechanical appliances and implements calculated to make the pursuit of agriculture an easy and agreeable vocation are employed by Mr. Miller, while his dwelling is supplied with the conveniences and comforts which lighten the good housewife's cares and make her lot much less burdensome than that of any others not so fortunately situated. Mr. Miller's place consists of one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part under cultivation. Although he has reserved a sufficiency of timber to answer all practical purposes, of fuel and lumber, he has prosecuted his farming systematically and by well directed industry and judicious management has succeeded in acquiring sufficient means to enable him from now on to rest from toil and enjoy some of the results of his labors. He is one of the leading citizens of his community and enjoys in a marked degree the esteem of his neighbors and friends throughout the township of Jefferson. His career has been eminently honorable and al1 who know him speak in high terms of his many sterling qualities and characteristics, not the least of which are invincible courage to do the right, uncompromising integrity and a large faith in God and his fellow man. He is a deeply religious man and fails not to ascribe to his Maker the many blessings which have attended him through life.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are devout members of the German Baptist church. They have been active in the good work of the local congregation to which they belong, besides aiding to promote all charitable and benevolent enterprises whereby the deserving poor and unfortunate may be benefited. Their family consists of twelve children and not the least of their blessings is the fact that death has not crossed their threshold to claim a victim from any of these manly sons and womanly daughters; the names and births of the children are as follows: Isaac, August 24, 1861; Catherine, February 13, 1863; Jacob, December 26, 1864; John, November 13, 1866; Jane, July 4, 1868; Noah, September 5, 1870; Daniel, January 8, 1877; Sarah, June 8, 1879; Ida November 6, 1881, and Mary, January 17, 1884.
H2 Catherine Miller, born February 13, 1863.
H3 Jacoborn Miller, born December 26, 1865.
H4 John Miller, born November 13, 1866.
H5 Jane Miller, born July 4, 1868.
H6 Noah Miller, born September 5, 1870 died 1955, married ca. 1891 Clara B. _______, born December 1872. He is buried Milford Cemetery.
H7 Daniel Miller, born January 8, 1873.
H8 Henry Miller, born January 4, 1875 died October 27, 1957, married August 12, 1897, Musa Belle Richcreek born August 23, 1878 Elkhart County, Indiana, died June 16, 1960 Ligonier Indiana, daughter of William J. Richcreek and Sarah Catharine Steele. Henry and Belle are buried Milford Cemetery.
H9 Andrew Miller, born February 8, 1877, died May 18, 1951 Ashland, Ohio, married Chastina Richcreek born 1881 Elkhart County, Indiana, died 1962, daughter of William J. Richcreek and Sarah Catharine Steele. They are buried Milford Cemetery.
H10 Sarah Miller, born June 8, 1879.
H11 Ida Miller, born November 6, 1881, died January 24, 1968 Kings County, California, married ca. 1902 Mr. Gibson, m Mr. Tracy, m Mr. Stussy.
H12 Mary Miller, born January 17, 1884, died August 20, 1955 in Elkhart, Indiana, married (1) March 11, 1911 Warsaw, Indiana, John Widmoyer born August 20, 1890, died December 10, 1920, son of David O. Widmoyer and Mary; married (2) September 17, 1929 Nappanee, Indiana, Albert Allen Helper born July 8, 1875 Koscuisko County, Indiana, died February 19, 1942 Elkhart, Indiana, son of Jacob Helper and Nancy Ann Moore. John and Mary are buried Union Center Cemetery near Nappanee, Indiana.
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The Miller Family Tree is a collection of information gathered over the past 50+ years by Karleen & Tom Miller of Morrisville Pennsylvania, and Gale Honeyman of the Brethren Heritage Center. The html version was created by Eric Davis. |