MILLER BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri
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MILLER, B. F. - b: 1828 KY
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 769
residence: Bear Creek Twp

B. F. Miller, farmer, section 8, is a Kentuckian by birth, and was born August 21, 
1828. B. F. accompanied his parents to Illinois in October, 1831, and settled in 
Edgar County, where he grew to manhood. His youth was spent on a farm and he 
received a common school education, supplemented with two years attendance at 
the Paris Seminary. He was married in that county December 25, 1855, to Miss 
Rebecca Laufman, a native of Maryland, but who was reared and educated in 
Pennsylvania and Illinois, and a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Keefer) Laufman. 
Mr. Miller farmed in Edgar County until he came to Missouri in 1871. He owns 
eighty-four acres of land, all in a fair state of cultivation, with a good two-
story residence and a young orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have twelve children, two 
of whom are married, Alice is the wife of J. E. Odom; Susan H. is now Mrs. James 
H. Gutridge; Mary F. and Margaret Eugenia are prominent school teachers; Franklin 
K., James L., William, Amanda M., Ola Belle, Julian, Cyrus E. and Royal Albert. Mr. 
M. and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, South. He is identified with the 
Democratic party and has been elected to several responsible positions. While a 
resident of Edgar County, Illinois, he was elected and served four years as county 
surveyor, and since living in Henry County he has been elected at different times 
to important township offices. He is a man of good business qualifications and 
judgment, and has the entire confidence of the people.

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MILLER, Henry F. - b: 1842 Bedford Co, PA
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 649
residence: Urich, Bogard Twp

Henry F. Miller, a pioneer merchant of Urich and a member of one of the pioneer 
families of Henry County is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Bedford 
County August 8, 1842, and is a son of Jonathan Miller and Sarah A. (Gump) Miller, 
both natives of Pennsylvania. The Miller family removed from Pennsylvania to 
Illinois in 1853 and after remaining there four years they came to Missouri and 
settled in Bogard township, Henry County, and here the father purchased a farm 
of eighty acres to which he added from time to time until he owned 400 acres. He 
was born June 3, 1818. He died in 1892 at the age of seventy-four years. His wife 
departed this life in April, 1918, at the advanced age of ninety-six years, three 
months and seven days, and their remains rest side by side in the Urich Cemetery. 
They were the parents of the following children: Henry F., the subject of this 
sketch; Mrs. Mary E. McCoy, Creighton, Missouri; J. J., Urich, Missouri; Mrs. Susan 
Coolidge, who resides in North Dakota; George W., lives in Barton County, 
Missouri; Mrs. Rebecca Wells, Urich, Missouri; W. C., Urich, Missouri; James, died 
at the age of two years; R. F., Urich, Missouri; and Mrs. Emma Howard, Kansas 
City, Missouri. Henry F. Miller received his education in the public schools of 
Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri. He was seventeen years of age when the 
family came to Henry County. He spent his boyhood days not unlike the average 
boy of that time, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company G, 7th 
Regiment Missouri Cavalry. Most of his military service during the war was in 
Missouri and for a long time his regiment was stationed at Warrensburg. He was 
also with his command in Arkansas and at the close of the war he was honorably 
discharged and mustered out of the service. He then engaged in farming for five 
years, when he engaged in the mercantile business at old Urich in partnership 
with a brother. The new town of Urich came into existence in 1885 and he sold 
out to his brother, R. F. Miller, and opened a general store in the new town where 
he has since been engaged in the general mercantile business. Mr. Miller is the 
pioneer merchant of Urich and has to his credit over a third of a century of 
successful mercantile experience, and during the course of that time he has done 
business with thousands of people and his honesty, integrity and square business 
methods have never been brought into question. He has never had an ambition to 
be a merchant prince of the large centers of trade, but he has always derived a 
great deal of satisfaction from the fact that his large circle of patrons and 
customers have learned to regard his representations with absolute confidence 
and fidelity. Mr. Miller was united in marriage March 7, 1875 with Miss Nancy E. 
Page, a daughter of William and Delaney Page, pioneers of Big Creek township, 
who settled here prior to the Civil War and are both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller have been born the following children: Mrs. Inez O. Duncan; J. F.; Erastus, all 
living at Urich, Mrs. Amy Blevins. Mr. Miller is a member of the Masonic Lodge and 
also holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is a 
charter member, and he has belonged to the Baptist Church for over fifty years. 
Mr. Miller is one of the pioneers of Henry County. He recollects when a boy that 
goods were hauled from Lexington a distance of over sixty miles, to supply the 
early settlers of Henry County. He has seen Henry County develop from an 
unbroken plain to the garden spot of the gods, and has done his part nobly and 
well in this great transformation that has taken place during his sixty-one years 
of residence within the borders of this, one of the great political subdivisions of 
the state of Missouri. 

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MILLER, Henry F. & R. F. - b: 1842 Bedford Co, PA
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 693
residence: Bogard Twp

Miller Brothers are prominent merchants at Urich. The firm is composed of Henry 
F. and R. F. Miller. The former was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, August 8, 
1842, and was the son of Jonathan and Sarah A. (Gump) Miller, natives of that 
same county and state. The subject of this sketch was the oldest of a family of 
ten children, six sons and four daughters. When eleven years old he removed to 
Illinois with his parents, where they remained on a farm until 1857, then coming 
to Henry County, Missouri. Henry lived on his father's farm until April 1, 1862, 
when he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Missouri State Militia. He was discharged 
April 20, 1862, after which he returned home and engaged in farming. In May, 
1880 he embarked in general merchandising at Urich, and in May, 1881, he 
entered into partnership with his brother. They carry a large stock of general 
merchandise and do a good business. Henry F. also owns a fine farm of eighty 
acres near the town. He held the office of township collector for three years, and 
that of justice of the peace for four years. March 7, 1876, he married Miss Nancy 
Page, a native of Henry. County, Missouri. They have a family of three children, 
Iney Jonathan and Erastus. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Baptist Church. 
Rhotew F. Miller, of this firm, was born in Henry County, Missouri, July 7 1861. 
He also remained on his father's farm until sixteen years old, when he started in 
the mercantile business as salesman for J. A. Wells & Son, at Urich, being with 
them until 1881, when he formed a partnership with his brother. He is a wide 
awake and energetic young business man, and is bound to succeed in his 
undertakings.

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MILLER, James M. - b: 1822 Bourbon Co, KY
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 768
residence: Bear Creek Twp

James M. Miller, farmer, section 7, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in 
Bourbon County April 26, 1822. His father, J. M. Miller, originally from Scotland, 
emigrated to the United States when very young, landing at Charlestown, South 
Carolina. Afterward he went to Kentucky, where he married Miss Mary Wayne, of 
Virginia. J. M. Miller, Sr., was teacher in the public schools of Kentucky and 
Illinois for forty-five years. He moved to Illinois in 1830 and settled in Edgar 
County, holding numerous local offices in that county. He was once elected county 
clerk, a position he held when he died. He also was appointed postmaster and for 
sixteen years discharged the duties of that office. James M. went with his 
parents to Illinois, and was brought up in Edgar County on the farm. His school 
privileges were very limited, but the greater part of his education has been 
obtained by self application. He enlisted in June; 1846, in Company H, Fourth 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Ed Baker, and served one year in the 
war with Mexico. He was married in Edgar County, Illinois, July 20, 1848, to Miss 
Artemesa Elledge, originally of Kentucky, but later of Edgar County, Illinois. In 
the fall of 1848 Mr. Miller was elected clerk of the circuit court of Edgar County, 
and served four years. After the expiration of this term he was engaged in 
farming for three years, and in the fall of 1855 he moved to Missouri and located 
in Scotland County, where he lived two and one-half years. In the summer of 
1858 he came to Henry County and settled on a farm ten miles south of Clinton. 
He is identified with the Republican party. In 1867 he was elected sheriff and 
served two years. He has made four assessments of the county, and during his 
life he has served thirty-two years as a member of the school board. In the fall 
of 1882 he was elected a justice of the peace of Bear Creek Township, which 
office he now fills. In all of these positions he has proved a faithful and capable 
official. Mr. Miller's farm contains 300 acres, all fenced and in cultivation. He 
has raised a family of ten children: E. B., Clara, (wife of R. H. Dungan), William F., 
Ella, Isaac M., Maria L., Susan V., James M., Sherman and John S. Mrs. Miller 
departed this life June 1, 1873. Mr. M. enlisted in the enrolled militia in August, 
1862, and served till discharged, July 4, 1865. Shortly after enlisting he 
received a very severe wound, caused by an accidental gun shot through the right 
arm and in the lung. where the ball lodged and still remains. After recovering in a 
measure from his wound he was promoted to sergeant in the quarter master's 
department, where he served till discharged.

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MILLER, James McNeal - b: 1863 Fairview Twp, Henry Co, MO
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 418
residence: Fairview Twp

James McNeal Miller, M. D. Thirty-two years in the successful practice of his 
profession in Henry County, has marked the career of Dr. James McNeal Miller of 
Montrose as a medical practitioner of high rank and one of the leading physicians 
of Henry County, being among the oldest of the medical practitioners of the 
county in point of years of service in the healing art. Twenty-five years of his 
practice has been spent among the people of Montrose and vicinity where he is 
universally esteemed and highly regarded. Dr. Miller is a native son of Henry 
County and is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of the county. He 
was born on a farm in Fairview township, near Deepwater, November 6, 1863, and 
is the son of James McNeal (born April, 1822; died December 24, 1906) and 
Artemesia (Elledge) Miller (born 1822; died 1872). James McNeal Miller, the 
elder, was born in Kentucky, a son of James Miller who was descended from an 
old pioneer American family of Scotch ancestry. Artemesia (Elledge) Miller was 
also born in Kentucky and was the daughter of Isaac Elledge. Both the Miller and 
the Elledge families removed from Kentucky to Edgar County, Illinois in the 
thirties and there the parents of Doctor Miller were reared to maturity and were 
married. James McNeal Miller was a veteran of the Mexican War and both he and 
his father were prominent in the affairs of Henry County. His father served as 
county clerk of Edgar County, Illinois, and he, himself, served as clerk of the 
Circuit Court in that county when Abraham Lincoln practiced law in that county. 
He came to Henry County, Missouri, in 1856 and settled upon a tract of land in 
Fairview township which he improved into a good farm. During the Civil War he 
served as a member of the Missouri State Militia in Capt. William Weaver's 
company. In 1868, he sold his place in Fairview township and settled upon a farm 
northeast of Montrose in Bear Creek township, where Mrs. Miller died. Later, the 
elder Miller moved to La Due and then came to Montrose, where he lived retired 
until his death. Ten children were born to James McNeal and Artemesia Miller: 
Bruce, deceased; Clara, deceased wife of Robert H. Dugan, Montrose, Missouri; 
Frank, Peon Prairie, Washington; Ellen, Montrose, Missouri; Isaac, deceased; Marie 
L., a teacher in the Clinton Public schools; Susan, wife of George F. Vansant, Bear 
Creek township; Dr. James M. Miller; Dr. Sherman Miller, former physician at 
Mayesburg, Bates County, Missouri, killed in an automobile accident in 1916; John 
S., Pasadena, California. James McNeal Miller, the elder, was prominent in the 
political and civic affairs of Henry County for many years. He served as collector 
of taxes for Henry and St. Clair Counties shortly after the Civil War and filled the 
office of sheriff of the county during the reconstruction days. He was a Free 
Mason. After his graduation from the Kansas City Medical College in 1886 Doctor 
Miller began the practice of his profession at Mayesburg, Missouri, where he 
remained for seven years. In 1893 he came to Montrose and has successfully 
practiced medicine in this city and vicinity for over twenty-five years. In every 
advance made in the science of medicine he has consistently endeavored to keep 
abreast of the times and has studied continuously since his first graduation. He 
graduated from the Missouri Medical College at St. Louis in the spring of 1895 
and pursued a postgraduate course at the Marion Sims-Beaumont College at St. 
Louis in 1903 and 1904. Doctor Miller was married in 1895 to Miss Minnie B. 
Mayes of Bates County, Missouri, a daughter of J. M. Mayes, of the prominent 
family of that name in Bates County. The Republican party has always had the 
consistent support of Doctor Miller and he has served as mayor of Montrose for 
seven years. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the 
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Professionally he is connected with the Henry 
County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical Association and the American 
Medical Association.

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MILLER, Thomas M. - b: 1852 Montgomery Co, IL
source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 616
residence: Deepwater Twp

Thomas M. Miller, merchant at Montrose, was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, 
December 22, 1852. Alfred Miller, his father, is a native of Pennsylvania, and his 
mother, formerly Catherine L. Scherer, came originally from North Carolina. 
Thomas M. spent his youth on the home farm, and his early education was 
received at the public schools. He afterward attended for two years the 
Hillsborough Academy. After finishing his studies at this school he returned to 
the farm and continued agricultural pursuits for a number of years. He was 
married in his native county June 6, 1876, to Miss Olive M. Lipe, of that county. 
She is a daughter of Wiley Lipe, of Montgomery County. After his marriage Mr. 
Miller conducted his farm until December of 1881. In January, 1882 he moved to 
Missouri and located in Montrose, engaging in the mercantile business. He has a 
large and select stock of groceries, provisions, queensware, glassware, 
willowware and sundry goods, and is doing an extensive business. He and his wife 
have two children, Ida Elvira and Myrtle Monroe. Mrs. Miller is a member of the 
Lutheran Church.

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MILLER, William J. Sr. - b: 1843 Clark Co, OH
source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - 
page: 529
residence: Windsor, Windsor Twp

William J. Miller, Sr. - The success which has come to William J. Miller, Sr. of 
Windsor, Missouri, during his thirty-two years of residence in this section of the 
State, could only have been attained by hard work, close application to the 
business at hand, and excellent financial management of the highest order. Mr. 
Miller is one of the most successful agriculturists and stockmen of Missouri, and 
all of his achievements date from his beginning as a poor man fifty-two years 
ago. There is considerable satisfaction in recording a story of the life of an 
individual who has accomplished, through his own efforts, the tasks which have 
been completed with honest effort, such as has been done by Mr. Miller. Not only 
has he made a success of his own life in a material sense and risen to the front 
rank of citizenship, but he has reared a splendid family of sons and daughters 
whom he has started in life with farms of considerable size with the handicap of 
poverty removed. William J. Miller, Sr. was born in Clark County, Ohio, February 
17, 1843, and is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Ruby) Miller. Jacob Miller, the 
father, was a native of York County, Pennsylvania, and was a cooper by trade, 
following this occupation for a number of years, but eventually becoming a 
farmer in Pennsylvania and Ohio, dying in the latter State. His wife and mother of 
the subject of this review died in 1845. Of the four children born to Jacob and 
Sarah Miller, two are living, Jacob, of Fairfield, Greene County, Ohio, born 
January 1, 1838; and William J. Miller of this review. The Millers are of 
Pennsylvania-Dutch descent, and Mrs. Miller was a daughter of English ancestry. 
William J. Miller was reared to farm life and remained at home with his father 
until he attained the age of twenty-one years. He began his own career at that 
time. His first work was in making rails and cutting cord wood in order to earn 
money enough to "go west," an ambition which had always possessed him. In 1866 
he began his own career in Morgan County, Illinois. During the first three years of 
his residence in Illinois he worked as a farm hand, and performed any honest 
labor which was obtainable in order to earn money. After his marriage, he 
engaged in farming on his own account and eventually, by the exercise of energy, 
industry and the strictest economy, became owner of 160 acres of land in 
Illinois. Land was still cheap in western Missouri in 1886, and the price of farm 
land in Illinois was on the upward rise. Mr. Miller deemed it expedient to dispose 
of his Illinois farm and came to southern Johnson County, Missouri, where he 
traded his 160 acres and invested in a large tract of 714 acres, the "Jim Wall 
tract," which he transformed into an extensive stock farm. He became a well-
known breeder of pureblood Poland China hogs and specialized in shorthorn and 
high-grade cattle on a large scale. He brought with him a drove of pure-blood 
Poland China hogs and achieved a reputation as a hog breeder. He also brought to 
Missouri a pure-blood male shorthorn, bringing three carloads of live stock in all. 
He sold many males from this shorthorn herd leader. Success came to him from 
the start in Johnson County and he increased his land holdings to a large extent, 
becoming one of the largest individual land owners in this section of Missouri, 
owning at one time 1,600 acres in Missouri. Mr. Miller also bred fine horses, 
having been the owner of the noted stallion, "Kentucky Prince," and the Norman 
Percheron stallion, "Major House." The fame of his live stock was countrywide 
and his adherence to the plan of breeding thoroughbred live stock made his 
fortune or assisted materially in doing so. Mr. Miller has owned land in Missouri, 
Texas and Oklahoma aggregating 5,126 acres, and he continued actively in the 
live stock business until his retirement to a home in Windsor in 1897. Mr. Miller 
has given each of his eight children farms ranging in size from 160 to 190 acres 
of land, and has invested heavily in town property in Windsor, being one of the 
largest real estate owners of the city. He is vice-president of the Farmers Bank 
of Windsor in addition to his other activities and connections. He was one of the 
first land owners to lease a portion of his land to the Bowen Coal Mining Company 
for mining purposes. This lease covered 740 acres, 100 acres of which was the 
coal-bearing land mined by the Bowens. Much of the land which Mr. Miller deeded 
to his children has been found to be underlaid with coal. On the Lee land is a large 
deposit of coal. Under the Jackson's farm is a splendid deposit of coal. In 1869, 
William J. Miller, Sr. and Miss Mary Cox of Illinois were united in marriage. Mrs. 
Mary (Cox) Miller died on November 17, 1888. She was the daughter of Charles and 
Francena (Phillips) Cox, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky, and the 
latter a native of Ohio. Eight children were born to William J. and Mary Miller, as 
follows: Charles W., residing. on the Miller home place; Spencer Lee, who is 
farming a part of the home farm; Cena V., wife of George H. Jackson, Windsor, 
Missouri. A fine vein of coal has been found on their land. Mrs. Lizzie R. Brown, a 
widow living at Windsor, owning 190 acres; Mary E., the wife of Rev. W. W. 
Wilson, Mokane, Missouri; William J. Jr., a farmer living in Windsor township; 
Viola P., wife of W. R. Wooldridge, farmer and mule dealer, Windsor, Missouri; 
Miss Daisy I. Miller resides with her parents. Each of Mr. Miller's children 
received a good school education, the three eldest daughters. being graduates of 
the Lexington Academy. The second marriage of Mr. Miller was in December, 1900, 
with Miss Emma Brooks, a native of Illinois. A Democrat in his political 
affiliations Mr. Miller has never aspired for political preferment, his life having 
been too busy for aught except casting his vote at election time. He is a member 
of the Baptist Church and is considered as a leading and exemplary citizen of 
Windsor and Henry County.

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