Richard R. Miller is one of the prosperous and intelligent farmers of Rush Township, owning a farm of 111 acres on section 31. He is a native of the Empire State, having been born in Cortland County, N. Y., Aug. 9, 1828. His parents were Abraham and Taphath (Ovatt) Miller, who emigrated from Cortland County, N. Y., to Fulton County, Ill., when the subject of this sketch was a boy of twelve years of age. Two years later the father died, and the mother removed with her family of seven children to McHenry County, Ill., where she lived for several years, but died in Rush Township, this county, Aug. 26, 1862. In McHenry County, Ill., Richard Miller grew to manhood, and selecting agriculture as his life work engaged in farming there for several years. Subsequently he removed to Wisconsin, remaining in that State but a few years, however, when he returned to McHenry County, where the next two years were passed. In 1857, while still a single man, he came to Jo Daviess County, where he purchased a tract of forty acres in the southwest part of Rush Township, of which he has ever since been a resident. He disposed of his original purchase, however, but bought other lands in the same township, and now owns 111 acres, the greater part of which is thoroughly improved and under a high state of cultivation, with fine barns, out-buildings, and all the machinery and tools necessary for a thorough cultivation of the soil.

In Gratiot, Lafayette Co., Wis., June 7, 1858, Mr. Miller was wedded to Miss Martha E. Russell, a daughter of Macomb and Lutitia A. (Posey) Russell. In 1850, during the prevalence of the California gold fever, Mr. Russell started for the new Eldorado, but while crossing the plains was killed by the Indians. The mother afterward became the wife of F. M. Spiers and resides in Stockton Township, this county. By her marriage with Mr. Russell she was the mother of five children, of whom Mrs. Miller was the second in order of birth, and was born in Wayne County, Ill., June 5, 1842. The untimely death of her father left Mrs. Miller an orphan at a tender age, but under the loving care and guidance of a good mother she grew to be a noble woman, and has proved a fitting helpmate to her worthy husband.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of six children, of whom we make the following record: The eldest of the family is Martha L., now the wife of William W. Humphrey; George R. is a farmer in Stockton Township, in this county; and Mary J., Annie N., John S., and James D. are yet under the parental roof.

The father of Mrs. Miller was by profession a school teacher, and was teaching in Council Hill, in this county, at the time he decided to go to California. Two of her brothers entered the Union Army and served throughout the late War of the Rebellion. On both sides the family is a patriotic one, the brother of Mr. Miller having also been in the ranks of his country’s defenders. The latter has been a teacher for a great many years, and is now Principal of a High School in the State of Iowa.

Mr. Miller has been Highway Commissioner for a period of nine years, and takes especial pains to provide good roads in his district. For three years past he has also been School Director, and has always shown a lively interest in educational matters. In politics, he believes in and supports the policy and principles of the Republican party. A residence of more than thirty years in the township justly entitles Mr. Miller to be classes with the old settlers, and among its people there are none better known or more widely respected than he and his most estimable wife.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)