Miller - John R.
Source:The Solons of the State as Sketched by the Sentinel Indiana and Ohio the Nativity of the Great Majority of Our Legislators. Date: Saturday, January 23, 1875 Paper: Indianapolis Sentinel (Indianapolis, IN) - thanks to Martha Crosley, Vigo County Genweb coordinator (2012) for this one. Greatly appreciated, Martha !
John R. Miller, joint representative from Parke and Montgomery, is a native of the first-named county. He was born in Raccoon Township Feb 10, 1825. He traces his lineage back to Germany and Ireland, though his parents were American born. They were among the earliest pioneers of Parke County and the Miller family is known all through Western Indiana and Eastern Illinois, and universally respected. The elder Miller was a resident of Parke County for more than a half century and did not die until some three years since. In his life time he was Justice of the Peace 15 years, County Commissioner 8 years, Township Trustee several years and always a Democrat. General Jackson was his patron saint, politically and when Old Hickory died there was not one left to take his place. Mrs. Miller, the mother of John R, is still living on the old homestead with her sons, and she has lived in Parke County longer than any other person now living in it. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native county and at Asbury University. He has always been a farmer, and now lives on the farm his father fashioned from the forest, with his able-bodied aid. The first and second houses ever built in Parke County were build on that same farm, the first in the spring and the second in the fall of 1816. Mr. Miller, the son was elected Treasurer of his native county in 1855, and so satisfactorily did he serve that he was reelected for the second term. In politics, he, like his father, always was a Democrat. He avows himself now as not being in favor of returning to specie payments while such an enormous indebtedness is having over the American people, especially since that indebtedness was incurred under a great greenback inflation. But he is in favor of a perp money issued directly to the people by the government, based on the faith and resources of the nation, to be made a full legal tender in the payment of all debts within the US, both public and private (except such as were, by the laws or contracts originally creating them, made payable otherwise); the volume of such currency to be made adjustable to the business wants of the country. He inclines to the opinion that to make it interchangeable with government bonds, at an equ9itable rate of interest, at the option of the holder, will determine the needed volume. As will be observed, Mr. Miller has a Plan, to which the writer would invoke the attention of Jefferson and Jacksons, if they can materialize. The address of the gentleman from Parke and Montgomery is Bridgeton, Parke County.