James A. MILLER, farmer, section 9, Clinton Township, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, September 4, 1826, son of Henry Jr. and Catharine (MONTGOMERY) MILLER. He was reared a farmer and received his education in the common schools of his county. At the age of 21, in 1827, he began work on a farm in Virginia at $7.00 per month.

He was married October 4, 1849 to Miss Susan E. MACKEY, also of Rockbridge County, and daughter of James S. and Nancy (McMATH) MACKEY of Lexington. Susan was born March 21, 1829.

In the spring of 1850, he began farming. After one day's work, he was taken sick with typhoid fever, which continued for 42 days before a change for the better. After he was able to be up, he took a relapse, and when next he was able to be out, his neighbors were putting in their fall wheat. Thinking to improve his financial condition, James decided to move his family West to Iowa.

On September 10, 1856, Mr. MILLER with wife and five children started for Iowa, coming with one two-horse team and a one-horse vehicle with two seats. The journey lasted until the 7th of November. They slept in tents during their travels. They settled in Clinton Township near the Missouri line, the next year entered land across the line in Worth County, Missouri [then Gentry County]. Here he acquired 160 acres of Government land and purchased twenty acres of timber land in Clinton Township, this county. His first house was a log cabin 12 x 16. In 1859 he erected a frame house, 16 x 24 feet, doing the carpenter work himself. In 1864 he sold out and bought 215 acres of his present farm, purchasing it of one John WEAVER. The farm was first settled by Thomas LOVEWELL and afterward by N. H. DeWITT. The improvements consisted of a log dwelling and a farme, 16 x 18 feet, used as a store-room by Mr. WEAVER. Mr. MILLER has added to his original purchase until he owns 582 acres, a large portion being rich bottom land. He erected his present residence in 1874. He is engaged in stock-raising and feeding - cattle, horses, sheep and swine.

During the Civil War he served with the militia. He has served as justice of the peace twenty years, and has dispensed justice worthy of a judge of the highter court. He served the community in which he lived as township trustee, member of Board of Supervisors, and was school treasurer of Clinton Township for 35 years. He took the State census of Clinton Township in 1875, and the United States census of Middle Fork and Clinton Townships in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. MILLER are members of the United Presbyterian church of Redding. Politically, he is a Republican, as were all of his sons and sons-in-law.

Mr. and Mrs. MILLER are the parents of fifteen children 0 John W., Nancy Catherine, James H., Horace M., Alexander T., Sarah Jane, Lumina B., Charles T., Signora A., Nathan R., Lena D., Hugh W., Cora Susan, and Angeline Mabel. Marietta E., wife of John S. GLENDENNING, died at the age of twenty-three.

Mr. MILLER is a member of the Anti-Horse-Thief Association. He always takes an active interest in educational and religious matters, and contributes liberally to all worthy enterprises. He is one of the best citizens of Ringgold County. Postoffice, Redding.

NOTE: James A. MILLER died at the age of 86 on December 2, 1902 with interment at Redding Cemetery, Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Mrs. MILLER died at the age of 80 years on January 24, 1906. Mrs. MILLER was of the type of vigorous pioneer character that is fast passing away. Her life was a continual service for her family and community. A host of old time friends mourned her death, at which time all of her thirteen lving children were with her. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. HAMILTON, of the United Presbyterian church, of which church Mrs. MILLER had been a member for over 50 years.

Mr. and Mrs. MILLER were the parents of 15 children:

1) Marietta E. MILLER, born 1850; died 16 Oct 1873, interment Middle Fork Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 22 Apr 1869 John S. GLENDENNING (1845-1925)
    Child: James A. GLENDENNING, died 28 days old on November 6, 1873, inter: Middle Fork Cem.
2) John William MILLER, born 1852; died 1933, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married 1st Mary HARDEN; married 2nd Emma A. HARDEN (1863-1943)
3) Nancy Catherine MILLER, born 20 Apr 1853; died 19 Sep 1895
    interment Blockton Cemetery, Taylor Co. IA
    married William D. LINK
4) James H. MILLER married Mary BEASON
5) Horace M. MILLER married Dora HOOVER
6) Alexander T. "Alex" MILLER, born 1857; died 1936, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married Mahala WARDEN (1858-1935), interment Redding Cemetery
7) Sarah J. MILLER married Hugh C. DENNY
8) Loumina B. MILLER, born 1861; died 1932, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married James N. HOOVER (1858-1937), interment Redding Cemetery
9) Charles Thompson MILLER, born 1863; died 1924, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
    married Rachel R. CLARK (1865-1961), interment Redding Cemetery
10) Signora A. MILLER married A. L. LYNCH
11) Nathan R. MILLER, born 03 Oct 1868; died 01 Jul 1911, interment Redding Cemetery
      married Nannie L. MURRAY (1875-1959), interment Redding Cemetery
12) Lena D. MILLER, born 1869; died 1959, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
      married Phillip STUDER (1877-1954), interment Redding Cemetery
13) Hugh W. MILLER, born 1872; died 1941, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
      married Carrie B. MOHLER (1875-1959), interment Redding Cemetery
14) Cora S. MILLER, born 1874; died 1960, interement Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
      married Edward O. HOOVER (1869-1950), interment Redding Cemetery
15) Mabel Angie MILLER, born 1876; died 1929, interment Redding Cemetery, Ringgold Co. IA
      married Charlie T. JENNINGS (1876-1959), interment Redding Cemetery

Henry Jr. and Catharine (MONTGOMERY) MILLER

James' father Henry MILLER, Jr. was born January 25, 1786, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and died March 25, 1865. Henry married James' mother Catharine MONTGOMERY February 15, 1816. Catharine was born August 22, 1792, Rockbridge County, Virginia, and died May 8, 1855, Redding, Ringgold County, Iowa. Henry and Catharine were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 229-30, 1887.

RAILEY, Clementine Brown. History of the House of Ochilree of Ayrshire, Scotland. Pp. 160, 169-79. Bulletin Printing, Sterling KS. 1936.

WPA Grave Survey; IAGen Gravestone Photograph Project

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z

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