For
Muscatine County Iowa
1879
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1879 | |
Here is what the abbreviations in the bios stand for: far: farm; Co.: company or county; dir: dealer; IVA: Iowa Volunteer Artillery; IVC: Iowa Volunteer Cavalry; IVI: Iowa Volunteer Infantry; P.O.: Post Office; S. or Sec.: section; and st.: street.
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Biographical Section, 1879, page 677
FREDERICK MILLER, retired, res. Fourth st., Wilton; prominent among the early settlers and long identified with the growth, development and progress of Muscatine Co. He is a son of Michael Miller and Polly Young; born in York Co., Penn., April 13, 1808, where his ancestors had resided for several generations, having emigrated from Germany; his grandfather Miller having obtained his land in that county from the English Government; his grandfather on his mother's side was Frederick Young, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to America and settled in York Co., where she was born, being one of nineteen children. The parents of both had lived to an extreme old age; his grandmother Young was 97; his grandmother Miller, 85 years of age, at death. The father of our subject, Michael Miller, was an extensive farmer, but having met with severe losses, during the war of 1812, at his death (which occurred when Frederick was a mere boy) left the family in destitute circumstances and at the age of 13, he was obliged to go among strangers; was employed at farming until 16 years of age, at which time he learned the blacksmith trade, and for several years worked at journey-work. At the age of 23, in Lancaster Co., he married Catharine, daughter of Robert and Polly Thompson, nee Linch, both of whom died previous to the 3d year of age; she was born in Centre Co., Penn., May 5, 18--, and was brought up by her mother's parents. Mr. Miller continued to work at his trade in Lancaster Co. until 1834, when he was ordained Pastor of the Evangelical Association, and traveled through his native State and Virginia for six years; then again, he took up his trade in his native county; in April, 1843, they came to Iowa, making most of the journey by water, arriving at Pittsburgh during the terrible fire of that year; they were nearly six weeks making the journey to Bloomington (now Muscatine), where Mrs. M. says they did not know when Sabbath came; he bought a lot on Mulberry st., cor. Fourth, what is now Court House square, on which was standing a double log cabin, one part of which he converted into a blacksmith-shop, the other containing the family and household goods, and in this manner they lived for three years, when he erected a brick shop, 20x40, and, in 1849, built (on the same lot) a fine brick hotel, two-story and basement, 28x50, in which he soon did a flourishing business; having to abandon his trade, he converted his shop into a barn and also built one, 24x120 ft.; both of which containing double rows of horse, were filled to the capacity each and every night, his bills amounting to $50 and $60 per day; in 1858, he exchanged his property for a farm of 240 acres, near Sweetland Centre, where they remained until 1863, and removed to Wilton, where Mr. M. erected a warehouse where where the elevator now stands, and speculated in grain for two years; after which his eldest son, D. T., and himself, erected a store on Fourth st., in which they engaged in the dry goods trade for four years, when he retired. They have six children--D. T., born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 3, 1834, now of Chicago, on Board of Trade, a bachelor; Fred P., born Feb. 8, 1838, now of Newton, Jasper Co., grain and lumber merchant; Sarah, born June 26, 1840, the wife of Stephen Winders, of West Liberty, engaged in the boot and shoe trade; Catherine, born April 1, 1842, the wife of Tunis Burdge of Boonsboro, Iowa, tailor; Harriet A., born Jan. 10, 1846, the wife of Charles Axtell, of Newton, Jasper Co., dry goods merchant, and Marshall H., born Oct. 31, 1849, a conductor on the S. W. R. R.; his res. is Wilton. Mr. Miller believes in the universal salvation of all mankind, while Mrs. M. is a member of long standing in the Presbyterian Church.
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