MRS. AGNES MILLER. Of the eminent families in Washington county the name of Miller has for many years represented a race noted for patriotism, energy and intelligence. In 1784 or 1785 James Miller emigrated from his home in County Tyrone, Ireland, to Chester county, Penn. A few years later he removed to Washington county, then a wilderness, and took out patents for over one thousand acres of land, embracing that now owned by his descendants John, James and Andrew Miller, of Mt. Pleasant and Chartiers townships. In 1811 Thomas Miller followed his brother to this country, bringing with him his family, consisting of his wife, Margaret, and their children two sons, three daughters and one daughter-in-law, viz.: Thomas, Andrew (married), Margaret (who married a cousin, John Miller), Sarah (married to Thomas, a brother of John Miller), and Mary, who remained unmarried. In March, 1812, Thomas Miller bought the tract of land named in its patent "Peace and Plenty."
This farm, which became the Miller homestead, was inherited by Thomas Miller, Jr., who was in his twenty-fourth year when he came to America. He married, after coming to America, his cousin, Margaret Miller, who died within a year. His, second wife was Elizabeth Brown, who died, leaving him one daughter, Margaret (now Mrs. James K. Hamilton, of Brownstown, Ind.). His third choice was Catherine Shaw, who came to this country with her family in 1818 from County Donegal, Ireland. She bore him seven children: Thomas, Elizabeth, Sarah and Jane (twins), Mary (who married Rev. I. N. White, of Fairview, Ohio), Catherine and John Monteith. All are now deceased, except Elizabeth, who now lives in Avalon, Allegheny Co., Penn. (She had been a most devoted daughter to her parents in their old age.) Thomas Miller devoted himself to farming and sheep raising, making a signal success in that business. He was a devoted Freemason, and in, politics was a Democrat, stumping the county for Polk's election. He was a member of the old Seceder Church, in Mount Pleasant township. He died December 23, 1877, in his ninety- second year. He divided his estate among his children.
John M. Miller was born March 18, 1842. At the age of fourteen years he was sent to Elder's Ridge Academy, then to Jefferson College, Canonsburg, from which he was graduated in 1861. He then entered his name as a law student in Philadelphia but was obliged to return home and take charge of the old homestead. On September 13, 1866, he was married to Miss Agnes White, daughter of W. S. White, now of Canonsburg. Of their children, five three sons and two daughters are living.
Mr. Miller's prosperous career as a farmer is well known among his fellow- Pennsylvanians, among whom his position as a prominent stock raiser was well established. He enjoyed a national reputation as a breeder of North Devon cattle. At the time of his death he was president of the American Devon Cattle Club; vice-president of the Spanish Merino Sheep Breeders' Association; a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and a member of the Western Pennsylvania Agricultural Association. He was a farmer who loved his vocation and his home, improving not only the land but the stock buildings and methods of farming. In other business pursuits he was equally successful, his enterprising spirit prompting him to look beyond the immediate profit of a transaction, and to estimate the general advantages to be obtained therefrom. He was a man of the strictest integrity, doing business only upon an honorable basis, which fact, combined with his ability and good judgment, brought him deserved success and made him a recognized authority in business matters. Politically, he was a Democrat, but, though interested in public questions, was averse to political preferment. He served for many years as justice of the peace, and in other township offices. He was deeply interested in the public schools, spending much of his time in planning for their improvement.
On the morning of May 14, 1888, he was stricken with apoplexy, and at one o'clock of the same day he passed away, seemingly without any pain Mr. Miller was possessed of a fine appearance and of a hearty, genial manner, which, with his generous disposition, won him friends innumerable. His heart and hand were ever open to the cry of suffering, and, his sympathies aroused, he gave with a liberality not warranted by his resources. In brief, when he was laid to rest, the entire community, no less than his kindred and intimate friends, mourned the loss of a public benefactor, a true Christian and an upright, honorable business man.
Mrs. Miller still retains the old farm in Mount Pleasant township, but in September, 1890, came to her present home in Washington borough, in order to give her children better educational advantages.
Text taken from page 229 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]