ALANSON MILLER
Alanson Miller, son of Calvin and Sarah Miller, was born in the State of New York, county of Schenectady. When he was a child, his parents moved to McHenry county, Illinois, where they settled upon a farm. Alanson was reared to that occupation and remained with his parents until his marriage, February 26, 1868, to Mary A. Willis, daughter of W. N. and Mary C. Willis. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and her mother in Pennsylvania. They moved from Ohio to McHenry county, Illinois, in 1845. They are now living on the old homestead, in that county. Mrs. Miller was born December 10, 1847. The spring following their marriage, Mr. Miller hired to assist in driving sheep, to Cass county, Iowa, and being so well pleased with the new country, decided to make it his home. He returned to Illinois, and in the fall of the same year, removed permanently to this county. For two years he lived upon rented land in Turkey Grove. In the meantime he purchased forty acres of land on section 10, Bear Grove township, to which he removed in the spring of 1871, and on which he now resides. Mr. Miller has been prosperous and now owns one hundred and fifty acres of finely improved land. His parents removed to this county in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have four children--Evaleen M., born in February, 1869; Etta L., born in December, 1871; Willis A., born in April, 1874, and Eliza, born in February, 1883. Mr. Miller has served two terms on the board of town trustees, and is now serving his second term as school director. He was also a Grant delegate to the State Convention in 1880.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 717-718.
