James Miller

MILLER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 11:28:14

James Miller, upon his farm in Sec 30, Garden township, he is devoting his time and attention to the cultivation of field and meadow and to the raising of stock and his work has been so energetically prosecuted that gratifying success has attended his efforts. He today owns 440 acres of land, covering portions of Sec 2, 14, 22, 27 and 28, which is a well improved farm on which are three sets of farm buildings. He also has a place of 30 acres adjoining Madrid. Mr Miller is a native of New York, his birth having occurred on the St Lawrence river, in St Lawrence county, February 6, 1842. His father , John Miller, was a native of Ireland and on leaving the Green Isle of Erin crossed the briny deep to the new world when a young man. St Lawrence county, New York, was his destination, an he located on a farm in Lisbon township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits, becoming one of the substantial farmers of that locality. There he reared his family and spent his remaining days, his death occurring there in 1891 at the ripe old age of 80 years. He was married in that county to Mary Burk, also a native of Ireland. She died in 1864. By her marriage she became the mother of four sons and a daughter, all of whom reached adult age.
Of this number of James Miller is the eldest and upon the old home farm in the Empire state he was reared to manhood, remaining under the parental roof until he had reached his majority. He has fair common school advantages and on starting out on an independent business career he secured employment as a farm hand and his time was thus passed for eleven years. He was married March 2, 1874, to Matilda Miller, a native of St Lawrence county, reared and educated there. The wedding journey of the young couple consisted of a trip to the west. They mad their way direct to Boone county, Iowa arriving on March 4 and for tow years they resided upon a rented farm. Mr Miller then purchased the first farm which he ever owned, becoming the possessor of 160 acres on Sec 14, garden township. Not a furrow had been turned or improvement made upon the place but with characteristic energy he undertook the work of developing a good farm there. He built a small house and began to break the land and fence the fields. Later his first home was replaced with a good residence, while substantial barns and outbuildings were provided for the shelter of grain and stock. In his new home success attended his efforts and he purchased a tract of land, adding to his property form time to time until he secured 200 acres in the home place and other lands nearby. In 1900 he removed to his present home, adjoining Madrid and rented his original farm. The place had been purchased in 1891 and in September 1900 he took up his abode there.
Unto Mr and Mrs Miller has been born one son, Linnie J who is home with his parents. Mr Miller is most earnest in his advocacy of the principles of the Republican party and in 1864 he cast his presidential ballot of Abraham Lincoln, while to each candidate of the party since that time he has given unwavering allegiance. He firmly believes in the principles of the organization, including the protection of American industries, sound money and expansion. He has never desired or sought office, but has served as township trustee and also as supervisor of highways. The cause of education finds him a warm friend and he endorses all measures which he believes will contribute to the general good. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Madrid and Mr miller is serving as one of the church trustees. He is a respected citizen of the county in which he has made his home for twenty-eight years and in which he has been known as a progressive and enterprising agriculturist. He came to the county a poor man, empty handed but possessed of courage and determination. He has met obstacles and difficulties on his path but has overcome these by strong purpose and today he stands among the substantial men who owe their advancement to indefatigable labor. His life history is an illustration of what may be accomplished through unremitting diligence when guided by practical common sense and should serve to encourage and inspire many young men starting out for themselves without capital.

1902 Boone County History Book