During the greater part of his residence in Story county he filled the office of justice of the peace and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. His entire life was in harmony with his professions as a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he took an active part.
Unto him and his wife were born eight children: James H., now deceased; John F., a resident of Clinton, Illinois; Ichabod Taylor, deceased, who was a Methodist Episcopal preacher and who served for several years in the Civil war, a part of the time as private and later as chaplain of the Ninety-fourth Illinois Infantry; William O., who has resided in California since 1859; Rohama J., who died in infancy; Charles P., who was killed in the charge at Black River Bridge in the Civil war; Samuel H., who died in Texas ;' and Thomas J.
The last named remained upon the home farm in Illinois until twelve years of age, when, with his parents, he removed to Bloomington, that state, there residing for two years. In 1856 the family came to Story county, Iowa, settling in Bloomington, Franklin township, and there Thomas J. Miller remained until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting on the 9th of August, 1862, as a member of Company A, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill and Black River Bridge. He was taken ill soon afterward and subsequently did camp duty. He was in the convalescent hospital during the siege of Vicksburg and was discharged at Vicksburg on the 11th of August, 1863.
After his return home Mr. Miller engaged in farming with his father for a short time but later entered the nursery business at Bloomington, in connection with Captain R. S. Osborne, carrying on business under the firm style of Osborne & Miller for about nine years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Miller began farming on his own account and devoted his energies untiringly to general agricultural pursuits until 1891, when he was elected county treasurer, entering upon the duties of the office on the 1st of January, 1892. He served for two terms, or four years, his reelection coming to him as an indication of the confidence and trust reposed in him. On his retirement from office he engaged in the grocery business at Ames for nine years, first as a member of the firm of Miller & Korsen, and later under the firm style of Miller & Son. At the time of the second opening of territory in Oklahoma, in February, 1900, he went to that state and took up a homestead near Frederick, spending about nineteen months there. At length he sold out, trading his store for Kansas land, which he has since sold. During the past three years he has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in a well earned rest, his home being at No. 211 South Kellogg street in Ames, where he has resided since 1896, save for a brief interval of absence.
Mr. Miller has been twice married On the 28th of November, 1866, he wedded Lizzie McClain, who was born August 28, 1848, and died March 2, 1868, leaving a son, William Howard, who died at the age of two years.