Biographical Sketch of
William Miller
Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 805 - 806 - 807 William A. Miller, who resides on section 2, in the town of Green Lake, is undoubtedly the most successful farmer of Green Lake County, and we know that a sketch of his life will be of great interest to all our readers as he is not only widely known throughout this county but has also an extensive acquaintance in Marquette and Waushara Counties. Mr. Miller was born in Orange County, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1823, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Pelzer) Miller. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Miller, was born in New Brunswick, of the Empire State, where he carried on farming. He married Ruth Mermunday, and had seven children of whom Isaac was the sixth in order of birth. He died in Orange County at the age of sixty-four years and his wife was called home when seventy-five years of age. The father of our subject was also a native of Orange County, his birth occurring Nov. 15, 1801. On attaining his majority, he married Miss Peltzer, who was born near Long Island, March 17, 1796, and removed with her parents to Orange County. After their marriage, they located upon a small farm which Mr. Miller cultivated until failing health compelled him to retire from active life. He was an industrious and energetic man, but never strove to accumulate property, content that his family was well provided for and were surrounded with all the comforts of life. In political sentiment he was an old line Democrat. His death occurred Jan. 29, 1836, his wife, who was a member of the Baptist Church, surviving him some six years. They were parents of three children, but two died before reaching maturity. As will have been seen, our subject is the only living representative of the family. He was only twelve years old when his father died and upon his young shoulders devolved the care and management of the farm. It was indeed an arduous task for one of his years, but he nobly performed the duties devolving upon him, and gave to his mother the tenderest love and care. The following year after the death of his father, he cut hay with a scythe on the shares in order to obtain the feed for his five head of cattle. When fourteen years of age, he hired out as a farm hand for the summer, receiving $4.50 per month. He never went to school until thirteen years of age, when having earned the money to pay his own tuition, he determined to acquire some education and attended school for about four terms. Experience has been to him an excellent teacher and by additional reading, study and observation, he has become one of the intelligent citizens of the county. On all matters of general interest he keeps himself well informed, whether the question be one of State or National importance. As long as he remained a resident of New York, Mr. Miller engaged in working as a farm hand for the month. Saving his earnings, he at length determined to emigrate to the West, where he believed he might better his financial condition. In May, 1846, he came to Green Lake County, having with him $400 as the result of his honest and laborious efforts. He entered 247 acres of land in the town of Green Lake and has there made his home continuously since. On the 23d day of September, 1847, Mr. Miller led to the marriage altar Miss Ann R. Gardinier and the union of hearts was consummated by the union of hands. The lady was a daughter of John S. and Jane (Van Hovenburg) Gardinier, and was born in the Empire State, Nov. 12, 1829. They became parents of seven children--Townsend W., Gard, Frederick G., Theodore, William, who died at the age of five years, Kate, now Mrs. F. Foster, and Guy. In 1881, Mr. Miller was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who died on the 2nd day of March. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities of head and heart. Our subject was a second time married May 25, 1882, when Miss Rachel Decker became his wife. Their union has been blessed with four children--James A., Mabel, Ralph and an infant daughter. Both parents are members of the Methodist Church and are active workers in the Master's vineyard, doing all in their power to promote the cause of Christianity on earth. Mr. Miller cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk. He attained his majority only a short time previous to the election, and fearing that his age might be challenged, he carried with him to the polls the old family Bible, so that he might prove his right to vote if it was contested. In all the contests of life he has found that same volume of infinite value and has taken it for his standard and guide. He supported the Democratic party until the breaking out of the late War, when espousing the cause of the Union and the abolition of slavery, he joined the Republican party of which he has since been a warm advocate. He has, however, never sought public office, but has steadily refused to accept when political honors were urged upon him. It is an undeniable fact that Mr. Miller is the most successful farmer of Green lake County, if not of the entire State. No one knows the exact limit of his vast possessions but he is everywhere spoken of as a millionaire. He has also distributed among his children property to the value of $100,000. He began life in this county in an old log cabin 16x20 feet, the one room being used as a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, bed room and parlor. It is amusing as well as instructive to hear him relate incidents of frontier life, its hardships, disadvantages and pleasures. The nearest mill was at Watertown, a distance of fifty miles. On one occasion, while boarding with J. S. Cook, a boy was sent to Delavan, Walworth County, one hundred miles away, to procure wheat which he was to have ground into flour, but there was so many waiting their turn at the mill, that he found that he could get no work done within three weeks. After eleven days absence, during which time the family lived upon green corn and potatoes, the boy returned with six bags full of "shorts," that being the best on hand. A portion was soon put into edible form and Mr. Miller says it was the sweetest bread he ever ate. For their salt and other necessaries, they went to Milwaukee until a market was opened near home. As the all important official--the path-master--had not then put in an appearance, those wishing to go to the new market at Stevens' Point, were compelled to make their own road. In that work, Mr. Miller took an active part, but in the course of time the iron horse came rushing over the prairie, bringing all the comforts and luxuries known to the civilized world, almost to the very doors of those who had traveled miles to procure the necessities of life. Mr. Miller has been a hard worker all his life and has set before his children a good example of industry, by which they have greatly profited. No man in the State has done more toward starting his sons in life than our subject, and by their business like habits and their efforts to follow his worthy example, they show their appreciation of his generosity and kindness to them.
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