Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Miller, Antone 1837 - 1879
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 22, 2006, 11:51 pm

Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

ANTONE MILLER

    The life which this narrative sketches began in Alsace (then a part of
France, but now belonging to), Germany, June 8, 1837, and closed at Woodland,
Cal., February 14, 1879. Between the two dates there was an era of energetic
activity resulting in property, accumulations and an honorable standing in
business circles. When nineteen years of age Mr. Miller had accompanied his
parents to the United States, where a heavy bereavement came two months later in
the death of the father and mother in the city of New Orleans. There were six
children in the family and of these Antone, Wendell, Ignatius and Joseph came to
California, settling in the Sacramento valley. The three latter followed the
butcher's trade. The youngest of the sons, Antone, had learned the trade of a
brewer at Strassburg and had followed the same in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a few
years. In 1861 he came to the coast via the Isthmus of Panama and settled in
Sacramento, whence he came to Yolo county. Forming a partnership with John
Shirley, he started a brewery on the farm of E. Lowe, midway between Woodland
and Yolo. Two years later the plant was removed to Woodland and the Yolo brewery
continued under the prosperous management of the partners. They borrowed $500
for the purchase of five acres of land at $50 per acre and $250 for the
improvements, but this money they were soon able to repay. During 1868 a modern
building was erected with large cellars and every facility for the prosperous
continuance of the business. After the death of Mr. Miller the brewery was
managed by Mr. Shirley for two years, when it was sold and the partnership
dissolved. It should be stated that when they came to San Francisco Mr. Miller
was the means of saving a would-be suicide in that city, the man afterward
becoming a wealthy citizen.

    The marriage of Antone Miller and Bridget Comer was solemnized in Sacramento
April 17, 1864, Father Hugh Gallagher officiating. The Comer family originated
in Hungary, but accompanied William the Conqueror to England and some of the
name bore a part in the famous battle of Hastings. Eventually they settled in
Ireland and built the noted castle Comer in Kilkenny. Bernard Comer, a farmer
who died in Ireland, had made three trips to the new world and in one of these
he came as far west as California. His wife, who like himself was a lifelong
resident of Ireland, bore the maiden name of Bridget Ward and was of English
ancestry on the paternal side. Among their children there was a daughter,
Bridget, a native of Athlone, Ireland, and the last survivor in a family
numbering eleven children. At the age of fourteen years she left Athlone and
crossed the ocean with a brother to join their sister, Mary, then living in
Boston. In 1864 the young girl came to California via the Nicaragua route,
traveling up the Pacific on a steamer that was burned during its return trip.
Two years after the death of Mr. Miller his widow removed from Woodland to a
ranch two miles northwest of town and on that place she reared her children.
Devoted in her allegiance to the Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church at Woodland,
she not only gave liberally to its original establishment, but also contributed
generously to the building of two houses of worship, as well as a convent.

    In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Miller there were seven children. Mary
Elizabeth married Timothy Noonan and resides in Oakland, Mr. Noonan being
connected with the San Francisco Examiner. Barbara, Mrs. O. A. Lowe, died in
young womanhood. Frank has operated the home farm for years. Antone died at the
age of twenty-four years. Glory married J. C. Montgomery and resides on a ranch
near Davis. Bertha is living at the old homestead. Ignatius, who served as a
member of a California regiment in the Spanish-American war for four years,
received an honorable discharge at the close of the war and returned to Yolo
county, taking up farm pursuits at the old homestead.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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