BIOS: Christian MILLER, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 113-116 MILLER Family. The founder of the numerous family of which Irvin E. Miller and Edward H. Miller, both of Berlin, are representatives, was Christian Miller, who was born in Germany, whence he emigrated to the United States, settling in Somerset county on a farm which has never since been out of the Miller family. He was a Whig and a member of the Mennonite church. Christian Miller married Susan Musser, and after her death, at the early age of twenty-eight, took for his second wife Elizabeth Ross. By these marriages he became the father of the following children: Tobias, of whom later; Peter, and five daughters, who married, respectively, Christian Baer, Henry Stutzman, William Levitt, Samuel Rhoads, and George Geisel, who was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg. Christian Miller, the father, died in 1865, at the age of eighty-four. Tobias Miller, son of Christian and Susan (Musser) Miller, was born in 1813, and was a farmer of Stony Creek township. He adhered to the Republican party, and served as deacon and elder in the Reformed church. Mr. Miller married Margaret, daughter of Benjamin Kimmel, and their children were: Benjamin, who lives with his widowed sister, Mrs. Stutzman; Mary, widow of Jacob Stutzman, has twelve children; Peter T., of whom later; Sarah, wife of John Stutzman, has five children; Jeremiah, deceased; William, deceased; John, farmer at Liste, married Margaret Sorber, has four children; Charles, farmer of Stony Creek township, married Lucy Schrock, has two children; Susan, married Joseph Glessner and after his death Mahlon Forney; Harriet, wife of John M. Topper, merchant of New Baltimore, has six children. The death of Mr. Miller occurred July 30, 1885. Peter T. Miller, son of Tobias and Margaret (Kimmel) Miller, was born July 30, 1842, and on August 5, 1862, enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was present at the battle of Antietam and also at that of Fredericksburg, where he received a wound in the left breast which kept him a month in the hospital. After his recovery he rejoined his regiment and fought at Chancellorsville, being honorable discharged May, 1863. After his return home he settled on the Miller homestead, near the Glade church, in Stony Creek township, and there led the life of a farmer until recently, when he sold the property to his son, Edward H. Miller, and retired to Berlin. He has held the offices of assessor and tax collector, is past commander of Mark Collins Post No. 3440, G. A. R., of Berlin, and is a Republican in politics. He is a member of the Reformed church, in which he has served as deacon and elder. Peter T. Miller married, April 25, 1865, Sarah Landis, born June 2, 1845, and they were the parents of the following children: Irvin E., of whom later. Mary J., born March 10, 1869, wife of Joseph Walker, farmer of Stony Creek township, has two children, Robert and Darl. Edward H., of whom later. Abraham L., born January 20, 1872, farming with his brother, Edward H. Emma B., born December 8, 1873, wife of William Stull, farmer of Stony Creek township. Maggie C., born September 11, 1875, died July 9, 1896. Henry T., born February 11, 1878, died January 3, 1879. Oscar, born March 13, 1879, died July 10, 1886. Roscoe C., born April 24, 1884, married Ada Carver, has two children, Grace and Amanda. Mrs. Miller, the mother of the family, died September 13, 1893. She was a member of the Reformed church. Mr. Miller married, September 5, 1895, Elmira (Bittner), widow of William H. Shockey, the issue of this marriage being one child, Zeta E., born September 16, 1899. Irvin E. Miller, son of Peter T. and Sarah (Landis) Miller, was born February 21, 1866, on the Samuel Kuhns farm in Stony Creek township, and received his education in the Glade public school. He worked for his father on the farm until the age of twenty-one, when he married and settled on a farm which he rented of his father. After cultivating this land for three years he purchased of his father-in-law a farm in Stony Creek township, near Roxbury, consisting of one hundred and forty-six acres. On this farm, which he still owns, he resided thirteen years. It is a fine property, all but two acres being under cultivation. The house is a solid brick two-story structure, erected in 1835, the barn having been built in 1838. Both are in good condition. Mr. Miller works this farm, but rents the house to one of his employes. [sic] After living thirteen years on this estate, Mr. Miller purchased a second farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, on which he now makes his home. The patented name of this property is "Sugar Bottom Farm." It is well improved and kept in splendid condition. The grain raised is all used on the farm, but much of the hay crop goes to market. There is a sugar camp of seven hundred vessels, producing annually about twenty-five hundred pounds of maple sugar and syrup. Both this farm and the other have valuable orchards. Mr. Miller is an extensive stock raiser, buyer and feeder. His horses, which number ten, are good, two being full-blooded Percheron, and his cattle, of which he has forty, are of a good breed and quality. His dwelling is of a very handsome modern type, with appropriate grounds and surroundings. Mr. Miller belongs to the Sons of Veterans, of Berlin, and advocates the principles of the Republicans. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church, which he has served as deacon. Irvin E. Miller married, September 2, 1886, Ellen N., born May 7, 1867, daughter of Jacob J. Glessner and sister of Frank P. Glessner. She was educated in the public schools. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Miller consists of the following children: Oscar T., born February21, 1888, assists his father on the farm, member of the Reformed church; Jacob J. and Peter H. (twins), born May 8, 1892, attending school; Alda May and Alton (twins), born June 8, 1898, the latter died at the age of three months and the former is at school; also, a daughter, Lottie, born March 20, 1889, died at the age of three months. Edward H. Miller, son of Peter T. and Sarah (Landis) Miller, was born October 7, 1870, on the homestead, and obtained his education in the Glade public school. He remained on the farm with his father until of age, and at this period married, after which, for two years, he lived on the homestead, working for wages. He then purchased the farm and still owns and cultivates it. The estate consists of two hundred and twenty-five acres, mostly under cultivation, and is a fine property, with large and modern improvements. The barn, measuring fifty- two by one hundred and three feet, was built in 1890, and the house in 1888, both having been erected by Peter T. Miller. The place is well stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle and sheep, and in addition to the stock raised on the farm Mr. Miller buys and feeds for the market. There are good apple orchards and a sugar camp of six hundred and fifty vessels, producing annually twenty-five hundred pounds of maple sugar. Mr. Miller is serving his second term as school director of Stony Creek township, and affiliates with the Republicans. He and his wife are members of the Glade congregation of the Reformed church, Mr. Miller being an ex-deacon and also belonging to the Sunday school. Edward H. Miller married, April 21, 1891, Ida M. Will, and two children have been born to them: Webster, aged fourteen; and Maggie, aged ten. Mrs. Miller is a daughter of John H. Will, who was born September 10, 1845, and during the Civil war served in Company K, Fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, being honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mr. Will was a farmer until 1901, when he built a home in Downey and opened a grocery and feed store, which he has since conducted. He has served as school director and supervisor and is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Reformed church, in which he serves as elder and of which he has been treasurer for twenty years. Mr. Will married, January 23, 1868, Dinah Engle, and they were the parents of five children, one of whom, Ida M., was born May 7, 1873, was educated in the township schools and became the wife of Edward H. Miller.