BIO: B. Franklin MILLER, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  219

  B. F. MILLER, a highly-respected resident of Madisonburg, was for 
many years a prominent agriculturist in Miles township, Centre county, 
and has been recently taken possession of his pleasant home in town.  
As a native of Centre county, he has seen no reason to quarrel with the 
fate, which cast his lot in so desirable a spot, and throughout his 
life, he has resided there, and in a quiet but effective way has taken 
a helpful part in the progressive movement of the locality.  He was 
born February 28, 1844, in Ferguson township, the son of Elias and 
Cecelia (Marsh) Miller, of whom a biography appears elsewhere.  His 
first schooling was obtained at the Glade school in his native 
township, and his first teacher, a Mr. Thompson, was of the kind whose 
ideas of discipline begin and end with a "sound whipping."  This was a 
discouraging introduction to the path of knowledge and it speaks well 
for Mr. Miller's innate ability that he continued to make the best of 
the meager opportunities offered by the country schools, laying a 
foundation upon which his subsequent reading has been carried on with 
excellent results, making the greater cause for regret that so able an 
intellect did not have better opportunity for early development.  Like 
all intelligent men whose early aspirations were cramped by similar 
circumstances, Mr. Miller is an earnest advocate of better schools for 
the rising generation, thinking money spent for good teachers and 
suitable buildings well invested.  He was but a boy - not yet in his 
"teens" - when his parents removed to a farm in the vicinity of 
Madisonburg.  Work was, of course, plenty, and Mr. Miller acquired 
familiarity with the details of farm management at an early age.  After 
some years his parents removed to Madisonburg and Mr. Miller with his 
brother Harvey conducted the farm.
  In 1867 Mr. Miller married in Brush Valley, Centre county, to Miss 
Hannah C. Schmeltzer, who was born near Madisonburg, April 18, 1847.  
Her parents, John and Rebecca (Shaffer) Schmeltzer moved to Illinois 
during her childhood, but the father dying there not long afterward the 
family returned to Miles township. After his marriage Mr. Miller 
continued to reside at the old home until March 17, 1896, when he 
removed to Madisonburg, where he owns a home. His farm consists of 145 
acres with 100 acres cleared, and the elder of Mr. Miller's two sons, 
John E., who was born July 27, 1868, now has charge of it.  The other 
son, Kline A., born October 4, 1877, has fine musical ability and is 
now a student in Warren, Ohio.  A third child, William D., a promising 
boy, died at the age of ten years.  Mr. Miller met with a sad accident 
when about three years old.  He was playing with his brother Harvey (a 
year and a half older), and a stone was thrown which injured his left 
eye, causing its loss, and ever since a few weeks after the accident 
there has been intense pain also.
  Mr. Miller and his wife are prominent members of the Reformed Church 
in which he has been deacon and elder, and is at present the treasurer.  
Sunday-school work has always claimed his active aid, and at the age of 
twenty years he became superintendent.  He has held the office at 
intervals since, and now fills it.  Politically he is a stanch 
Democrat, but although he is a regular voter, and has served in various 
township offices, he is not a politician in the modern sense of the 
word.  He has taken an active part in local affairs, and in the Grange.  
His sound judgment and integrity are valued among his associates, as 
has often been shown by his appointment to posts of responsibility such 
as the guardianship of children.  He has often served as a juror, both 
grand and traverse, and in whatever capacity his abilities have been 
tested he has proven himself competent and faithful.

1860 Miles Township, Centre County census -
Elias Miller, 45  
Secella Miller, 45  
Harvey Miller, 18  
Franklin Miller, 17  
Gideon Miller, 2  
Polly Dener?, 76