Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 294
RAYNOLDS MILLER, residing on section 1, Cedar Township, is one of the early settlers of this county. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, June 27, 1814, and is a son of Abraham Miller. His father was born in Shenandoah County, Va., and June 2, 1776, married his cousin, Rebecca Miller, who was born in Hampshire County, the same State, Feb. 3, 1784. After their marriage the young couple left Virginia in 1804, and removed to Ohio, where Mr. Miller engaged in farming until 1846, when he emigrated to Missouri, and again purchased land. Returning to Ohio on business he was there taken sick, and his death occurred Feb. 3 1855. Mrs. Miller survived her husband several years, dying in Mississippi County, Mo., Jan. 20, 1867. They were the parents of ten children, and with the exception of one who died in childhood all lived to be adults. Elizabeth, who was born Sept. 7, 1805, wedded George Raynolds, and died leaving six children; Isaac was married, and died in Mississippi County, Mo., leaving two children, his wife having departed this life previous to his death; William, born on the 7th of April, 1809, died at his home in Mississippi County, Mo., leaving a wife and two children to mourn their loss; Adam, born Nov. 9, 1811, was married, and resided in Mississippi County until his death, Sept.2, 1883; Raynolds, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Abraham, born Nov. 25, 1816, is now married and resides in Mississippi County, Mo., and has two children; John, born March 21, 1819, died while on a visit to Scioto County, Ohio; Rebecca, widow of Charles Miller, was born May 11, 1822, and is now living in Sangamon County, Ill.; Michael died at he age of eighteen months; Franklin, born Jan. 3, 1830, died at his home in Mississippi County, Mo., leaving a wife and three children.

Our subject was reared to farm life, and assisted his father in the care and cultivation of his land in Ohio until the family removed to Missouri, when he remained in sole charge of the Ohio farm until thirty-five years of age. He then left his native State in 1850, and emigrated to Iowa, settling in Muscatine County, where he purchased 320 acres of land and entered 160 acres. Two years later, on the 18th of March 1852, he wedded Miss Margaret Kerr, the daughter of Jesse and Catherine ( Deweese ) Kerr. She was one of a family of nine children, though all are now dead with the exception of her brother Jesse W., who resides in Township Seventy-Six. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Miller three children were born: Rebecca, who became the wife of Jacob S Estle, and died, leaving three children; Chester M., born July 24, 1880; Daisy, born June 26, 1882, and Thomas L., born May 17, 1884, who are living with Mr. Miller. Elizabeth K., born Aug. 30, 1854, became the wife of John Estle, of Dallas County, Iowa, and four children have been born of their union; Catherine D., born Aug. 29, 1856, died in childhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller began their domestic life in a little log cabin, which continued to be their home for two years, when he bought an old house of hewed logs and moved it upon the farm. In that they resided until 1862, when a comfortable brick residence was erected. Mr. Miller in former years had engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, having sold annually about 100 head of hogs and 100 head of cattle, and still engages in the business to some extent. He also carries on general farming, owning 800 acres of land under fence, most of which is meadow and pasture land. He has lived in this county for over thirty-eight years, and has endured all the trials and difficulties incident to pioneer life, has aided in the work of cultivation and development, and has ever been prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for the public welfare. He is a Republican in political sentiiment. His first vote was cast for William Henry Harrison in 1836. He again voted for him in 1840, and in 1888 voted for Benjamin Harrison.

---

Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page