Bios: Lafayette Miller, 1836-: Windsor Twp, Berks Co, PA

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From:  Morton L Montgomery, "Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks
County, Pennsylvania.  Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1909.  p 1621.

Surnames mentioned:
Becker, Billig, Borky, Egolf, Fisher, Hatzfield, Leidenmuth, Lessig, Mayer,
Meck, Mervine, Miller, Noecker, Reinhart, Sassaman, Seip, Smith

Note: Surnames of related families have been capitalized, but are lower case
in the original.

LAFAYETTE MILLER.  Of the numerous Pennsylvania German families of Berks
county, none is larger than that of Miller, a worthy representative of which
is found in the person of Lafayette Miller of Windsor township.  Mr. Miller
was born March 31, 1836, on his father's farm, son of Thomas and Catherine
(NOECKER) MILLER, natives of this county.

Three brothers, George, Jacob and John MILLER, settled in Windsor township
prior to the establishment of the county in 1752.

George MILLER, of Windsor township, the grandfather of Lafayette, was a
farmer and owned the large property now in the possession of Dr. Allen J.
Fink, of Hamburg.  He was a Lutheran in his religious belief.  George MILLER
married Margaret SEIP, and to them there were born these children:  David,
John, Solomon, Mrs. SASSAMAN, Joseph (1799-1857), Thomas (father of
Lafayette) and William.  John MILLER, the second son, was born in Windsor,
April 6, 1793, and died Aug. 5, 1827.  In 1818 he married Christina,
daughter of Joseph BORKY, and they had three daughters:  Anna Maria m.
(first) Benjamin MAYER, and (second) Samuel MECK; Catherine m. Henry
LEIDENMUTH; and Eliza m. Nathan HATZFIELD.

Thomas MILLER, son of George and Margaret (SEIP), was born in Windsor
township, June 18, 1800, and his death occurred on his farm, March 15, 1845.
 He was buried at St. Paul's Church, of which he and his family were
Lutheran members.  He was a stone mason by trade, which he followed for many
years, but in 1837 purchased the farm of 100 acres which is now owned by his
son Lafayette.  Until his death he followed agricultural pursuits, his widow
carrying on the farm thereafter until her death, Oct. 25, 1889, in her 81st
year.  In 1828 Thomas MILLER was married to Catherine NOECKER, daughter of
John NOECKER, and to them were born three sons and one daughter:  Annabella
m. (first) Daniel EGOLF, deceased, and (second) Samuel LESSIG; Paul m. Maria
BECKER; Lafayette; and Charles m. Caroline BECKER.

Lafayette MILLER attended the old pay school immediately back of St. Paul's
Church in his township, his teachers being old learned Germans whose salary
was made up by contributions from the inhabitants of the community, who also
boarded the pedagogues.  Mr. Miller also attended the free schools the first
year of their establishment.  He was reared on his father's farm, and the
vocation of agriculturalist has been his occupation all of his life.  His
present property consists of 148 acres of good land, in a high state of
cultivation, it being the original Miller homestead.  The nice frame
residence on this farm was built by Mr. Miller in 1898 and he has also built
the wagon shed and greatly remodelled the new Swiss barn, which was put up
by his father.  This is a fine up-to-date property in every respect, and its
attractive appearance is frequently commented upon by travelers on the State
Road.  Mr. Miller has another good farm of 75 acres in Windsor township,
which is tenanted, and a tract of 12 acres on which is located an excellent
dwelling house.

Mr. Miller is very highly esteemed in his community as an honest, upright
man and public spirited citizen.  He is a Democrat in politics and has
served his district as school director and supervisor.  He and his wife are
consistent members of St. Paul's Union Church, of Windsor township, of which
he has been a trustee for 20 years and to which he has always contributed
liberally.

Mr. Miller was married to Harriet REINHART, born Oct. 21, 1833, daughter of
Benjamin and Lucenia (BILLIG) REINHART, and to this union there have been
born four children:  Catherine m. David SMITH, and lives in Missouri; Mary
m. Scott W. FISHER, a manufacturer of Hamburg; Marguerite m. Joseph MERVINE;
and Thomas, born April 26, 1870, died August 25, 1889.