BIOS: Willard Homer MILLER, Berlin, 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. 241/2

Willard Homer MILLER.

Willard Homer Miller, an enterprising and progressive young business man of 
Berlin, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, was born March 28, 1881, in Coon 
Island, Washington county, Pennsylvania, son of Charles W. and Nancy E. 
(Holmes) Miller.  Charles W. Miller is a son of Christopher Miller, a 
Washington county farmer.  He was reared on the home farm and learned the 
trade of millwright.  He subsequently became a traveling salesman, which 
business he now follows.  Charles W. Miller is a Republican in politics, and 
in church connections a Baptist.  He married Nancy E. Holmes, who was a 
daughter of George Y. Holmes, a native of Scotland, who came to this country 
at the age of ten years.  He became a farmer and a minister in the Baptist 
church.  Mrs. Miller was educated in Washington county, and lived on the home 
farm until her marriage, in 1860.  The following named children were born of 
this marriage: Willard Homer, of whom later; Alice A., Lulu E. (both residing 
at home with their parents), and Edgar H., a druggist of Salisbury.
Willard H. Miller received his initial education in the township schools and 
at the age of ten years entered the high school of Claysville, Pennsylvania. 
Early in life he resolved to follow the drug business, and with this end in 
view (at the age of fourteen) entered the service of G. Y. Holmes, a druggist 
of Claysville, continuing there for two and a half years.  For five years he 
was engaged in the drug store of W. C. Martin, of Munhall, Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Miller studied for his profession in the School of Pharmacy of the Western 
University of Pennsylvania, and was graduated from that institution in 1903. 
In March, 1905, he formed a partnership with his brother, Edgar H. Miller 
(who is in the drug business at Elk Lick), and established a drug store at 
Berlin, conducting the business under the firm name of Miller and Miller, 
but, under the management of Willard H.  Although a young man, Mr. Miller is 
thoroughly familiar with all the details of his profession, and brings to his 
own business the experience gained in other establishments.  He is a firm 
believer in modern advertising methods, which he extensively employs.  His 
store is already well known in town and township, and the generous patronage 
he receives is the best proof of its popularity.
In political affiliation Mr. Miller is a strong Republican.  Fraternally he 
holds membership in Berlin lodge, I.O.O.F., Homestead Lodge, Eagles, and 
Knights of Pythias, Berlin Lodge.  He is an admirer of athletic sports, and is 
specially fond of base-ball, which naturally brings him in close touch with 
the younger element, while his sterling business principles and genial social 
qualities commend him to all.  He is unmarried.