Henry C. Miller

MILLER, SMITH, HENTZEL, EIKE

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/5/2001 at 17:56:03

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890
HENRY C. MILLER
Henry C. Miller, whose home is on Section 27, Farmington Township, Van Buren County, devotes his energies to farming and raising stock. His characteristic energy and ability have made him one of the progressive farmers of the community, and it is with pleasure that we record his sketch in this volume. He was born on September 26, 1848 in St Louis county Missouri, and was of German descent. His father, Adam Miller, was born in Kour Hessen, Germany in 1820, and when a lad of fourteen summers accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States. Becoming a resident of St Louis County Missouri he there formed the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt Germany in 1821. She too came with her parents to America, being then sixteen years of age. The acquaintance of the young couple ripened into love, they were married and began their domestic life in St Louis County Missouri where for a time Mr. Miller was employed as a teacher of both English and German, but farming was his principal occupation. In 1854 he removed with his family to Lee County Iowa, and three years later became a resident of Des Moines County, where he died August 24, 1889. By his ballot he supported the principles of the Republican Party, and religiously, he was a member of the Evangelical Church, to which his wife also belongs. She is still living and makes her home with her children.
Our subject is the fourth in a family of nine children, seven of whom are yet living. Amid play and work on his father’s farm his boyhood days were spent, and he was educated in both the English and German languages. He worked at home until he had attained his majority, when his father knowing that he would then wish to begin life for himself, gave him forty acres of land. He began farming on his own responsibility, and has carried on that occupation continuously since with good success. As a helpmate on his life’s journey he chose Miss Minnie Hentzel, a native of Lee County Iowa, born January 15, 1855, and a daughter of Christian and Christina Eike Hentzel, both of whom were natives of Hanover Germany, the former born in 1813, and the latter in 1815. Having married, they resided in the old country until 1854, when they determined to seek a home in the United States. They made a settlement on a farm in Lee County Iowa, where for many years they continued to reside, but both have now passed away, the death of Mr. Hentzel occurring in 1881, while his wife was called home in 1887. In their family were four children, two of whom are yet living. The parents were members of the Evangelical Church, and Mr. Hentzel was a Democrat in politics.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller was celebrated March 8, 1877, and they at once took up their residence upon their present farm, which comprises three hundred and seven acres of arable land, furnished with good buildings and supplied with all necessary improvements. Their home has been gladdened by the presence of five interesting children, as follows: Loui H., Louellah M., Esther M., Adam W. and Aura J. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the Master’s vineyard are faithful workers. He has served as Steward and Trustee, and also gives liberally to the support of the Gospel.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.