Frank L. Miller

MILLER, GAULT, WHEELER, WOODBURN, VEASY, STEARNS, COLISTA, CARPER

Posted By: Phyllis Stackhouse (email)
Date: 8/21/2008 at 20:11:18

Taken from the History of Audubon County, Iowa
H. F. Andrews, editor...Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915.

Frank L. Miller
The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its farmers and business men. It is the progressive, wide-awake men of affairs who make the real history of a community. Their influence in shaping and directing its various interests is difficult to estimate. The well-known gentleman whose name appears at the top of this sketch, has for many years ranked among the leading farmers and business men of Audubon county. It is to such enterprising spirits as he that the locality is indebted for its recent substantial growth and for the high position it occupies as a center of agricultural activities. Frank L. Miller, a well-known farmer of Melville township, Audubon county, Iowa, and the proprietor of three hundred and fifty-six acres, comprising the Miller estate, was born on May 11, 1867, in Audubon county, two miles south of Exira on the Dick Gault farm. Mr. Miller lives in the second house built in Melville township and the Miller estate, of which he is the proprietor at present, originally consisted of two hundred and eighty acres, but Mr. Miller has added eighty acres to that tract. Frank L. Miller is the son of Benjamin F. and Hannah (Wheeler) Miller. Benjamin F. Miller was the son of Robert Miller, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1807, and died in Leroy township, Audubon county, on July 28, 1886. He learned the miller's trade and was a farmer. He was married on April 2, 1834, to Elizabeth Woodburn, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the eldest daughter of William and Elizabeth (Veasy) Woodburn. They were of Irish descent, being the second generation of their family living in America. In the fall of 1856 Robert Miller moved to Audubon county and settled three miles south of Exira on the Gault homestead, which he farmed for two years. He then purchased a farm in section 1 of Leroy township, consisting of one hundred and thirty-three acres, and here he carried on general farming and live-stock breeding. He and his wife had ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity: William, who died at the age of eight years; Martha W., who is married to Perry Roberts; Benjamin F., who died in November 1886; Elizabeth, who died at the age of eleven; James, who died in January 1884; Thomas, who is a farmer; Samuel; John A.; Mary J., who died on February 3, 1874; and Sarah A., who died on December 5, 1879. Robert Miller was appointed postmaster during President Hayes' administration and kept the postoffice in his home. He was a Democrat of the old school. Benjamin F. and James Miller served in the Civil War. The former was a member of the Thirtieth Volunteer Infantry and was orderly sergeant in Company G. James Miller was a member of Company E, Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry and served four years, during which period he enlisted twice. Frank L. Miller was one year old when his parents moved to the farm where he now lives. He has lived longer in Melville township than any other citizen. His parents settled on the prairie when there was not a house in sight. Benjamin F. Miller first purchased ninety-six acres of land and built the second house in Melville township. Frank L. Miller lived five years in Audubon, operating a corn sheller and doing other work. He lived five years in Ross and two years on the Eddy farm near Ross. In 1907 he moved to the old homestead farm. Mr. Miller's education was very limited. He attended the small school on the Doc Stearns place and was a student at the same time Ella Stearns attended this school. Frank L. Miller was married on June 25, 1891, to Flora Carper, who was born on June 21, 1871, near Trenton, Henry county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Martin Luther and Jane (Colista) Carper, natives of Virginia and Henry county, Iowa, respectively. They came to Audubon county in 1878 and settled in Melville township. Martin Luther Carper was born in 1841 and now lives in Ross. His wife, who before her marriage was Jane Colista, was born in 1850 and died in June 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Miller have been born four children: Bessie Vera, who is a graduate of the Audubon high school; Nellie May, Benjamin Franklin and Chester Fulton, all of whom are living at home. Frank L. Miller is an ardent Democrat, but has never been especially active in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is influential in this organization.