Daniel Miller, a
representative of one of the pioneer families of Jay County, is a native of
Maryland, born December 29, 1827, a son of Jacob and Mary Miller, natives of
Maryland, the father born in Carroll County in May, 1789, and the mother
born in the year 1795. They were married in Maryland, and to them were born
eleven children, eight of whom grew to maturity. Seven are living at the
present writing – Mrs. Margaret Whipple, a resident of Randolph County,
Indiana; John, of Wayne Township; Daniel, our subject; Mrs. Mary Spade of
Portland; Mrs. Ann Denney, also living in Portland; Mrs. Jane Whipple, of
Wayne Township and Jacob W., living in Bloomington, Indiana. Their son
Samuel died in Wayne Township, aged twenty-three years. Jacob Miller left
Maryland with his family in 1838, and settled in Preble County, Ohio, where
they lived three years. Then they came to Jay County, Indiana, settling in
Wayne Township, October 9, 1841, where the father entered eighty acres of
heavily timbered land on section 27. This land he cleared and improved,
making a good home for himself and family where he lived until his death,
July 28, 1871. His wife had died September 7, 1851. Both were highly
respected throughout the community in which they lived, and were consistent
Christian people. In early life they were Presbyterians, but there being no
church of that denomination when they came to Jay County, they united with
the Christian Church, remaining members of that church until their death.
All their children were worthy members of the same church.
Daniel Miller, whose name heads this sketch, was fourteen years old when he
came with his parents to Jay County, and has yet distinct recollections of
early pioneer days, coming here when the greater part of the surrounding
country was covered with heavy timber, and wild game of all kinds was
abundant. Where now are fine residences to be seen, the rude log cable of
the early settler, and the forest has been changed into well cultivated
farms and thriving villages. He relates an incident of those early times of
how he and two other lads of about his own age went coon hunting one night,
taking with them three dogs. Along in the night the dogs engaged in a
terrific contest with an animal which the boys concluded was a bear, the
darkness of the night preventing them from discovering the true state of
affairs. Fearing that the dogs would be overcome by Bruin, and that they
would be attacked, each climbed into a tree for protection. The fighting
continued almost the rest of the night, and when daylight appeared they
mustered up courage to make an investigation, and found lying on the ground
a few rods away an immense buck, which had, after a terrible struggle,
yielded his life from mere exhaustion.
Mr. Miller has
resided in Wayne Township since coming with his father in 1841, and is
numbered among the substantial farmers and stock raisers of Jay County. His
farm, which is located on section 28, contains 240 acres of Jay County’s
best land. Mr. Miller was married in 1851 to Miss Mary Whipple, who is now
deceased. She was a native of Rhode Island and a daughter of David O.
Whipple. For his present wife, Mr. Miller married Miss Sophia Denney, a
sister of Ira Denney of Portland. Mr. Miller had six children by his first
wife, of whom four are living – Albe D. married Mary Spence and lives in
Wayne Township; Sumner married Miss Anna Coalson of Wayne and lives in Wayne
Township; Amy, wife of Hiram Moorman of Winchester/Randolph County, and Ada
G., wife of Dr. Oscar Abel of Bryant, Indiana.
Biographical and Historical Record of Jay County, IN
Lewis Publishing
Company, 1887
Transcribed by Jim Cox
Buried in Liber Cemetery