Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 560
ALONZO H. MILLER

The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by those of its representative citizens and yields its tribute of admiration and respect to those whose work and actions constitute the record of a community's prosperity. Among the residents of Persia, Harrison county, Iowa, who are well known because of their success in business, is Alonzo H. MILLER, a retired barber, who by working steadily at his trade for a period of more than thirty years, accummulated a handsome competence.

Alonzo H. MILLER was born November 9, 1857, in Madison county, Iowa, a son of Andrew and Lucinda (ALEXANDER) MILLER, the former born about 1834 in Indiana, where he was a farmer. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and is now living retired with his daughter, Emma, at Osecola, Missouri. Lucinda Alexander was also a native of Indiana, born about 1835, and her death occurred in 1865. To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew MILLER were born four children: Alonzo H., of whom this narrative treats; Mrs. Emma Hartley, a resident of St. Clair county, Missouri; Mrs. Sarah Crampton, of Denver, Colorado, and Elijah, a resident of St. Clair county, Missouri.

Alonzo H. MILLER was very young when he first started out in life for himself, being only eleven years old. He attended the district schools of Missouri and Iowa. He first worked at farm labor and afterwards worked in the railroad shops, and at various kinds of labor. In 1883 he went to Missouri Valley, Iowa, where he learned the barber's trade, remaining in that city one year, after which he moved to Persia, Iowa, where he worked for wages the first winter after arriving there, being at the time two hundred dollars in debt. He then bought the barber shop which was to make him a comfortable fortune, starting with practically nothing, but remained at his post of duty thirty long years. In the beginning, Persia was without churches or a hotel. Mr. MILLER is now living in a cozy home, retired and alone, his wife having died. He has a library consisting of a splendid collection of books, and has a pet parrot for company. He is the owner of twenty acres of land in the state of Idaho, and was a land owner in Union and Washington townships, in this county, having one-half section. He is a shareholder in the People's Bank of Persia, and also in the Shafer Printing Company, of Omaha, Nebraska.

Mr. MILLER was married in 1897 to Mrs. Minnie ZOELER, who was born in 1855 in Ireland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. CLIFFORD. Her death occurred in August, 1910.

Mr. MILLER is an ardent Republican, but has not taken a very active part in political affairs. He is an attendant of church, although not a member of any denomination. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is very active in the work of this fraternal organization, particularly as a Shriner. He has been a delegate to conventions of this order on several different occasions and will attend the next national meeting in the west. Mr. MILLER also is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. MILLER's success in life is unique. Few men who follow a trade acquire the independent competence in life that Mr. MILLER has acquired. His success is the consequence of his good business management and foresight. He is eminently respected in the community where he lives for his sterling worth as a citizen, and is well deserving of representation in this volume as one of the substantial and prominent citizens of Harrison county, Iowa.

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