From: "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois Illustrated 1908, edited by Newton
Bateman, LL. D. and Paul Selby, A. M., Volume II, Schuyler County", edited
by Howard F. Dyson, page 888, a Reprinted by Stevens Publishing Company,
Astoria, Illinois 61501, 1970, is sold by the Schulyer County Historical
Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Miller, John Henry (deceased), formerly an extensive farmer of Schuyler
County, Ill., and father of Simon Burnett Miller, whose sketch appears in
this connection, was born in Bippen, Hanover, Germany, November 4, 1824.
He received his early education in his native country and in 1844, at the
age of about twenty years, came to the United States, spending the first
few months after his arrival in this country in Warren County, Mo., where
one of his sisters had settled at an earlier date. During the spring
of 1845 he came to Schuyler County, Ill., first locating in Frederick Township
where two of his uncles, Henry and John Wilkey, has previously settled.
Here he was employed in various occupations by the month, meantime attending
school at intervals until 1849, for the purpose of acquiring a knowledge
of the English language. In that year, the period of the gold fever,
he purchased an ox-team and with Joel and Alford Holland, two brothers of
his future wife, he crossed the plains to the Pacific Coast. As the
wagon was loaded with luggage, provisions and implements, much of the journey
was made by the adventurers on foot. On their arrival in the gold region,
the Holland brothers turned their attention to keeping a hotel, while Mr.
Miller engaged in digging for the precious metal. After spending nearly
two years in the mining region, he returned to Schuyler County in 1851, and
soon afterwards bought 160 acres of timber land, of which a previous occupant
had cleared about twenty acres, besides building thereon a log cabin.
Taking possession of this land in 1852, by later purchase he increased this
holding to 940 acres, upon which he conducted farming operations on a large
scale and with profitable results.
On February 8, 1856 Mr. Miller was married to Sarah F. Holland, who
was born in Nashville, Tenn., January 20, 1839, a daughter of John and Nancy
(Kelly) Holland, early settlers of Schuyler County. Mr. and Mrs. Miller
became the parents of two sons and six daughters as follows: Mary Louisa
(Mrs. Dean); Emma Frances (Mrs. Armstrong); Nancy Isabella, Delia May (Mrs.
Kinsey); Dora Ann (Mrs. Drovey{Drawve}); Franklin H.; Anna E. (McCormick); and Simon
B. who, with his sister, Isabelle, occupies the old home place of 240 acres,
which they now own. John H. Miler’s arduous and successful life came
to an end February 13, 1902, the long time companion of his toils, privations
and successes passing away on February 28, 1905. They left a reputation
for integrity and devotion to the interest of their family, and of the community,
in which their children, while inheriting the results of their faithful labors,
take a just pride. 1861 Militia Roll
