Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery
p. 1313
Surnames: MILLER, HECK, STUMP, SCHMEHL, ZACHARIAS, HIESTER,
GERHART, MATHEY
James M. Miller, general superintendent of the Reading Paper Mills,
including the Tulpehocken, Reading and Packerack Paper Mills, one
of the important manufacturing plants in Reading, is one of the
progressive men of the city. He was born near Robesonia, Berks
county, Sept. 20, 1859, son of Daniel S. and Henrietta (Heck)
Miller, and grandson of Mathias Miller.
Mathias Miller was the owner of a fine farm in
North Heidelberg township, and there made his home. He ranked among
the best of the advanced agriculturists to whose energy and ability
so much of the better development of Berks county id due. He
married Sarah Stump, and they became the parents of a large family
of children.
Daniel S. Miller, son of Mathias, was born on
the old homestead in North Heidelberg township, and for some time
after reaching mature age devoted himself to farming, but later
moved to Reading. His wife was Henrietta Heck, and to their
marriage was born one son, James M.
James M. Miller was but a child when he
accompanied his parents to Reading, and there in the public schools
he obtained his education. When he was fifteen years of age he was
apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade at the Tulpehocken Mill
at Reading, and from that time to the present he has been
continuously identified with the paper mills of the city, with the
exception of six years, during which time he conducted a machine
shop of his own, at first in partnership with a Mr. Schmehl and
later with a Mr. Zacharias. He had thoroughly learned his trade,
and he rose rapidly from the lowest to the highest position, giving
faithful service wherever placed. He was made superintendent of the
Packerack Mill July 1, 1893. Here he but repeated his former
success, so fully demonstrating his ability in an executive as well
as in a mechanical capacity that on Jan. 1, 1895, he was promoted
to the position of general superintendent of the Reading Paper
Mills, including the Tulpehocken, Reading and Packerack Paper
Mills. His administration has proved to be of very great material
benefit to the company and the city.
These mills transact an immense amount of
business, and Mr. Miller has a force of 160 men to direct, all
skilled laborers. He has been able not alone to get the best
results possible from their work, but at the same time he has won
their unbounded esteem and good will, his kindness and
consideration toward every one carrying with it the natural reward
of general respect. He is a man of high principles, whose word in
the business world carries great weight, and he is well read and
informed on the questions of the day.
On Nov. 3, 1881, Mr. Miller was married to Miss
Eva Hiester, daughter of John and Sarah (Gerhart) Hiester, and
eight children were born to this marriage, one of whom died in
infancy. The others are: Arthur, Julia, Stella, Robert, Harvey,
Mabel and Beatrice. Mrs. Miller died in 1900 at the age of
forty-one years, and is buried in the Charles Evans cemetery. Mr.
Miller married (second) Aline E. Mathey, daughter of Frederick
Mathey, a native of Switzerland, who came to America and settled in
Reading. The family attend the German Reformed Church. Mr. Miller
has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry. He belongs to
Reading Lodge, No. 62, F. & A. M.; Excelsior Chapter, No. 237;
Reading Commandery, No. 42; Philadelphia Consistory; Lodge of
Perfection, 14, Reading (charter member); and Rajah Temple, A. A.
O. N. M. S.
p. 1052
Surnames: MILLER, MOYER, WESTWOOD, ISETT, DOUDEN, BEAN
J. Jerome Miller, a highly esteemed resident of Hamburg, Berks
county, who has been cashier of the Hamburg Savings Bank since
1877, was born in that borough Oct. 29, 1843, son of Edward M.
Miller.
Edward M. Miller was born in 1818, followed
cabinet-making for a number of years, and served the Schuylkill
Navigation Company for a long time as section boss along the canal
from Leesport to Schuylkill Haven. He acted as a councilman of the
borough for several terms and officiated as chief burgess. He died
in 1897, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, who had been Sarah
Moyer, born in 1823, daughter of John Moyer, of Hamburg, died in
1899, aged seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had eight
children: Miss Clara; John R. (m. Benie Westwood); J. Jerome; Emma
(m. Dr. J. F. Isett); Gustavus A.; Simon; J. Edward; and a son who
died in infancy.
J. Jerome Miller was educated in the borough
schools, and when the Civil war broke out in 1861, he enlisted as a
private for three years in Company G, 96th Pa. V. I., commanded by
Capt. James N. Douden. He was engaged in all the battles fought by
the Army of the Potomac, and was honorably discharged Aug. 6, 1865.
At Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864, Mr. Miller was wounded,
and on account of this wound was transferred to Company F, 22d
Veteran Reserve Corps, and was promoted to corporal.
Upon his discharge Mr. Miller returned to
Hamburg and learned cabinet-making, which, in connection with
carpentering, he followed for several years. He then engaged in a
general store business with J. F. Isett, under the firm name of
Miller & Isett, which he continued for three years, and then
resumed cabinet-making, being employed at his trade until Jan. 1,
1877. The directors of the Hamburg Savings Bank having elected Mr.
Miller cashier, he began his connection with this financial
institution in the northern section of the county, and has
continued to fill this responsible position to the present time. At
the start the paid-up capital of the bank was $10,000 on an
authorized capital of $50,000; the resources showed a loss of
$20,000 on account of prominent bank failures at Philadelphia, and
the deposits were but $18,000. However, the affairs of the bank
were straightened out, improving steadily, until on July 1, 1906,
the capital was $50,000 and the reserve funds $55,000. Mr. Miller
has officiated as councilman and school director for twenty-one
years. He has take a prominent part in the discussion and efforts
of the Board of Trade for the improvement of Hamburg, officiating
as president of that body for fifteen years until July, 1906, when
he resigned.
Mr. Miller married Amanda Bean, daughter of
Nehemiah Bean, in 1874, and they have one daughter, Sadie; another
daughter, Clara, died when seven years old.
p. 889
Surnames: MILLER, HAIN, RUTH, HOYER, EVANS, LEISS, KLOPP, EYRICH,
NEWMAN, GLASS, BOWMAN, KINTZER, DERR, FITLER
John H. Miller, proprietor of "Miller's Hotel," at Wernersville,
and director of the Union Bank at Womelsdorf and of the
Wernersville National Bank, at Wernersville, was an organizer of
both these banks, and he is considered one of the most progressive
and public-spirited citizens in this section of Berks county. He
was born in Lower Heidelberg township, July 1, 1849, son of Abraham
and Ellen (Hain) Miller, and grandson of Henry and Christina (Ruth)
Miller and of John Hain.
Henry Miller, the grandfather, was a farmer in
Lower Heidelberg for many years. He was twice married, his first
wife being Christina Ruth, and his second Isabella Hoyer. By the
first union there were four children, namely: Hannah married John
Evans; Kate married Adam Leiss; Polly married Richard Klopp and
(second) Addison Eyrich; Abraham married Ellen Hain.
Abraham Miller, born in 1818, died in 1897, aged
seventy-nine years. He occupied himself with farming all his life.
His wife, Ellen Hain, was a daughter of John Hain, of Lower
Heidelberg, one of the very prominent men of that vicinity. They
were the parents of nine children: Catharine married Michael
Newman; Sarah married Isaac Hain; Hannah became the wife of
Sebastian Miller, of Illinois; Mary married Daniel Glass; Elizabeth
wedded John L. Bowman; Sebastian moved to Illinois in his younger
days and there married; John H. Married Sarah A. Kintzer; two died
young.
John H. Miller received his early education in
the public schools, later attending the Millersville Normal School
and the Frederick college. After leaving school he engaged in
farming for six years, and then located in Wernersville, where he
made his headquarters while carrying on butchering among the
farmers of the neighboring townships, also assisting them during
the summers in harvesting for eight years. For two years he farmed
on his own account. In 1888 he purchased the Wernersville hotel
property, and began conducting a public house, which he has since
carried on in a very successful manner. The old building had been
erected by his grandfather, John Hain, in 1857, when the Lebanon
Valley railroad was opened up. In 1895 on the lot adjoining Mr.
Miller put up the fine four-story brick hotel, with all modern
improvements, now known as "Miller's Hotel," which is recognized as
one of the best conducted hotels in the county. It is a very
popular stand during the whole year and especially in the summer,
when many travelers register there, all speaking in high terms of
the management. Mr. Miller has also erected four of the most
handsome houses in Wernersville, with all the latest improvements.
Mr. Miller is not only very enterprising in his
own affairs but also in those concerning the public welfare. He has
been connected with a number of important improvements at
Wernersville and many others outside of town. He encouraged the
establishment of a waterworks system by supplying the people with
superior spring water from the South mountain, and he was one of
the first persons to suggest the organizing of a national bank
there, and from their organization he has been a director of both
these local institutions. He also gave his financial assistance to
organize the Union bank at Womelsdorf, in 1903, and has served as
its director. For ten years he gave his fellow-citizens most
efficient service as township treasurer.
In 1871 Mr. Miller was married to Sarah A.
Kintzer, daughter of Adam Kintzer, of Marion township. Ten children
blessed this union, as follows: J. Adam, who married Eura Derr;
Annie, wife of Dr. Leonard Hain; Elizabeth, who married Henry
Fitler; Eva; Frederic; George; Nora, and three who died in infancy.
p. 463
Surnames: MILLER, HEFFNER, FOGEL, BORTZ, GOOD, WEISER, ZEIGLER,
ZANGLEY, DRESHER, ZIMMERMAN, FEGLEY, DIENER, BEAR, HINTERSITES,
CARL, LESHER, TREXLER, LUAN, HEILNER, HERMAN, KUHNS, BECKER, SELL,
KNAB, HAAS, CLOUSER
John H. Miller, who has been prominently identified with all the
leading interests of the borough of Topton for many years, was born
April 1, 1845, in Maxatawny township, Berks Co., Pa., son of
Charles and Marie (Heffner) Miller.
John Miller, his paternal grandfather, lived in
Lowhill township, Lehigh Co., Pa., but later moved to a farm in
Maxatawny township, Berks county, the same being now owned by Rev.
A. J. Fogel. He had six children as follows: Charles m. Marie
Heffner; John m. (first) Caroline Bortz, had three children-Alfred,
Mary and Catherine-and (second) Eliza A. Good and hod one
child-Lizzie; Jonas m. a Miss Weiser, and had two children-Jemima
and Sallie; Joseph m. May Zeigler, and had six children-Oscar,
Alvin, George, Sallie, Montana and Fiana; Joshua m. Frederica
Zangley, and had children-George, James, Emma, Francisco and
Charles; Esther m. Napoleon Dresher, and had children-Joseph, John,
Fiana, Rosalinda, Angelina and Jane.
Charles Miller, the eldest of the above family,
was born in Lowhill township, Lehigh county, on the banks of the
Jordan river, Feb. 14, 1806. He accompanied his father to Maxatawny
township and worked on the home farm until his marriage, when he
bought the farm now owned by his son, John H. Miller, in Maxatawny
township, on which he lived until may 12, 1905, when his long and
blameless life closed at the age of ninety-nine years, two months
and twenty-eight days. He was a member, and in the latter part of
his life an elder, of the Reformed congregation of the Siegfried
Church in Maxatawny township. In political feeling he was a
Democrat, and he always took an active part in politics, but never
solicited an office. On Oct. 6, 1842, he married Marie Heffner,
born Dec. 31, 1818, died May 31, 1857, aged thirty-six years and
five months, daughter of Jacob and Esther Heffner. Mrs. Miller was
born and reared on a farm now owned by her only son, John H.
Miller, in Maxatawny township. She was a devoted Christian all her
life, and was baptized April 5, 1819. Jacob and Esther Heffner had
a family of six children, the other beside Mrs. Miller being:
David, Daniel, Solomon, Lydia and Esther. Charles Miller and wife
had two children: John H. and Mrs. Eldridge Zimmerman, both
residents of Topton, and three grandchildren, namely; Charles D.
Zimmerman and Milton and Harvey A. Miller.
John H. Miller was afforded far better education
opportunities than were given many youths of his day. After close
attendance in the public schools of the township, he spent two
terms at McAllisterville Academy, in Juniata county, one term at
Freeland Seminary, now Ursinus College, in Montgomery county, and
two terms at Fairview Seminary at Kutztown, now the Keystone State
Normal School. Having a preference for business rather than
farming, he accepted a position with J. A. & Isaac Fegley who
carried on a hotel and general store business at Monterey, Berks
Co., Pa., and after serving there for two years, he accepted a
position with Butz & Heffner, who were engaged in the coal,
grain and lumber business at Topton Station, on the East
Pennsylvania Railway. At the same time he was appointed station
agent at the place for the railroad company, which position he
filled for sixteen years, giving it up on account of ill health.
After being with Butz & Heffner for two
years, Mr. Miller then associated himself with P. L. Diener and B.
C. Bear, trading under the firm name of Baer & Diener &
Miller, and bought out the firms of Butz & Heffner and Diener
& Ubil, also engaged in the same business together with a
general store business. A combination was effected and the entire
business was carried on for eight years. In the meantime Mr. Miller
was attending also to his duties as station agent for the railroad
company, and served as secretary of the Topton Iron Company, and
also of the Topton Loan and Building Association, which position he
held from the day of its organization until it had run out, which
was in eight and one-half years, when all shareholders had drawn
out two hundred dollars, par value less fixed premium. Later on, in
connection with his railroad duties, Mr. Miller associated himself
with P. L. Diener, D. D. Hintersites, Jacob Carl and Jacob Lesher,
under the firm name of Diener, Carl & Co., and engaged in
mining iron ore, having mines on the lands of Charles Miller, Edwin
A. Trexler and Nathan Luan. Two years later Mr. Miller sold out his
interest in the ore business and devoted himself for a time
exclusively to his railroad business.
A short time after resigning his position as
station agent, he accepted that of salesman for the sale of hand
and soft coal for the firm of Percy Heilner & Son, of
Philadelphia, which position he held for eight years. Then, he and
his son, Harvey A. Miller, accepted work as sales agents for the
Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron o., a position in which
he continued until six years later, when the company decided to
sell all their products direct and to dispense with sales agents.
This closed Mr. Miller's active participation in business although
not his active interest. In 1887 he was elected a director in the
Farmers' National Bank of Reading, a position he still holds. In
1878 he was one of the incorporators of the borough of Topton and
is now holding the position of councilman, to which he was elected
in 1905. For fully fifteen years he served as a school director,
and his advice has been asked and his judgment consulted in almost
all that has particularly concerned the development of the town's
various public interest. For two terms he served as a justice of
the peace. In 1904 he helped to organize the Crown Knitting Company
of Topton, now employing about one hundred hands, and turning out
about 12,000 half hose a day, shipping their product all over the
United States.
On Oct. 20, 1865, Mr. Miller was married, by
Rev. A. J. Herman, to Eliza A. Kuhns, of Maxatawny township,
daughter of Solomon and Mary Ann (Becker) Kuhns. To this marriage
two sons were born, namely: Milton Robert, born Aug. 20, 1866; and
Harvey Albert, born June 15, 1868. The older son married Ida L.
Sell, daughter of Daniel K. and Mary (Knab) Sell, and they have one
daughter, Pauline, born March 24, 1891. The younger son married
Jennie C. Trexler, daughter of Charles D. and Catherine (Haas)
Trexler, and they have two children, Marie K. and Mae E.
Mr. Miller was baptized April 20, 1845, by Rev.
Charles Herman, and his sponsors were Amos Clouser and his wife
Esther. He was confirmed in the fall of 1861, by Rev. Charles
Herman, and became a member of the German Reformed Church of
Maxatawny, called Siegfried's Church. He is one of the seven men
who, forty years ago, organized the Topton Union Sunday School (and
was for many years its superintendent), which was the nucleus of
St. Paul's Church, now a flourishing body of Topton.
p 836
Surnames: MILLER, HICK, HENDEL
John J Miller, an enterprising business man of Reading, Pa.,
engaged extensively in the hat business, was born in New York City,
Aug. 27, 1855, son of John Miller, a native of Bavaria, Germany.
John Miller, father of John J., had learned the
hatter's trade in the old country, and on coming to America in
1849, located in that business in New York, and at Orange, N. J. He
died May 30, 1902, in his seventy-fifth year. John Miller married
Margaret Hick, a native of the same province in Germany, all they
had nine children, as follows : John J., Susan, Jacob , Adam,
Charles, Elizabeth , Frederick, Barbara and Sophia. Mrs. Miller
died Sept. 23, 1907. In religious belief the Millers are
Evangelists , and the Hicks Catholics. Mr. Miller was a member of
the Maennerchor , and was independent in political matters.
John J. Miller received his schooling in New
York City and in New Jersey, and when old enough became an
apprentice to the hatter's trade which he has followed to the
present time. In 1898 he located in Reading, in the employ of John
Hendel's Sons., and is now general manager of their first floor,
having introduced the fur business in this establishment. He has
been very successful in his line, and is considered an expert.
p. 573
Surnames: MILLER
J. Milton Miller is a member of the Berks County Bar. His
grandfather, Jacob Miller, was a pioneer of this county and resided
at Hamburg. Dr. Alexander Merkel Miller, father of J. Milton, was a
physician of repute, and practiced his profession at Tower City,
Schuylkill county, but died at the age of thirty-eight years, in
1877.
Mr. J. Milton Miller was born July 25, 1872, at
Tower City. He attended public school for only a few years, and his
education was continued after he was twenty years old at the
Keystone State Normal School, at Kutztown, Pa. In 1898 he was
admitted to the bar of Berks County, and later to the higher
courts. On Jan. 27, 1897, he was married to Miss Sara G. Miller,
daughter of J. Russell Miller, who was in the Reading Railroad
service for more than forty years, and who was a Corporal of
Company A, 88th Pa. V. I., serving in the Civil War for four years.
J. Alexander, Richmond P. and Emily L. are the children of this
marriage.
Mr. Miller is a Democrat in politics, a member
of the Americus Club, and belongs to the Calvary Reformed Church,
where he takes an interest in the church and Sunday school work.
p.
1352
Surnames: MILLER, MUELLER, EGLE, UNBEHAUER, KETTNER, HESS, BECKLE,
HAIST, ROHR, BAUER, BOEHM FEGNER, SCHNEIDER, RUGNER, STOEVER,
SCHMIDT, MUENCH, MINNICH, WAGNER, HECKEL, WINDER/WINTER, GILBERT,
WAGNER, BROSSMAN, TALLEY, SCHROEDER, HOLLENBACH, ESTERLY, DONDORE,
LEINBACH, MOYER, KLAHR, NUNNEMACHER, WEAVER, KOENIG, GERHARD,
SNYDER, CHRISTMAN, SCHOLL, HIMMELBERGER, RIEHL, KANTNER, WILHELM,
DEPPEN
The Millers or Muellers have more representatives in Berks county
than any other one family. There were many by that name who
immigrated in the early days, and a number of these were evidently
not related in any way. It is possible that there are two or more
immigrant ancestors of that name to be found in some localities,
but the oldest Miller family in the county located in the
Tulpehocken valley in the spring of 1723.
In a list of members of the Tulpehocken Lutheran
Church, from 1743 to 1746, as given in Rupp's "Thirty Thousand
Names of Immigrants," there are shown the following named Muellers:
Michael, Joh. Michael, John, Joh. Adam, Joh. Peter, Jacob and
Leonhard.
In a list of members of the Tulpehocken German
Reformed Church, between 1735 and 1755, same authority, there are
shown Muellers as follows: Nicklaus (Nicholas), John, John Jacob.
The following information has been gleaned from
various sources: From the records of births and baptisms of the
"Little Tulpehocken Church" (near Bernville, Berks county), as
published in Dr. W. H. Egle's "Notes & Queries" (annual volume,
1899); from tombstone inscriptions in the graveyards of the Little
Tulpehocken and Host Churches, and from private sources. The
Proprietary and State Tax Lists of Berks county show forty-two
taxables of the name in 1768; seventy in 1779 (residents of
twenty-three of the twenty-nine townships and Reading); and
sixty-one in 1784.
(I) Jacob Mueller, the immigrant ancestor, according to his
tombstone inscription at Little Tulpehocken Church, was born Oct.
22, 1697, died Dec. 18, 1772; married fifty-three years to
Catharine (middle name badly worn, but probably, according to will,
it was Charlotte, maiden name not shown, born Oct. 11, 1699, died
April 5, 1777); "left a good name, a sorrowing widow and four
children." Jacob Mueller and his wife had ten children, of whom
three sons and one daughter survived the father. He was the
immigrant Jacob Mueller who, with Charlotta (very likely his wife),
John Jacob (under sixteen) and Barbara (no doubt another child),
all grouped together on the "original list" of passengers, is shown
as having landed at Philadelphia Sept. 19, 1732, having come over
in the ship "Johnson," of London, David Crocket, master, from
Rotterdam, last from Deal; passengers, 112 males above sixteen, 98
under sixteen, 98 females above sixteen, 85 under sixteen. He came
from Germany. In 1759 Jacob Mueller paid 11 tax. He is mentioned
as a yeoman in his last will and testament, made Jan. 29, 1766,
witnessed by Balser Unbehauer and Henrich Kettner, and recorded in
Book II, page 117. The oldest son was allowed 15 over and above
all others for his birthright. The children mentioned are: John
Jacob, born Sept. 24, 1728 (was single in 1759); Johannes, born
Nov. 9, 1733 (was married in 1759); Johannes, born Nov. 9, 1733
(was married in 1759); Elizabeth Barbara Hess; and Mathias, born
Oct. 18, 1743. In the Little Tulpehocken Church records of births
and baptisms are found the following children of Jacob Mueller:
John Jacob, born Sept. 24, 1728, in Europe, baptized Sept. 26, 1728
(sponsors, Frederic William Beckle, Christopher Haist, Joseph Rohr
and Joh. David Bauer); John, born Nov. 9, 1733, in Pennsylvania,
baptized Nov. 16, 1733, by Rev. Philip Boehm, Reformed minister at
White Marsh at the time (sponsors, Joh. Henry Fegner and Mary
Elizabeth Barbara Schneider); Mary Elizabeth Barbara, born Sept. 9,
1736, baptized Sept. 28, 1736, by Rev. Bartholomew Rugner, who was
Reformed pastor at Germantown, Pa., at that time (sponsors, same as
for John); Matthias, born Oct. 28, 1743, baptized Nov. 6, 1743, by
Rev. John. Casper Stoever (sponsors, Matthias Schmidt and wife);
Elizabeth Barbara, born June 7, 1755 (baptism not given). It seems
doubtful that the last named child belonged to the family of Jacob,
the immigrant.
The line of Jonathan B. Miller from (I) Jacob is
through (II) Matthew or Matthias, (III) Johannes, (IV) John and (V)
Samuel W. Miller. We have the following details concerning these
generations.
(II) Matthias Miller, born Oct. 18, 1743, was the father of
children as follows: Maria Barbara, born Jan. 24, 1762, baptized
Jan. 31, 1762 (sponsors, Christopher Muench ? Minnich ? and wife);
Maria Magdalene, born 1764 (?), baptized 1764 (sponsors, Jacob
Wagner and wife Maria Apollonia); John, born 1766, baptized 1767
(sponsors John Mueller and wife); Catharine Charlotte, born May 21,
1769, baptized June 4, 1769 (sponsors, the grandfather and
grandmother); Maria Elizabeth, born May 22, 1771, baptized 1771
(sponsors, Casper Heckel and wife); Anna Maria, born Sept. 21,
1772, baptized Oct. 23, 1772 (sponsor, Anna Maria, single, daughter
of Jacob Mueller); Susanna Catharine, born March 31, 1774, baptized
May 17, 1774 (sponsors, Christopher Winder ? Winter ? and wife).
(III) Johannes (John) Miller, born Aug. 25, 1766, died March 6,
1846. He lived in Tulpehocken township, where he conducted a
tannery. On May 30, 1789, he married Maria Salome Gilbert (born
Dec. 7, 1772, died June 6, 1854), and tradition says he had eight
children, but the will mentions only three, though "all my other
children are referred to, thus substantiating the tradition. It is
known he had sons John, Samuel, Henry and Matthew, and daughters
Catharine and Justina. The other two are said to be daughters. (The
tombstone inscription shows that there had resulted from his
marriage at the time of his death six sons and five daughters,
forty-eight grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren).
(IV) John Miller, son of Johannes, was a native of Tulpehocken
township, born Sept. 18, 1790, baptized Oct. 20, 1790, sponsors
Matthew Miller and wife Maria. He lived on a farm belonging to his
father a short distance from the tannery on homestead farm. In
later years his brother Henry lived on the homestead and succeeded
to the tanning business. John moved to Bernville, where with his
son Samuel he carried on the tanning business. Afterward the
tannery was sold. John Miller married Elizabeth Wagner, and they
had one son, Samuel W., born Jan. 15, 1816. He died March 21, 1861.
(V) Samuel W. Miller, born Jan. 15, 1816, in Tulpehocken township,
received a common school education there and then went to work in
his father's tannery, early becoming familiar with the business,
which he followed with his father. As previously noted, the tannery
was sold, and Samuel W. Miller engaged in mercantile pursuits at
Bernville in 1847, beginning in a small way, as his limited means
necessitated, but enlarging his establishment as the demands of
trade required until he had a well-equipped establishment. He was
alone in the business until he admitted his son to partnership, in
1866, and they continued together as S. W. Miller & Son until
Samuel W. Miller's retirement, March 1, 1878. He died Nov. 23,
1885. He married Sarah Brossman, also of Tulpehocken township, born
Dec. 4, 1821, and to them were born three children: Monroe,
deceased; Isabella, wife of Dr. D. D. Deppen, and Jonathan B.
(VI) Jonathan B. Miller was born Nov. 21, 1841, at Bernville.
There he spent his boyhood days and received his education in the
public schools. From childhood he had assisted in and about his
father's store, and when fourteen he
began to work there regularly, continuing thus until he was
admitted to partnership, in 1866, at the age of twenty-four, this
association continuing, as previously stated, until 1878. Meantime
the business had increased in volume and the establishment was
steadily enlarged to accommodate the growing trade. In 1867 the
son, J. B. Miller, erected a new store on the site which the
business has ever since occupied, and this proving inadequate
within a few years a large extension was built, bringing the
proportions of the building up to 55 by 106 feet, three stories in
height. Mr. Miller conducted the business alone from the time of
his father's retirement until April 1, 1903, when he sold out to
James F. Talley. He carried on what was known as the "model store"
at Bernville, and his establishment was reputed to be the most
up-to-date mercantile house in Berks county outside of Reading. His
business was also the largest in the county outside of Reading, and
he employed six clerks regularly, with two extra on Saturdays,
retaining the general oversight of the business himself. He was
always solicitous for the comfort and welfare of his employes, and
his store was not only run in a business-like manner but well
appointed, being heated with steam, which was also supplied to the
adjacent dwelling, and having the illuminating plant on the
premises.
On Nov. 26, 1887, Mr. Miller bought the property
and furniture business at Bernville formerly owned and carried on
by Frank Schroeder, carrying on same as a branch to the general
merchandise business until April 4, 1891, when he sold the property
and stock to James H. Hollenbach.
Mr. Miller conducted his mercantile business on
a cash basis, having made it a principle to buy and sell for cash
in early life. For over a quarter of a century he maintained his
standing as the foremost business man of western Berks county. His
store in Bernville probably made him more widely acquainted
throughout the county than any of his other interests, but they
were equally important, if not more so. For ten years he had a
large branch store at Lebanon, Pa., which was conducted under the
firm name of J. B. Miller & Sons. He established the Bernville
creamery and the bakery, and in his active years was a large real
estate dealer in that borough. He was also interested in the
manufacture of mens' shirts for New York firms. In 1901, he bought
out the grocery stock of Daniel S. Esterly, of Reading, who did a
wholesale business, and it was continued for a year at the same
stand, until J. B. Miller erected the new building at Nos. 39-41
South Seventh street, to which they moved. They did a very large
business there until after the death of Mr. Miller's eldest son,
Harry G., who was a victim of the Honda railroad wreck in 1907,
after which the business was sold to the Hooven Mercantile Company
of New York. Jonathan B. Miller is now living retired, enjoying the
rewards of a successful career. He lives in a handsome residence at
No. 815 Centre avenue, in Reading, and is best known as J. B.
Miller of Centre avenue or Bernville. He still retains many
interests and paying properties, including the Hiester mill and
farm in Bern township. There are 116 acres of land in the property,
and the mill was established many years ago; Mr. Miller remodeled
it in 1899, when he put in a roller process with a capacity of
fifty barrels daily. The mill is leased. Mr. Miller is also the
owner of the block known as the Star building, in Buffalo, N. Y.,
at the corner of Broadway and Pratt streets. He has been a director
in the Schuylkill Valley Bank of Reading since 1898 and is also
connected with the Bernville Bank, with which he has been connected
since it organization.
Mr. Miller's friends are not confined to
Bernville and Reading, but are found all over Berks county, and he
has many acquaintances in Philadelphia. He is a Republican in
politics, and held a number of offices while living in the borough
of Bernville, serving as school director there (for eight years),
as burgess, member of the town council, and in minor offices. He
has long been prominently identified with the Berks County
Merchants Association. In 1907, when Bernville celebrated its now
historic "home week," Mr. Miller, although then a resident of
Reading, took a very public-spirited interest in the occasion. He
suggested to the committee of arrangements that a "Reading Day"
might be an acceptable feature, and the suggestion was adopted, Mr.
Miller being made chairman of the Reading committee of
arrangements. On a beautiful autumn morning a parade over one mile
long started from Reading over the Bernville road, and more than
fifteen thousand people attended "home week" on that day. All the
prominent merchants had lavishly decorated wagons or vehicles in
the parade, and Mr. Miller and his family were given the place of
honor in the procession. They had a handsomely decorated carriage,
on which were displayed two placards, one bearing the words "Ye Old
Home," the other "We're here because we're here." They were taken
up all over the county and by the Philadelphia and New York papers,
which gave the home week proceedings very gratifying notices.
On Dec. 24, 1863, Mr. Miller married Eliza L.
Dondore, born Dec. 11, 1844, daughter of Gabriel Dondore,
descendants of Jacob Dondore, a pioneer resident of Bern township.
Mrs. Miller died April 13, 1908, the mother of children as follows:
Sarah Lydia, born May 27, 1865, is deceased; Harry Grant, born Dec.
12, 1867, died May 11, 1907, a victim of the railroad wreck at
Honda, Cal., in which so many Shriners met disaster (he was married
and had children ? Helen, deceased, Albert Rauch, Frederick Dondore
and Virginia Dorothy); Benjamin Franklin, born Aug. 17, 1870, has
two children, Richard Shane and Benjamin Franklin; John S., born
July 4, 1872, has three children, Sarah Lydia, Ralph Jonathan and
Robert Henry; Catharine E., born June 11, 1874, was married Nov.
28, 1899, to Rev. Thomas H. Leinbach, and has three children,
Theodore Miller, Harold Miller and Arthur Miller; Amelia I. was
born June 16, 1876; Mary M., June 27, 1878; James Garfield, June
21, 1882 (deceased); Emily N., June 13, 1885.
Mr. Miller and his family are Evangelical
Lutherans, and still retain their membership in the Friedens Church
at Bernville, which he served as deacon and treasurer for many
years. He has always been liberal in his contributions toward
religious and charitable objects. He is a member of Keim Post, G.
A. R., having served in the State defense during the Civil war as a
member of Company I, 48th Regiment, Pennsylvania State Militia. He
has also been a member of the Pennsylvania German Society for many
years.
(IV) Samuel Miller, born July 4, 1792, son of (III) Johannes, was
baptized July 26, 1792, sponsors, Conrad Gilbert and wife Anna
Elizabeth. He died Nov. 23, 1859, and is buried at Host Church. He
was a tanner by occupation, and lived in Tulpehocken township, on
the road from Rehrersburg to Bernville. He married Anna Maria Moyer
(born Oct. 12, 1796, died Oct. 14, 1855), and to them were born
eleven children, as follows: (1) Michael, born in 1818, died March
19, 1882, m. Cath. Klahr and had ten children: Franklin K., of
Reading (m. Caroline Nunnemacher and had nine children, George W.,
Mary, Elva, William, Stella, Henry R., deceased, Phoebe, Laura and
Beulah), Mary, William, Rebecca, Charles, Edward and Lewis (twins,
born July, 1850), Sybilla, Levi and Albert. (2) Jonathan, who lives
on Fourth street, Reading, married Lydia Klahr, and they have had
six children: Martin, Jonathan (of Philadelphia), Daniel, James H.
(a stationer of Reading), Maria and Matilda. (3) Sarah married
Elijah Weaver. (4) Rebecca married Israel Wagner. (5) Catharine
married David Koenig. (6) Matthias married Eliza Snyder and they
have had seven children: Willoughby, John, George, Henry, Samuel,
Lizzie and Mary. (7) Jacob married Mary Gerhard and they had five
children: Gussie, Annie, George, Dora and Maggie. (8) Samuel, who
lives in Perry, Iowa, married (first) Hettie Christman and (second)
Henrietta Scholl. By the first union he had three children, Harvey,
Mary and Amelia, and by the second five, Beulah, Lillie, Lizzie,
Thomas and John. (9) John, who died at the age of thirty-five
years, was married and had a family of four children: Sarah m. Levi
Himmelberger; Rebecca m. John Himmelberger; Catharine m. Jacob
Riehl; John. (10) Leah married (first) John (?) Miller and (second)
Joel Kantner. (11) William married Theresa Wilhelm, and they had
one child, William.
p. 698
Surnames: MILLER, HORNBERGER, GAUL, FOX, MOHN, DIETRICH, FLEISHER,
RICHWINE, BRENSING, REEDY, STETTLER, HOWE
Jonathan H. Miller, a retired citizen of Mohnton, Berks Co., Pa.,
was born in Cumru township, on the present side of Edison, Jan. 24,
1839, son of Jonathan and Catharine (Hornberger) Miller.
Mr. Miller attended the pay schools of Cumru
township until he had attained the age of eighteen years, working
on a farm during the summer seasons. He lived at home until his
marriage in 1859, to Mary Gaul, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Fox)
Gaul, when he came to Mohnton, and for about twenty years
was engaged in operating a grist-mill along the
Wyomissing. He then learned the hatting business, engaging at that
trade in Mohnton, being later in partnership with J. G. Mohn &
Bros. He then entered a partnership with his son, Albert, under the
firm name of J. H. Miller, Son & Co., and they continued
together for fifteen years. Mr. Miller then worked at his trade
with the well known firm of Whorley Bros., of Mohnton, until 1904,
since which year he has lived retired. His first wife died July 2,
1876, and was buried in the Mohnton cemetery. She was the mother of
one son, Albert G. Miller, who married Mary Dietrich, and resides
at Mohnton, the father of two children, Elmer and Arthur. Mr.
Miller m. (second) Mary Fleisher, daughter of Peter Fleisher, and
to this union there were born: Edwin is unmarried and at home;
Robert m. Lillie Richwine, and lives at home where he is engaged in
the hat business; and Matthew also lives at home, and is unmarried.
Mrs. Miller is a daughter of Peter Fleisher, who was born near the
Swamp Church, in Lancaster county, Nov. 14, 1819, and died Dec. 26,
1888. He m. Catharine Brensing, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth
(Reedy) Brensing, and they had these children: Samuel m. Mary
Stettler; Mary m. Mr. Miller; and James m. Mary Howe.
Mr. Miller and his family reside on the corner
of Wyomissing avenue and Wood street, in the home which was built
by him in the summer of 1866. It is three stories high and of
sandstone, and is considered one of the finest in the town. Mr.
Miller is one of the oldest residents in the town of Mohnton, which
at the time he arrived contained but five dwellings. In politics he
is a Republican. He is a member of Zion's United Evangelical Church
of Mohnton, which he joined in 1870, when it was known as the
Evangelical Church. He has served on the building committees of two
churches, has been class leader of Class No. 2, trustee and steward
for many years, and a teacher in the Sunday school for many years,
now teaching class No. 23. Mr. Miller is one of the honorable and
upright men of his township, and as an acquaintance and friend he
is honored and esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact.