Posted on: Wells County, Indiana Query Forum
Board URL:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/In/Wells?read=295
Surname: MILLER
-------------------------
Biographical sketch extracted from:
Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana
Benjamin G. Shinn; The Lewis Publishing Company 1914
Pages 67, 68
ANDREW J. MILLER. No individual of the community of Montpelier, Indiana,
is more honorably and substantially identified with the agricultural and
commercial interests of Blackford county and with the growth and development
of this section than is Andrew J. Miller. Opportunity in the life of this
thrifty and enterprising farmer has never been allowed to knock twice at
his door, but at all times had been turned to the best possible account,
both from a personal and community standpoint. For a number of years Mr.
Miller was engaged in the milling business at various points, but eventually
returned to farming, in which he has met with a very satisfactory measure
of success.
Andrew J. Miller was born in a log cabin on his fathers old mill property
on the Salamonie river, one mile northwest of Montpelier, June 5, 1858,
a son of Fred G. and Charlotte (Lowrey) Miller. His father was born in
1836 in Germany and as a youth of sixteen years emigrated to the United
States and came to Fort Wayne, Indiana, subsequently moving to Wells county
to join his brother Henry, a farmer. His father and grandfather had been
millers, and he was trained to this business in his youth, so that later,
with his brother, John A. G. Miller, he built the old Salamonie mills,
on the river of that name. This was first operated as a sash sawmill, and
was entirely constructed of wood, even to the gearing, etc. During the
Civil War the brothers added stone buhrs, and continued to operate the
mill with great success for some years. Later Mr. Miller came to Montpelier
and erected a modern mill, with D. and A. Spaulding as partners, and this
also proved a huge success. In addition Mr. Miller was the owner of large
properties, had a good home and owned stock in two Montpelier banks, in
one of which he held a place on the directing board. He was entirely a
self-made man. When he came to this country this his sister Catherine,
making the journey in a sailing vessel which took fifty-two days to make
the stormy trip, he was possessed of $2.50 in money and a silver watch.
When he passed away at his comfortable home at Montpelier, June 4, 1908,
he was generally accounted one of the most substantial men of his community.
Mrs. Miller, who was also gorn in Germany, survived her husband until 1910,
when she passed away at the age of seventy years. There were six children
in the family, Andrew J. being the only son living, while a sketch of the
daughters will be found in the review of Fred Miller in another part of
this work.
The country schools of Indiana furnished Andrew J. Miller with his educational
training, and as a youth he followed in the footsteps of his father, grandfather,
and great-grandfather and learned the trade of miller. In 1879 he went
to Metamors, Franklin county, Indiana, and there for twenty years conducted
a mill, in 1893 replacing it with a more modern plant, continuing to conduct
it until 1902, when he returned to Montpelier and settled on his present
property, which he received from his father. This he has brought to a high
state of development, has placed thereon valuable improvements of every
kind, and is now building a new grist and flour mill. He devotes his attention
to general farming and the raising of stock, along both of which lines
he has met with well-deserved success, but while acquiring a comfortable
competence he has led by no means a self-centered life, for he has taken
a keen interest in education, politics, local government and the social
live of the community.
In 1880, Mr. Miller was married in Franklin county, Indiana, to Miss Kate
Murray, who was born at Metamora, in 1857, and there reared and educated,
the daughter of Andrew and Emily (Jenks) Murray. Mr. Murray was a native
of the state of Maine, but in young manhood came to Franklin county, Indiana,
and here was married to Miss Jenks, who had been born here. Both lived
to be past seventy years of age, and Mr. Murray was by occupation a miller
and farmer and also was identified with a packing house business. Mr. and
Mrs. Miller have been the parents of these children: Harry, a graduate
of the high school, who resides with his parents and superintends the operations
on the home place; Edith, a graduate of the Montpelier High school and
now a teacher in the schools of Wells county; Charles C., a driller with
a large oil concern in the West; and Fred, a graduate of the public schools,
residing at home. Mr. Miller is a democrat, and he and his family are consistent
members of the Baptist church.