20th Century History of New Castle and
Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens

MRS. SARAH J. MILLER,

[p. 577] who with her sons, Charles W. and William J., owns the business of the Wampum Milling Company, one of the most successful business concerns of Wampum, Pa., is the widow of John J. Miller, and a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Sauters) Myers.

Benjamin Myers, father of Mrs. Miller, was born in Maryland in 1813, and when quite young removed to Washington County, Pennsylvania, with his widowed mother. He was married there to Miss Mary Sauters, who was born in that county, and they continued to reside there until 1842. In that year Mr. Myers purchased a farm in Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, on which he lived until his death in 1850. He is survived by his widow who lives near Youngstown, at the advanced age of ninety years. They had four children, as follows: Sarah, Mary E., wife of J. Hill; John H., and Cecelia D., wife of G. McClure.

Sarah J. Myers was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, January 22, 1837, and was about six years of age when taken by her parents to Mahoning County, Ohio. There she grew to maturity and for a period of four years engaged in teaching school in Springfield Township. She was there married, January 6, 1857, to John J. Miller, who was born near Petersburg, in Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, the date of his birth being August 6, 1830. He was a son of Jacob and Barbara (Maurer) Miller, who came from York County, Pennsylvania, to Ohio, at a very early period. He was one of seven children born to his parents, namely: John J., Elizabeth, Susan, William, Samuel, Caroline, and Nancy Jane, the only one of the family now living.

John J. Miller was reared on the farm and attended the public schools. When quite young he entered his father's mill and learned the trade of a miller, which he thereafter followed throughout life. About 1872, he moved with his family to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and for a period of ten years conducted a grist mill at Enon Valley, in partnership with a Mr. Whitmire. He sold out his interest to a Mr. Fisher and in 1883 moved to Wampum, where, in partnership with Jacob Pitts, he built a mill along the railroad, out of which grew the plant of the Wampum Milling Company of the present day. This partnership lasted until the death of Mr. Miller, August 19, 1899, and in April, 1900, Mrs. Miller and her two sons purchased the interest of Mr. Pitts. They have since conducted the mill in a most successful manner, enjoying a large and lucrative trade. Mr. Miller was looked upon as one of the most progressive and public-spirited men of Wampum, and his death was mourned as a loss to the community.

John J. and Sarah J. (Myers) Miller became parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Ellen, widow of Henry Shaner, has two children, Jeannette and Don; Emma, wife of Thomas Stewart, has four children, John Q., Mary, Martha and Grace; Mary, widow of Robert Morton, lives in Washington, Pa., and has five children, Grace, Robert, Lucy, Helen and Carrol; Grace, who is at home; Charles W., William married Elizabeth Parshall and has two children, Ralph and Carl; Benjamin and Walter. Fraternally, Mr. Miller was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, whilst in political affiliation he was a Republican. Mrs. Miller is a devout member of the Christian Church at Wampum.


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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