Joseph Hutchinson Miller

CREGER, GROVES, MILLER, SWEARINGEN, SWEEZEY, YOUNG

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 20:42:59

Joseph Miller, a retired farmer of Ohio township, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 18th of January, 1834, a son of Samuel and Lavina (Groves) Miller, the former born in Pennsylvania, of German descent, and the latter a native of Virginia. They became residents of Ohio in the early days of the history of that state and the father provided for the support of his family by farming.

Joseph Miller attended school in Ohio and remained in his native state until 1865, when he removed to Iowa. In the spring of 1869 he took up his residence in Ohio township, Madison county, where he has since resided. For many years he carried on general farming and stock-raising and he became known as an energetic and enterprising agriculturist, but as he has reached the age of eighty-one he is now living in honorable retirement, enjoying the fruits of his well directed labor of former years.

In 1869 Mr. Miller married Miss Louisa Ellen Young, a daughter of C. H. and Rebecca (Creger) Young. Her father, who was a well known blacksmith of Ohio township, subsequently conducted a shop in St. Charles and was living in that town at the time of his death, which took place in April, 1912, while he was visiting in Illinois. His wife had passed away many years previously. On the 5th of June, 1900, Mrs. Miller was called to the home beyond. She was the mother of two children. Nettie Edith, born February 27, 1870, married C. W. Sweezy, of Truro, and passed away on the 18th of October, 1906. Samuel Walter, born December 9, 1871, resides upon the home farm, of which he assumed charge in 1907. In 1900 he was united in marriage to Miss Ida D. Swearingen, who was born November 11, 1879, a daughter of Daniel and Anna (Fife) Swearingen, both natives of this state, the former born in Eddyville in 1855 and the latter in this county in 1857. They were married in Madison county, the father having removed here in youth. He was a farmer by occupation and as he was successful accumulated a competence that enables him to live retired in Truro.

His wife also survives. Samuel W. Miller, who has charge of the home farm, is a prosperous and up-to-date young agriculturist and also raises and feeds many cattle and hogs yearly. He operates four hundred and forty acres, of which he owns two hundred and eighty acres. His political belief is that of the republican party and he has served for two terms as township trustee. To him and his wife have been born two children: Pauline, whose birth occurred on the 11th of September, 1901, and who is attending the Truro high school; and Coy, born December 1, 1907.

Mr. Miller of this review is a democrat and is loyal in his support of the principles and candidates of that party. He has been called to public office and has discharged his duties with circumspection, thus winning the approval of his constituents. For one term he was trustee of Ohio township and for one term he was school director of his district. He is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was his wife, and throughout his entire life he has so ordered his actions that he is held in the highest esteem by all who have come in contact with him. For forty-six years he has been a resident of Madison county and has watched with much interest the steady growth and development of the county, contributing as far as possible to its progress and advancement along agricultural lines and also as regards moral and civic betterment.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller