Becker Miller, a pioneer of Whiteside County, of 1837, is living in retirement on his farm on section 25, Jordan Town­ship. He is a citizen of the United States by adoption, having been born in Oldenburg, Germany, April 6, 1820. P. E. Miller, his father, was a native of Germany, and was the son of a manufacturer of linseed oil, who was a native of Friesland, Hanover, Germany, where he died many years ago. He was the earliest ancestor known in the paternal line. The family is, and has been for several generations, remarkable for strong, stalwart men. The father of Becker Miller was the youngest of a large family of children. He was gifted with a brilliant intellect and a strong proclivity for study, which he indulged through the succeeding years of his life. The peasants of the Duchy of Oldenburg were very poor; and in unproductive years, when the scarcity of food threatened famine, and they were reduced to suffering, it was their custom to make their distresses known to the Duke of Oldenburg by petition, and the senior Miller was selected not only to prepare the docu­ment, but also to present it to the dignitary who formed the head of the local government. The accomplishments and fine character of the messenger won the sincere friendship of the Duke. Mr. Miller, senior married Theda Remmers, who was born in Oldenburg, and was a farmer's daughter. Her father was possessed of a fine estate, and was of a deeply religious character. He was made the victim of unscrupulous friends, and lost his wealth. His family have been noted for remarkable tenacity of life.

In 1837 the parents came with five children to the United States. Elizabeth, the eldest child, remained in Germany until 1866, when she came to America. Christina married John Abels, and died in the province where she was born. The children who accompanied the parents to this country were named Siebold, Emke D., Anthony F., Becker and Henry. With the exception of the oldest son, who was a miller by profession, the sons were all farmers. The family settled in Cass Co., Ill., in 1837, where the father died in September of the same year, aged 58 years. He was buried in that county, and in the next year the mother, with her five sons, came to Lee County, and settled in Palmyra Township.

They bought a claim in 1838, which they secured from the Government when the land came into market in 1843, and had the proud privilege of knowing that they paid in full for the land they owned. They settled in Lee County before the township had a name, and when Dixon had no existence, save as Dixon's Ferry, the name given to the little cluster of insignificant dwellings on the site of the now beautiful city.

Mr. Miler was married Sept. 19, 1852, in Palmyra Township, to Elizabeth M. Thummel, the youngest child of the Rev: Christian B. and Elizabeth M. (Cox) Thummel. She had two brothers: William, " the oldest, lives on a farm in Worth Co., Mo. Charles died when he was a babe. Mrs. Miller was born Dec. 5, 1835, in the city of Utica, N. Y. She was 10 days of age when her mother died Her father was again married May 17, 1837, in the State of New York, to Catherine Lattin, and the two motherless children were reared by their stepmother.

In 1846 the family came to Illinois, and settled in Palmyra Township, in Lee County. The father died there, May 24, 1881. He was 80 years of age and spent 50 years in active, efficient ministerial labor. He was a reliable man, and won universal confidence. For fifteen years before his death he was Treasurer of the Farmers Life Insurance Company. His wife is still living, and is the mother of five children: Anson E., Charles, George, Warren and Catherine. The children,of Becker Miller and his wife are recorded as follows: Emma C. married Henry Montillon, and lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Adaline E. married Samuel Wailk, and lives on the homestead; Ella M. married, William Emory, and they are farmers in Boone Co., Iowa; George W. B. lives in Kansas; Frederick L. is a resident of Marshall Co., Iowa; and Jessie L. lives at home.

After the marriage of Mr. Miller he located on a farm in Palmyra Township, of which he became the owner, and which he sold in 1853. In the fall of the same year he removed to Jordan Township, . and bought an improved fann on section 25, where he is now the owner of 260 acres of land, which he has redeemed from its original condition. He has given much attention to stock-growing. He is considered a skillful and progressive farmer. Mr. Miller is a Democrat. During the War of the Rebellion he served two years as Supervisor, and devoted his energies effectively to the prosecution of a draft in his township. He has held other responsible official positions. For many years he and his wife have been members of the Lutheran Church.

Portraits & Biographical 1885 Pg 760

Illinois - "Our Way"