David Miller, b. 10 Dec 1846

MOTHERAL, SISLER, GETTIS

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:52:32

David Miller, a public-spirited, enterprising citizen of Perry Township, is a farmer of no small prominence in his community, is well-to-do, and is skillfully operating 200 acres of as fine farming land as is to be found in Jackson County, with the most successful financial results. His father, Cornelius Miller, was a pioneer of Jackson County, and an early settler of Perry Township, where he is well known, and is held in the highest estimation. He sold his homestead, that by hard labor he had improved from the wild prairies, to his son David, and is now living in honorable retirement, enjoying a serene old age, free from the cares and toils of his earlier years, as he has accumulated a comfortable competence. He is a true Christian, and a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is an old-time Democrat, a stanch adherent of his party. He was born in Lycoming County, Pa., in 1814; a son of Lawrence Miller, a native of the same county, and a shoemaker by trade. He also engaged in agricultural pursuits, and cleared a small farm in his native State. In 1855 he accompanied his son Cornelius to Iowa, and engaged in shoemaking in Jackson County for awhile. Later he moved to Washington County, this State, and settling in Yeaton, plied his trade there until his death in 1871, at the ripe old age of eighty years. His father, Jason Miller, was of English descent.

The father of our subject was a farmer, and also made shoes. In early life he moved to Lawrence County, his native State, and was there married to Mary Motheral, a native of that county. Her father, George Motheral, was born in the North of Ireland, and emigrating to this country he located in Pennsylvania, and engaged in farming. While returning to Ireland on a visit he died on the ship in which he had taken passage. The mother of our subject died in Perry Township, in 1869, at the age of fifty-five years. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and a thoroughly good woman in every respect. She had fourteen children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and six of them are now living, as follows: Margaret J., resides in Andrew; Angie, in Perry; Matilda, in Nebraska; Hiram, in Bert County, Neb.; David; Josephine lives in Missouri. Hiram served in the war about eight months, as a member of the Missouri heavy artillery.

In 1855 Mr. Miller came with his family to Iowa, starting from his old home in Pennsylvania April 28, and making the journey by boat from Pittsburg, landing at Bellevue three weeks later. He found the surrounding country still in a sparsely settled and wild condition, with plenty of wild game abounding, and Galena and Dubuque the nearest markets. He located first in Andrew, in this county, but after remaining there a year purchased 120 acres of wild land, in section 11, this township. He made many improvements on this place, and continued to reside on it until 1866, when he bought the homestead now owned by our subject. It comprised 200 acres of partly improved land, and he diligently set to work to make further improvements, and to place it under cultivation. He continued to carry on agricultural pursuits until July, 1877, when he retired, as before mentioned.

David Miller, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Newcastle, Pa., Dec. 10, 1846, and he was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to this State. He remained an inmate of the parental household, and give his father active assistance in the management of the farm until 1874. In that year he purchased eighty acres of land, on the same section as the homestead, which he rented. He made improvements on his land, and farmed that with the home farm until 1878, when he sold his place and bought his father's. He has since broken more land and prepared it for tillage, until he now has 170 acres of fine farming land under the plow. It is nicely fenced, and has an ample supply of good spring water. He has a neat and comfortable set of well-arranged farm buildings, including a cozy dwelling, a barn 24x30 feet, and other necessary buildings; and he has a windmill, tank, scales, etc. He raises grain, and also pays attention to raising stock, has a fine herd of graded Short-horns; some Poland-China hogs, of which he raises one carload each year; and twelve head of fine-graded Normans, using three teams to operate his land.

In Maquoketa, Iowa, March 18, 1874, David Miller and Emma Sisler were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of H.A. and Eliza (Gettis) Sisler; her father a farmer of Jackson Township. She is a native of Perry Township, and was born March 18, 1854. Of her pleasant wedded life with our subject ten children have been born - Nancy B., Nettie M., Maude E., Orice, Eva E., Myrtle E., Lula P., Roy W. and Russell W., twins; and the baby, Charles A.

In this township, where so many years of his life have been spent, Mr. Miller is well-known and liked as a free-hearted, generous man, a kind neighbor, every ready to extend a helping hand to any one in distress or want, and in his family relations is a devoted husband and indulgent father. He is a sensible, energetic man, of stable character and moderate views, as is shown by his political belief, he being a Democrat, though not a radical or extremist, and he is influential in party councils, having been a Delegate to county conventions. He takes part in the local government as School Director and Supervisor of Roads. Both he and his wife are prominently identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are members, he being Steward and Trustee.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)