BIOS: Simon S. MILLER, Springs, Somerset County, PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Roth Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/somerset/ ________________________________________________ History of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania; Bedford County by E. Howard Blackburn; Somerset County by William H. Welfley; v.3, Pub. The Lewis Publishing Company, New York/Chicago 1906, ppg. 260/1 Simon S. MILLER. Simon S. Miller, of Springs, Elk Lick township, traces his ancestry to John Miller, who moved to Somerset county from Berks county, Pennsylvania. The next in line of descent was Jacob Miller, born in Elk Lick township, Somerset county, removed to Ohio in 1808-09. His son, Benedict Miller, born in Elk Lick township, November 19, 1781, died in June, 1837. He was a farmer and carpenter. He married Catharine, daughter of Peter Bitsche, who came from Switzerland in 1754 and settled in Elk Lick township, and their chiildren were: Henry, Peter, William, Salome, Catharine, Joel (see forward), Susanna, Elizabeth, Benedict, Barbara, Moses and Jacob. Joel Miller, son of Benedict and Catharine (Bitsche) Miller, was born March 27, 1811, in Allegheny county, Maryland, and like his father was a farmer and carpenter, adding to these callings that of a blacksmith. His wife was Catharine Brenneman, born April 5, 1813, in Germany, and came to the United States in 1828. Their children were: Samuel J., see forward; Daniel J., born December 19, 1836, married Lucretia Fuller; Elias J., born February 21, 1839, married Nancy Miller; Elizabeth, born August 17, 1841, wife of Elias Hershbarger; Mary, born 1843, wife of Emmanuel Hershberger; Joel J., born December 14, 1844, married Savilla Beachy; Catharine, born March 14, 1848, wife of Elias M. Miller; Christian J., born November 18, 1850, married Barbara Gnagey; Lydia, born March 25, 1853, died January 30, 1856; and Anna, born February 1, 1858, wife of John D. Yoder. Samuel J. Miller, son of Joel and Catharine (Brenneman) Miller, was born November 23, 1834, in Elk Lick township, and was all his life devoted to agricultural pursuits. He married, November 15, 1854, Magdalena, daughter of Christian Swartzendruber, of Elk Lick township, and their children were: Jacob S., born August 12, 1855, married Anna Beachy; Elias S., born June 14, 1858, married Catharine Beachy; Simon S., see forward; Amanda, born October 12, 1864, wife of Daniel Beachy; and Lucy, born February 20, 1876, wife of Moses Beachy. Mr. S. J. Miller died September 16, 1906; his wife died May, 1892. Simon S. Miller, son of Samuel J. and Magdalena (Swartzendruber) Miller, was born march 2, 1862, on the farm on which he now lives, in Elk Lick township, and attended the public schools until the age of nineteen. He worked for his father on the homestead until 1887, when he became by purchase the owner of the farm. He was engaged in the retail coal business from 1887 to June 30, 1905, when he leased his coal to E. O. F. Stotler, of Meyersdale, and the works are now operated under the name of the Meyersdale Fuel Company. He has served two terms as school director, is a Republican, and a member of the Amish Mennonite church, in which since 1902 he has held the office of treasurer. Mr. Miller married Lydia, daughter of Daniel Beachy, of Aurora, West Virginia, and their children are: Anselm, Allan, Essie, Anna, Earle, Claude, and Ernest.