BIOS: Joseph D. MILLER, Rockwood, Milford Township, Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp 291-292.

  Joseph D. Miller, senior member of the firm of J. D. Miller & Sons, a 
successful business house of Rockwood, Milford township, Somerset 
County, was born in this township on March 21, 1839, son of Daniel D. 
and Mary Ann (Miller) Miller.
  Daniel D. Miller, a wagon-maker by trade, was born in Elk Lick, 
Somerset County, on April 2, 1815, son of Daniel and Polly (Long) 
Miller.  He took a prominent part in local affairs, and was a 
consistent member of the German Baptist church.  He died January 21, 
1892.  His wife, Mary Ann, daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Livingood) 
Miller, was born December 21, 1817.  They were married in 1835.  She is 
still living, as are also seven of their ten children; namely, Cyrus, 
Joseph D., Ephraim D., Susan, Mary, John C. F., and T. Milton.
  Joseph D. Miller began his education in the public schools of 
Milford, and afterward he studied at the Somerset County Normal School; 
also at a normal seminary in Alleghany County, Maryland.  In 1855 he 
took up teaching, which he followed with excellent success until the 
breaking out of the Civil War in April, 1861.  Enlisting in Company C, 
Fifty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Captain E. D. 
Yutzy and Colonel Jacob M. Campbell, he went to Washington and joined 
the army of the Potomac, but was subsequently transferred to the army 
of West Virginia, or Upper Potomac, Eighth Army Corps, serving under 
Generals Wool and Sigel, and participating in the battle of New Market, 
Va., and the engagement of May 15, 1864, in which General Sigel 
suffered defeat.  In the latter, Mr. Miller was wounded just below the 
knee by a minie-ball, and was sent to the Post Hospital, and later to 
the general hospital at Clarysville, Md.  He was discharged on his way 
to the front at Harper's Ferry, Va., on September 3, 1864.
  Returning home, he taught school during the following winter at 
Gebharts, Pa., and continued to engage in teaching until 1870, his last 
three terms being in Accident, Md.  In the winter of 1868, before he 
finally gave up teaching, he went to Harrisburg, Pa., as transcribing 
clerk of the State legislature.  Coming to Rockwood, March 10, 1870, he 
formed a partnership with Henry Kregar, under the style of Kregar & 
Miller, and opened a general store.  This partnership continued until 
1871, when Mr. Kregar sold his interest to Ephraim D. Miller, and the 
style of the firm became Miller Brothers.  They carried on the business 
together up to 1889, when Joseph D. Miller purchased his brother's 
interest.  He continued the business in his own name until 1893, at 
which time he sold a half-interest to his sons, John W. and James 
McPherson.  The business has since been conducted under the firm name 
of J. D. Miller & Sons.
  On October 15, 1868, Mr. Miller was married to Helen M., daughter of 
John and Nancy (Scott) Will, of New Centreville.  They have six 
children: John Will, born March 9, 1870, who is a graduate of Iron City 
College, Pittsburg, Pa., class of 1893; James McPherson, born July 23, 
1871, who completed his studies at the Meyersdale Normal School; Jennie 
C., born January 23, 1873, who received her education in the Rockwood 
public schools and Irving College, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Joseph Ernest, 
born July 4, 1876, who was educated in the public schools of 
Centreville an the Somerset County Normal School, and is now a teacher 
in Somerset County; Chester Arthur, born March 14, 1882; and Howard 
Payne, born May 5, 1883, the two last named being in school.
  Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics, and has served on the 
Republican Township Committee for many years.  In 1874 he was elected 
to represent this district in the Pennsylvania legislature for 1875-76, 
and served on the committees on Banking, Mining, and Printing.  He was 
Township Clerk for many years, and School Director one year, during the 
building of the new schoolhouse.  Fraternally, he is a member of the 
Royal Arcanum, in which he was the first Regent, and served five years; 
and of the William H. Weller Post, No. 549, G.A.R., of which he was 
Commander five years in succession, and is now Adjutant.  Mr. Miller 
belongs to the Lutheran church, in which he was a Deacon many years, 
and has always been prominent in church work.  He has been a teacher in 
both church and inter-denominational Bible classes.