Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Miller, Ephraim B.    
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Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


EPHRAIM B. MILLER has long been actively identified with the 
agricultural and political interests of Harrison township, 
Bedford County, Pa., and is held in high regard throughout 
the community in which he lives.  A son of the late John E. 
Miller, he was born in this township, July 6, 1840.  He is 
of pioneer ancestry, his great-grandfather, Abraham Miller, 
having been one of the first settlers of this section of the 
State.
  Elias Miller, son of Abraham and father of John E., was 
born in Loudoun County, Virginia.  He migrated with his 
parents to Harrison township, where he subsequently spent 
his life in the toilsome labor of clearing and improving a 
homestead.  He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, and 
one of his brothers served several years as Sheriff of 
Somerset County, Pennsylvania.
  John E. Miller, father of the subject of this sketch, was 
a lifelong farmer of Harrison township, where he died in 
June, 1876, at a good old age.  He belonged to the 
Republican party, and served his fellow-townsmen in various 
official capacities.  A man of eminent piety, he was a 
consistent and active member of the Christian church, of 
which he was a Deacon for a number of years.  His wife, 
Hannah Carpenter, a native of Londonderry, Pa., bore him 
several children, of whom the following named are yet 
living: Eve, wife of Job H. Martin, of Buffalo Mills, Pa.; 
Ephraim B., whose personal history is given below; Simon G. 
Miller, M.D., a physician in Putnam County, Florida; Amanda, 
wife of Daniel Swartzwelter, of Fayette County, 
Pennsylvania; and Hannah, wife of John R. Diehl, of 
Colerain, Pa.
  Ephraim B. Miller was bred and educated in Harrison, 
becoming as familiar in boyhood with farm life and labors as 
with the contents of his school books.  In August, 1862, he 
offered his services to his country by enlisting in Company 
F, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, as a private.  He was subsequently promoted to the 
rank of Corporal; and with his regiment, which belonged to 
the Army of the Potomac, he fought at the battles of 
Snicker's Gap, Brandy Station, Locust Grove, the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg, at Monocacy 
Bridge, Md., Charlestown, W.Va., Winchester, Fisher's Hill, 
Harrisonburg, Mount Jackson, and Cedar Creek.  At the latter 
engagement he received a wound in the left arm of such a 
serious nature that he was forced to remain in the hospital 
five months, after which he served with his regiment until 
receiving his discharge on June 25, 1865.  Returning then to 
the scenes of his childhood, he has since carried on various 
branches of agriculture with good financial results.  His 
farm of three hundred acres is finely located, and with its 
equipments and substantial improvements is one of which he 
may well be proud.  Evidences of his judicious labor and 
thrifty management are to be seen on every hand, and 
invariably attract the attention of the passer-by.
  Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics, and has ably 
served the township as Road Supervisor, a position which he 
held five years, and as Assessor, an office which he is now 
filling for the second term.  He is one of the leading 
members of Harrison Post, No. 332, G.A.R., at Buffalo Mills, 
of which he is ex-Senior Vice-Commander.
  On February 15, 1866, Mr. Miller married Amanda, daughter 
of Daniel and Rachel (Morgart) Swartzwelter, late of Monroe 
Township, Bedford County.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller have eight 
children, namely: Grant A.; Otho C.; Alberta O.; Simon D.; 
Viola R., wife of Samuel Wolf, of Hyndman, Pa.; Veda L.; 
Oscar G. and Pearl L., deceased.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller are 
both members of the Christian church.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa