MILLER, Jasper Newton - Putnam

Jasper N MILLER. . . . . . . . . . . . also has a photo of him in the book

Among the well known and popular citizens of Putnam County is he whose name forms the caption of this sketch and who is very satisfactorily filling the office of County treasurer, his labors among his fellow men in Putnam County having made him a much like public character, being known as a man of keen perceptive faculties, unusual souondness of judgment and upright in all his dealings with his fellow countrymen, until today his name stands high on the scoll of honored residents of this locality. Being descendants of worthy ancestors who figured conspicuously in the early development of this County, hence being history makers, the MILLER family is glady accorded proper recognition in this work.

Jasper N. MILLER was born in Franklin township, Putnam County, December 18, 1853, the son of James T. and Mary (BROWN) MILLER. The former was born October 28, 1830, in this County, the son of one of the early pioneers here, having entered three hundred and eighty acres of land in Franklin township, the family having comehere from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, in 1829, and amid the wilderness began developing a new home and in due course of time became well established.

The parents of Jasper N. MILLER were married on November 30, 1830. Mary BROWN, who was born February 16, 1831, was the daughter of Jonathan and Eliza (CAMP) BROWN, both of whom came fromTennessee at an early date, having been prominent pioneer citizens. This couple grew up to honest toil in a new country, where they received only a meager schooling in the old-time schools of the early days. Five children were born to them, named as follows:

Jason Riley, born September 2, 1859; Jasper Newton, of this review; Elisa Vorhees, born September 10, 1830; Sylvia Alice, born September 10, 1860, and died February 9, 1888; Serilda Jane, born December 20, 1856, and died January 1, 1874.

James F. MILLER, father of these children, devoted his life exculsively to farming, at which he was very successful, being a man who was never afraid of hard work, owing to the fact that fell to his lot to assist in clearing and clutivating the old homestead in Franklin township when he was but a mere boy. He is a man of the very highest integrity and honor, a Democrat but not a public man. He still lives in Monroe township with his wife where he is highly esteemed by all his neighbors and friends. He removed from Franklin township to Monroe township in 1872.

Jasper N. MILLER, the immediate subject of this review, received his early schooling in the common schools of his native township, and later in life he great augmented his early training by close application to the study of general topics at home and by contact with the world in general. He early began farming and has followed that vocation practically all his life, in connection with which he has sold wind-mills and pumps, being considered an authority on wind-mills, representing the Zimmerman Manufacturing Company of Auburn, Indiana, in a very satisfactory manner. He also followed the well-drilling businessfor some time, but up to 1872 his attnetion ws given exclusively helping his father on the home farm. For a number of years he rented land, buying sixty acres in 1876. He has prospered by reason of his close application to his business affairs and the exercise of splendid judgment and pinciples that cannot help but lead to gratifying results when they are rightly applied as they have evidently been done in his case, for he is now the owner of one of the choice farms in Putnam County, consisting of two hundred and thirteen acres, on which he carries on general farming and stock raising, always handling some very fine specimens of livestock, for which he finds a a ready market. He has a very comfortable and well located dwelling and such outbuildings and modern farming macinery as his needs would require.

Mr. MILLER was married on April 29, 1872, to Sophia A. JAMES, born August 1, 1853, daughter of David and Mary Ann (HOWARD) JAMES, an old highly honored pioneer family of Putnam County. David JAMES was born near Natural Bridge, Kentucky, and came to Putnam County when six years old. Mary Ann JAMES came from Tennessee. This union resulted in the birth of three children, named as follows:

Viola Mae, who was born on September 9, 1875, married E. R. DENNY, a farmer of Monroe township, this County; Ray R., born February 6, 1885, marriedAnna McFADDEN, living on the parental farm; Mary C., born November 3,1889, is assisting her father in the County treasurer's office.

Mr. MILLER has always been deeply interested in the affairs of Putnam County, and has stood ready at all times to forward any worthy movement looking to the betterment of the same, ever loyal to the principles of the Democratic party, and as a reward for his interest in public affairs, his sterling honesty and his genuine worth he was selected by his party for the office of County treasurer, being nominated at his first effort for the office. During his campaign he never went into a saloon, and his total expense was not ovHer one hundred dollars. He was elected on November 3, 1909, taking office in January, 1910, and he is very satisfactorily discharging the duties of the same, his election being a criterion of his popularity in the County, his majority being four hundred forty-five. On January 7, 1910, he was honored by being renominated for the office.

Fraternally Mr. MILLER is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 75, at Bainbridge, Indiana. He also belongs to the Supreme Court of Honor. The MILLER family holds membership in the Christian church.

Personally, Mr. MILLER is a man whom everbody likes, being courteous, a good mixer, honest and conscientious in his service to his fellow men in every capacity.