Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

 

 

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 870 - 871

HENRY MILLER, Postmaster at Peotone or Viola Station, where he is also a general merchant, is a native of Lagrange County, Ind., born Aug. 30, 1854, and is the son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Young) Miller. His father was born in Pennsylvania, but when he was a child of not more than two years old his parents came west and settled in Lagrange County, Ind., where they were among the earliest pioneers of that region. He was reared upon the farm and resided on the old homestead for a period of years covering almost half a century. He is now a resident of Sturgis, Mich., where for a time he was engaged in the fuel business, but owing to injuries received in 1887, is now living retired from all active participation in the cares of business. He has a fine property in that city, and is a highly esteemed and respected citizen.

            The mother of our subject was a native of Ohio, but removed with her people to Lagrange County, among the very first who settled in that region. There she was married to Mr. Miller, and there died in 1875, having been the mother of ten children, of whom nine are living, as follows: Salina, wife of Charles Stroud, of Lagrange County, Ind.; Manfred, living in Sedgwick County; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Diantha, Mrs. C. L. Lilly, also of Lagrange County; Mary, who is living with her father; Carlton, who makes his home in this county; Daniel, of Coldwater, Mich.; Almon, a resident of Sedgwick County; Delos, living in Sturgis, Mich.; and Charles, who makes his home in the latter city. After the death of the mother of our subject, his father married Miss Helen Field, who became the mother - of two children - Maud and Claude.

            The subject of this narration was reared upon his father's farm and there received a training that has been valuable to him in his after life. He drew his education from the pure sources of the district schools of his native county, and remained at home assisting in the labors incident to agricultural life upon the family homestead, until he was some twenty years of age, when he removed to Branch County, Mich. He continued there, on his own account, his vocation of farming with a fair amount of success and encouragement, but in 1878, with a natural desire to better his condition, he removed to the great and growing State of Kansas, and on his arrival in Sedgwick County pre-empted 160 acres of land on section 19, Viola Township, which he has improved and brought to an excellent state of tillage. He has erected good, handsome and substantial buildings, and gathered around him all the comforts and conveniences for carrying on the farm and enjoying life in a proper manner. He still manages this place in spite of his other business cares, and has made a great success in this line. In August, 1887, he removed to the new village of Viola Station, where he established a store in which he carries a stock of general merchandise. In January, 1888, he was commissioned as Postmaster of the office at this place, which is known on the register of the United States Postal Guide as Peotone, succeeding J. T. Broomfield.

            Mr. Miller was united in marriage, June 14, 1875, with Miss Mary Moore, the daughter of George W. and Jane (Plants) Moore, natives of Ohio and New York respectively. The mother of our subject's wife died in St. Joseph County, Mich., in 1878, and her father lives in Pawnee County, Neb., where he owns a large tract of land. Her parents had but two children, herself and her brother, George Moore, a resident of Wichita. Her father by a previous marriage had a family consisting of four children. Mrs. Miller is a native of St. Joseph County, Mich., and was born Sept. 23, 1857. She is the mother of three children - Zadie, Bertha and Herman, In his political views Mr. Miller is entirely independent of party lines, but usually votes for the Republican party, although in local matters he considers the man before the platform. When he came to this county he had but about $800, but by energy, perseverance and industry has achieved his present well-to-do condition. At one time he owned 320 acres of land, but traded 160 of it for the property he now owns at Viola Station, and has now a farm of 180 acres, and is ranked among the wealthy and prosperous citizens of the township.

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