BIO: Elias MILLER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ 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. _____________________________________________________________________ ELIAS MILLER. To grow old gracefully, to keep the youthful spirit, and adding the ripening and enriching influences of years of experience and useful effort, is a rare distinction. Although now "eighty-three years young," the honored pioneer whose name opens this biography shows few traces of the flight of time, weakened eyesight being the only serious sign of impaired vigor. This is the more remarkable because his life has been more than ordinarily filled with hardships and labors, as the following interesting account will show. Mr. Miller was born June 10, 1814, in Moore township, Northampton county, Penn., on Blue Mountain. His father, David Miller, was a native of the same county, born October 3, 1786, and as a boy was bound out to a hotel keeper near Bethlehem, Penn. When he came of age he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed for some years. He married Miss Barbara Reichner, who was born in Moore township, Northampton county, May 26, 1791, and as his children grew to mature age he determined to seek a home where land could be procured more easily and a better start secured for them. In 1832 he moved to Boalsburg, Centre county, a one- horse and a two-horse wagon serving to bring the family and the household goods. He continued his trade while looking about for the desired opening into agricultural work, his lack of capital making the search a difficult one. Finally he rented a farm near Rock Springs, Centre county, and five years later took another near Pennsylvania Furnace. He prospered, and after a time purchased 100 acres of timbered land in the "Barrens," and building a log house started in true pioneer fashion to clear a farm. As old age came on he sold this tract and bought twenty-five acres from a farm then owned by our subject, and putting up a good log house and stable he and his estimable wife lived there some years. Elias Miller, however, removed to Miles township, and wishing to have his parents near him, purchased a small but comfortable home near Madisonburg, in which they passed their remaining years, the father's death occurring May 18, 1866, and the mother's on February 8, 1875. Their remains were first laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery, but later Elias Miller had them transferred to the German Reformed Cemetery, both parents having been devout followers of that faith. David Miller was a man of small build. In early life he enjoyed excellent health, but he became crippled in the left leg through a crookedness caused by white swelling. This disadvantage did not prevent him from working and trying to realize his hopes of a competence form himself and his family. Of eleven children only two are now living. (I) Charles was drowned in Huntingdon county; (2) Elias is the subject proper of this sketch; (3) Thomas was drowned in Lehigh county, while employed as a lock tender on the canal between Mauch Chunk and Easton; (4) Hettie married (first) Samuel Bloom, who died in Ferguson township, Centre county, and (second) she wedded Henry Garner; (5) Julia A. married William Davis, and died in Ferguson township, Centre county; (6) Gideon died young; (7) Mary Ann, widow of Daniel Diebler, lives in Shamokin, Penn.; (7) Reuben, (8) Sarah, and two others died in childhood. The schools of the early days in this section afforded but meager opportunities for an ambitious boy, and Mr. Miller's help was needed at home too much to admit of any extended course of study. He was a willing worker, strong for his age, and has chopped many hundreds of cords of wood. At thirteen he was hired out with the understanding that he should have two months' schooling each year; but this bargain was not observed, as his employer kept him at work all the time. He was eighteen at the time of the removal to Centre county, and he remained at COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 421 home working for his parents until he was twenty-three years old lacking three months. In the meantime he had made numerous journeys on foot to Northampton county, 175 miles each way, to visit an early friend, Miss Cecelia Marsh, daughter of John and Polly (Deemer) Marsh, who lived upon a farm in Moore township near Mr. Miller's birthplace. The young lady was about his own age, and a native of the same township, born September 24, 1814. In the fall of 1836 Mr. Miller started on foot to claim his bride. His clothes were poor, and he had in his pocket less than $2.50, half of which had been secured by working at fifty cents per day at husking corn, and the rest had been saved, a few cents at a time, from chance earnings. There was a young man in Northampton county who wished to go to Centre county with the young couple and board with them while working in the woods for Mr. Miller, and through an advance of $20, to be repaid in board, Mr. Miller was greatly assisted at this critical period in his fortunes. After his marriage Mr. Miller walked back to his home to make arrangements for bringing his bride, and early in December, 1836, he returned for her with a covered wagon. A heavy snow fell, and the roads becoming almost impassable with drifts, the trip, which should have been made in nine days, occupied six weeks. For a part of the way the wagon was transformed into a sled, and when the snow melted, the wheels, which had been strapped to the load, were again put in place, and thus the journey was finished. By this time Mr. Miller's funds were exhausted, but youth, health, and a definite purpose in life seemed a guarantee of success, and so they proved. He rented a small house in Ferguson township, Centre county, and began chopping wood in "The Barrens" for the Pennsylvania Furnace, managing to save a portion of his earnings. He built a small house on land owned by the company, and later leased a tract of timber land from them for twelve years. In eleven years he cleared 300 acres, the company putting up buildings for him. Before the lease expired he bought 115 acres of land, incurring a debt of nearly $4,000. This was the first home of his own, and six years were spent there. During that time he bought 209 acres from the company, and cleared nearly 100 acres of it, building a plain but good house. In 1855 he bought the "Old Musser farm" of 130 acres in Brush Valley, and in the following spring settled there, remaining eight years, when he went to Madisonburg and bought the hotel where he now resides. It cost him $3,000, and he has made many improvements from time to time. For several years he rented the hotel, but for the greater part of the time he has conducted it himself. He bought other property in the town, upon which he erected new buildings, and now owns two places there and fifty acres of mountain land. At one time he owned three farms in Brush Valley, but this land has either been sold or given to his sons. In looking back over the years in which his present handsome competence has been gained, Mr. Miller can have the supreme satisfaction of knowing that all has been accomplished without taking advantage of any man. Never penurious, never extravagant, generous whenever a worthy cause appealed to his sympathies, his life has been one to emulate and admire. His integrity is so well established that in his more active days, when making large purchases of land, men of capital have come to him and offered to loan him whatever he might need. The shrewdest and most conservative money lenders have thus shown their confidence in him. The faithful helpmeet of his early struggles passed from earth April 9, 1886, and her remains were interred in the Reformed Church Cemetery. Mr. Miller subsequently married Miss Amanda Grimes, a native of Miles township, Centre county, and a daughter of Anthony Grimes. There were three children by the first marriage: Harvey and Benjamin F., farmers of Brush Valley, now residing in Madisonburg, and Gideon, who died November 3, 1863. One daughter by the second marriage, Ancenetta, born April 5, 1887, is at home. Mr. Miller is a stanch Democrat, as was his father before him, but he has never been an office seeker. He takes an active interest in religious movements, and for many years has been a leading member of the Reformed Church.