BIO: Michael MILLER, Centre County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Patty Millich

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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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  MICHAEL MILLER, a highly respected resident of Madisonburg, Centre 
county, is one of the genial, kind-hearted men whose influence is a 
power for good in any community.  An able business man and an active 
promoter of all lines of local progress, he well deserves mention in 
this work. 
  Mr. Miller belongs to a well-known pioneer family, his grandfather, 
Michael Miller, having come from the southern part of the State at an 
early day to settle upon a farm in Centre county, at Pine Creek, where 
John Miller, our subject's father, was born and reared.  Starting in 
life with but little help from his father, John Miller made his way 
through his own efforts to a place of prominence among the 
agriculturists of the county. His first farm was in Walker township, 
and at one time, he owned three farms, his estate being inventoried, at 
his death, at about $30,000.  Although farming was his chief 
occupation, he did much profitable work in threshing in the days of the 
small horse-power machines, and while the canal was in process of 
construction he was engaged in butchering.  He was a Democrat in 
politics, but neither sought nor held public office.  In early manhood 
he was united in marriage with Miss Eve Bartholemew, who, like himself, 
was a devout member of the Reformed Church, in which he held office for 
many years.  Both died at Hublersburg, Centre county, the father at the 
age of seventy-three, the mother when sixty-eight, and their remains 
were laid to their final rest at that place.  They had eleven children, 
of whom nine lived to adult age: Catherine married Gideon Dunblazer, 
and died in Clinton county; Henry died in Walker township, Centre 
county; John, a farmer is living in semi retirement at Hublersburg; 
Eliza is the widow of Dr. Samuel Adams, of Illinois; Fannie married 
Benjamin Reich, and died at Jacksonville, Penn.; Sarah married Job Long 
of Clinton county; Michael and Mary were twins, the former being our 
subject, and the latter now the widow of Samuel Goodhart of Centre 
Hall; Amelia A. 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  206

married (first) John Stover, and (second) Amos Ertly, of Jacksonville.
  Michael Miller, our subject, was born May 12, 1838, at the old home 
in Walker township, Centre county, and his education was such as the 
schools of the district then afforded, comprising only "the three Rs."  
As the son of thrifty farmer, his time was well employed at home, and 
he did much hard work in his youth although he was not of large build.  
On March 16, 1862, he was married in Clinton county to Miss Sarah 
Brungart, who was born March 29, 1840, the daughter of George Brungart, 
a leading farmer of that county, and his wife, Elizabeth (Wolford).  
During the first four years of his married life, Mr. Miller rented the 
home farm from his father, but in the spring of 1866 he bought, at a 
cost of $6,000, a farm of eighty-three acres in Miles township, Centre 
county, known as the George Shaffer farm.  He made his home there until 
1880, when he sold the place and purchased the "old Schmeltzer farm" 
near Madisonburg. In the spring of 1886 he removed to that town, where 
he has since resided and at the same time he bought an eighty-three 
acre farm in the same township, on which he built a new house, now 
occupied by his son, George E.  In addition to this property and his 
fine residence in town, he owns 107 acres of mountain land.
  Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had seven children, whose names with dates 
of birth, are as follows:  Mary I., June 23 1863, died January 19, 
1868; George E., October 25, 1864, is a prosperous farmer in Miles 
township; Sarah K., November 23, 1865, married Clark Gramly of Miles 
township, Centre county; Elmira M., August 11, 1867, married Charles 
Smull of Rebersburg; Maggie H., March 11, 1869, died at the age of 
eighteen; Minnie E., October 11, 1873, and Bertha G., April 16, 1880, 
are at home.  Mrs. Miller is a Lutheran in religion, but our subject is 
a member of the Reformed Church, in which he has been a deacon and is 
now an elder.  He is a steadfast supporter of Democratic principles, 
and has been supervisor and overseer of the poor, while as school 
director, he has done effective work in securing for later generations 
the educational advantages of which he was deprived in his youth.