[p. 602] whose pleasant home at New Castle is situated at No. 56 Lincoln Avenue, has been a resident of this city since December, 1907, but he still retains his valuable farm of 130 acres, which is located near Hillsville. Mr. Miller was born near the above village, in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1834, and is a son of James and Mary (McCreary) Miller, the former of whom was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and the latter in the far eastern part of the State.
James Miller, the grandfather, came to Mahoning Township when his son James was one year old, settling in the woods, at that time almost the only pioneer in that locality. Both he and son continued to live on the land he then secured until the close of their lives, both being men of sterling character. The father of John R. Miller died in 1881. He had done his full share in developing his section and had capably filled several township offices. Of his family of children, the following are still living: William M., residing in Mercer County, Illinois; Margaret, wife of J. S. Hamilton, residing at Youngstown, Ohio; John R.; Elizabeth, wife of John M. Fullerton, residing in Mahoning Township; Mattie, living at Poland, Ohio; and Mary J., the widow of Albert Fullerton, residing in North Beaver Township.
John R. Miller attended the public schools of Mahoning Township and spent two years at Poland Academy, at Poland, Ohio, during a portion of this time being a classmate of the late President William McKinley. He then taught school for some nineteen terms, at various places, in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. For seven consecutive years he later served as a justice of the peace and for six years was township auditor and for several years gave time and attention to his school district as a director. It may thus be seen that Mr. Miller stands very high in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. For twenty years he has been an elder in the Westfield Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican.
Mr. Miller was married in September, 1863, to Eliza Woods, of North Beaver Township, and they have surviving children as follows: William G., residing in Los Angeles, Cal.; Mary L., wife of S. L. McCracken, a well known attorney at New Castle; John F., George G. and Dwight N., all of New Castle.
For fifteen years Mr. Miller has been president of the Mt. Jackson Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers and has been at the head of the enterprise ever since, being also a member of its board of directors. Mr. Miller enjoys the hearty friendship of a large circle, both among those who were his neighbors while he lived in the country, and with those in the city whose tastes and views are the same.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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