ROBERT O. MILLER
The
activities of Robert O. Miller have indeed been helpful in the
development of Lucas county, for he is not only one of the
foremost agriculturists of his locality and one of the most
renowned breeders of live stock of the county, but has also
interested himself along other lines, having successfully
served as justice of the peace, township clerk, member of the
school board and Sunday school superintendent of his church. A farm of seven
hundred acres on sections 15, 21 and 23, Otter Creek township,
stands as proof of his practical application of labor and by
its appearance bespeaks the prosperity of its owner.
Robert
O. Miller was born in Mason county, Illinois, on September 28,
1861, and when but seven years of age removed with his parents
to Otter Creek township, Lucas county, where settlement was
made on a farm near Norwood.
His father was William Miller, who was born in County
Armagh, Ireland, on the 13th of July, 1833, and
died in Norwood, Iowa, in March, 1901. His family was
decided in making removal to the United States by the
precarious living conditions existing in the Emerald isle at
that time and thus it was that William Miller became a
substantial and prominent American citizen. His wife was
Diantha Ames, a native of Illinois, who still resides in
Norwood at the age of eighty years, making her home with our
subject. In
their family were seven children, of whom three are still
living: Robert
O., of this review; J. S., born December 13, 1865, who also
resides in Otter Creek township; and Mrs. Della E. Clore, born
November 24, 1868, of Otter Creek township. The brother of our
subject is a native of Illinois, and the sister of Norwood,
this state.
Coming to
Otter Creek township when but seven years of age, Robert O.
Miller received his education in this district in Simpson
College, Indianola, and early assisted his father with the
work of the farm, laying the foundation for his later success. As the years have
passed prosperity has come to him and he is now one of the
largest landowners of his locality, holding title to seven
hundred acres on sections 15, 21 and 23. All his land is
made use of and much of it is under high cultivation, his
improvements being of the most substantial kind. Some of the best
farm buildings in the county can be found upon the farm and
modern equipments and implements facilitate the labor and
contribute to the productivity of the soil. His barns are
splendidly equipped, his granaries and sheds for the housing
of grain and stock substantial, and he has recently erected
one of the most commodious, up-to-date farm dwellings to be
found in this neighborhood.
An important branch of Mr. Miller’s work is
stock-raising. He
is renowned throughout Lucas county as a most extensive
breeder of blooded horses, in which he largely deals, buying
and selling, specializing in Clydesdales and Percherons. He also raises
Welsh ponies and has a fine herd of pure-blooded shorthorn
cattle and high-grade Poland China hogs. His efforts along
all these lines have been remarkably effective, as he follows
the most progressive and scientific methods and gives his
attention to his work with unflagging industry and energy.
On January 1, 1890, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Amy Puderbaugh, who was born in Warren county, Iowa, December 25, 1868. Her parents, Andrew and Elizabeth (Wagner) Puderbaugh, were early settlers of Warren county, where Mrs. Miller was reared. The father, who was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, died in Warren county at the age of sixty-eight years, the mother, a native of Ohio, also being deceased, her death occurring in that county at the age of forty-four. In their family were seven children: Mrs. Minerva Vincent, a resident of Warren county; William, of Missouri; D. L., of Warren county; Charles, also of that county; Mrs. Robert O. Miller; Mrs. Sadie Barlett, of Osceola, Iowa; and Alonzo, who cultivates the old homestead in Warren county. All of these children were born and reared in Warren county. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born in Otter Creek township and are as follows: John Worth, born January 4, 1891, who received a common-school education, supplementing the same with a course in Simpson College of Indianola, and is now assisting his father with the work of the farm: Ralph Olin, born February 24, 1895, attending high school at Chariton, Iowa; and Hildreth Marie, born October 24, 1900, attending local school.
It is not surprising that a man of the ability of Mr. Miller should have been called to public office, his qualities well fitting him for important positions of that kind. For a number of years he served as justice of the peace, rendering his decisions with such fairness and impartiality that high commendation has come to him on that account. He also held the office of township clerk and has given evidence of his interest in the cause of education by doing efficient service as member of the local school board. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church of Norwood, of which they are members and in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest, Mr. Miller at present serving as Sunday school superintendent. His fraternal connections extend to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as he holds membership with Norwood Lodge, No. 490, and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he is on the roster of Norwood Camp, No. 5040. The splendid success Mr. Miller has achieved none can begrudge him, for it has been attained without outside help and is but the outcome of his own ability, efficiency, industry and energy. He has become a forceful element in his locality, where he enjoys the high regard and confidence of all who value a man for what he has attained and for the qualities of his character which have made possible that attainment.