Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 492

FREDERICK MILLER, a leading and representative farmer of Moscow Township, residing on section 21, was born in Germany, May 30, 1834, while his father was also a native of that country, born Nov. 13, 1796. When a youth Frederick Miller, Sr., learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for a livlihood until his emigration to America. In his native land he was united in marriage with Sophia Christina Charlotta Rasa, and in 1844, accompanied by their family they sailed for America. Embarking on a sailing-vessel at Bremen the sailed across the broad Atlantic, their destination being Galveston, Tex., but on reaching that city many reports of the unhealthiness of the climate was heard, which caused Mr. Miller to select another location. Going to New Orleans he made his home until the following spring. In the meantime he met a gentleman by the name of Fink, whom he had known in the Old World, and who was a resident of Muscatine County. Giving a good report of Iowa he induced Mr. Miller to make his future home in this community, so, accompanied by his family, he boarded a steamer, which landed him at Muscatine in the spring of 1845. After a few days had passed, during which time he was engaged in looking up a location, he purchased a farm on section 22, Moscow Township, and continued its cultivation until his death, which occurred in September, 1865. His wife survived her husband several years, when she was called to her final home. They were the parents of six children, who came with them to America, and all are yet living namely: Henry, who is a resident of Muscatine; Christina, wife of Henry Kaufman, of Cedar County, Iowa; Frederick, of this sketch; Johanna, who wedded Adolph Gottbrecht, of Muscatine; Barney, a resident farmer of Bloomington Township; and Charles, who is living in Muscatine County.

Mr. Miller was a man highly esteemed for his many excellencies of character, was numbered among the worthy citizens of Muscatine County, and won the confidence and respect of all with whom business or pleasure brought him in contact. In his political sentiments he advocated the principles of the Democratic party, and religiously, he was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.

The earlier life of our subject was spent in his native land, being about eleven years of age when with his parents, he came to Muscatine County. Forty-four years have passed since that time, and with the exception of two years he has remained a resident of this community. He was reared to farm life, receiving his education in the common schools, and later, as before stated, went to the Crescent City, where he engaged in loading and unloading boats by contract. About this time great excitement was caused by by the question of the extension of slavery, and war threatened. Being a friend of the Government Mr. Miller returned to Iowa, and without interruption has remained a resident of Muscatine County.

Our subject has been twice married, his first union being with Martha Forhouer, a native of Germany, in 1851. After twelve years of happy wedded life her death occurred, and on the 13th of March, 1873, Mr. Miller wedded Miss Anna Schumberg, who was also a native of Germany, and who came to America in company with her mother in 1871. By the first union four children were born: Regina, Fred, Charles, and Anna. Seven children grace the second union, six of whom are living: Emma, Edward, Edith, Bertha, Lillie, and Edna. Mary died in infancy.

Mr. Miller follows the occupation of farming, and is the owner of the old homestead upon which his parents settled during the early days of the history of this county. He can well remember the wild and uncultivated condition of the country at that time, and has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. Among the leading and successful farmers of Moscow Township he stands in the front rank, and is the owner of one of the finest farms in the community, comprising over 400 acres of land. Enterprising and progressive, he has the interests of the community at heart, and exerts his influence for the advancement of any enterprise which would be of public benefit.


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