"The History of Decatur County In." by Lewis Harding
Charles P. Miller page 1166
Having spent all his life thus far on the farm on which he was born, in Adams
township, this county, Charles P. Miller, one of the prosperous and
progressive farmers of Decatur county is in a position to make fitting
contrasts with conditions existing there about at the time of his earliest
recollection and the conditions now prevailing in that favored section of the
county. Mr. Miller has a beautiful home, a fine old brick mansion built by
his father back in 1862, which has been modernized in numerous ways to bring
it up to the latter-day until it now is one of the best farm houses in
Decatur county. Fitting accompaniment to this is his big red bank barn,
fifty by one hundred by thirty-two feet to the square with other commodious
farm buildings to match. Mr. Miller is an extensive landowner in the county.
At one time he was the owner of eleven hundred and seventy-eight acres, four
hundred and fifty acres of which comprised the home farm: three hundred and
twenty acres in Washington and Adams township: two hundred and forty-eight
acres in Clinton township and one hundred and sixty acres in Clay township.
Much of this land he since has disposed of to his sons, reducing his holdings
to the home farm of four hundred and fifty acres and one hundred and sixty
acres in Washington township. In addition to his large general farming
operations. Mr Miller formerly was engaged in the breeding of Shorthorn
cattle, but of late years has given little attention to that phase of
farming, having on his farm now only about one hundred hogs, sixty head of
cattle and sixteen or eighteen horses.
Charles P. Miller was born on the farm on which he still lives, in Adams
township, Decatur county, In. October 6,1853, the son of Charles and Louisa
(Pleak) Miller, the former of whom was born on May 9,1814 and died on
Mar.15,1888, and the latter of whom was born on Jan. 15,1816, and died on
June 8,1907.
Charles Miller was born in western VA, the son of George Miller, who
brought his family to Decatur county, In. in 1827. George Miller made his
home in what was then the forest wilderness of Adams township. where he lived
until 1857, in which year he sold out and moved to Ia. again becoming a
pioneer, and in that state he died. His wife, who was a Miss Elizabeth Swope
before her marriage, bore to him sixteen children, thirteen of whom lived to
maturity and married, the numerous progeny of this union making now a large
family. These thirteen children were as follow: Jacob, Michael, John, Mrs.
Mary Riffe, Mrs Catherine Johnson, Mrs. Nancy Williams, Mrs. Anna Jones,
George W., Mrs Elizabeth Spraker, Charles, Mrs. Martha Spraker, Mrs. Sarah
Dunn and Joseph.
Charles Miller for a time lived on a part of the Nathan Hunter farm in
Washington township, but when his father moved to Iowa he sold that tract and
bought the tract where his son, Charles P., now lives, and there spent the
rest of his life. Charles Miller became one of Decatur county's progressive
farmers, owning about five hundred and twenty acres of land at the time of
his death. He was an ardent Whig and took an active interest in the early
political life of the county. Upon the formation of the Republican party he
became affiliated with that party and ever thereafter espoused its
principles. He was an earnest Methodist and his children were reared in that
faith.
On June 2,1835, Charles Miller was united in marriage to Louisa Pleak,
daughter of Narcus Baron Steuben Isaac Henry Fielden Louis and Sabina (Virt)
Pleak, natives of Ky. and pioneer settlers of Decatur county, a family which
has been largely represented in the affairs of this county since the year
1821. Further interesting details of the genealogy of the Pleak family may
be found in the biographical sketch relating to Strauther Van Pleak,
presented elsewhere in this volume. To this union were born ten children,
all of whom are now deceased save Charles P.Miller, namely: Michael,
Elizabeth, Sabina, America, George, Joseph, Ira, Narcus Baron Steuben Isaac
Henry Fielden Louis, Charles P. and one who died in infancy.
Charles P. Miller, being the only survivor of his father's
family,succeeded to the home acres and not only kept the same up in the most
admirable manner, but largely increased the original acreage, becoming one of
the large landowners in this part of the state, as set out in the inroductory
paragraph of this narrative. As he advanced in years and his children
started out to do for themselves, he gradually reduced his land holdings by
disposing of tracts to his children, until now he retains but the four
hundred and fifty acres surrounding the home place and one hundred and sixty
acres in Washington township, all of which is is an excellent state of
cultivation.
On October 31,1878, Charles P. Miller was united in marriage to Margaret
Eudora Graham, who was born in this county on Nov.27,1856, and died on
Feb.23,1915, daughter of Joseph and Almira (Donnell) Graham, both of whom
were natives of this county. Joseph Graham was the son of Joseph Graham, a
native of KY, who came Decatur county in 1823, settling in Fugit township,
where he was known as one of the most prominent pioneers of that section.
To Charles P. and Margaret Eudora (Graham) Miller were born five
children: Louisa Katherine, born Aug.10,1879, who, on December 1,1904,
married Elbert Earl Meek and lives in Fugit township; Joseph Graham,
Dec.19,1880, married Wilhelmina Jacob on Nov.15,1905, at Watseka, Il. and
lives in Washington township, this county; Leonidas Melville,
Apr.11,1883,married Elizabeth Link on Nov.21,1907, and lives in Clinton
township; Margaret Eudora June 5,1885, married James Barton McLaughlin on
Feb.14,1912 and lives in Washington township, and Charles Ira. Feb. 14,1888
who is managing the home farm for his father.
Mr. Miller is a member of the Methodist church and an active worker in
the same, being earnest in good works; a man who is held in the very highest
esteem throughout the neighborhood in which he is so well known. He is a
Mason, but having spent his life five miles from the ladge and being a lover
of home he has not been an active member though he admires very much the
teachings of the order.
Marilyn Merritt