GEORGE F. MILLER

View Portrait of George F. Miller

No record of Cedar county would be complete without extended mention of George F. Miller, a prominent and well know stock-raiser who is meeting with most gratifying success as the result of well directed efforts and keen business management. He was born in Graham township, Johnson county, Iowa, May 17, 1857, a son of Henry C. and Mary A. (Hemsted) Miller, the former born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of August, 1830, and the latter born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, August 25, 1834. Henry C. Miller came to Iowa about 1854, ten years after the arrival of the Hemsted family, who established their home near Iowa City. He was married in this state and here carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred July 9, 1872. His widow still survives and makes her home in Colville, Washington. Their family consisted of three children, all of whom are yet living, namely: George F., of this review; W. B. of Colville, Washington; and Lucy E., the wife of F. C. Hoy, also of that city.

In the county of his nativity George F. Miller was reared to manhood and there amid the busy activities of rural life he gained thorough knowledge of that occupation which he later chose as a life work. He continued to make his residence in Johnson county for a period of thirty-seven years, spending a year, however—1884—in Pratt county, Kansas. In 1895 he arrived in Cedar county and since becoming a resident of this county has attained high rank in stock circles here. His landholdings consist of a well developed farm of two hundred and forty-three and a half acres located on section 25, Cass township, known throughout the locality as Walnut Dale Stock Farm, and here he is extensively engaged in stock-raising in connection with general farming. He breeds registered shorthorn cattle and at the head of his herd is a fine bull, Thick Set, who was the champion junior yearling at the Iowa State Fair in 1909. One of his cows also, Lady of the Lake, was the winner of the fourth prize at the same fair. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and also raises high grade poultry. In addition to his other interests he has, since 1880, operated a threshing machine, and he has so wisely managed his various business affairs that his efforts have been crowned with most gratifying success.

On the 30th of January, 1889, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Finetta B. Schley, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, on the 8th of March, 1869. Her parents, Frederick and Finetta (Miller) Schley, were natives of Germany and Iowa respectively and are both now deceased, the former passing away in 1884, while the latter survived until 1908. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born eight children, as follows: Hazel G., a student in the Tipton high school; Frederick C.; Lillian May; Gladys Iowa; Grace Hope; Finetta Blanche; Henry Virgil, and Walter Everett.

Preeminently a business man, Mr. Miller has had little time or inclination to participate in matters not directly connected with his business affairs, and his success in his undertakings is doubtless due in no small degree to the fact that he has never permitted outside interests to interfere with the conduct of his business. He makes a close study of the conditions of the market and keeps abreast of the progress which has characterized farming and stock-raising quite as much as other channels of industry through his membership in the Corn Belt Meat Producers, the Cedar County Poultry Association and the Cedar County Farmers Institute. Unfaltering industry, wise management, clear judgment and keen business discernment have proved forces in his career which have compelled success, and he justly merits the position to which he has attained in business circles in Cedar county.