J. W. Miller, of section 24, Washington Township, came to this county in the fall of 1885 and bought his present farm of Dr. J. J. Thompson, who had improved the land. Mr. Miller came from Rock Island County, Illinois, where he had lived many years. He was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1842, a son of Joseph B., who was born in the same county, near Freeport, and was a son of John Miller, a native of Ireland, and an Orangeman. He was one of the two earliest settlers in that part of Allegheny County. The mother of our subject was Jane (McCall) Miller, who was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of John McCall. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Miller removed to Rock Island County, Illinois, where they resided until their death, the mother dying at the age of seventy-four years, and the father at the age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer most of his life, and also served as Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff of his county for seventeen years. Politically he was a Whig, and was one of the twelve men who first voted the Republican ticket in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. In religion he was a United Presbyterian. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reared eight children, seven sons and one daughter; three of the sons served in the late war.

Joseph W. Miller was reared in Allegheny County until nine years of age, when his parents removed to Rock Island County, Illinois. During the great Rebellion he enlisted in the army, February 12, 1864, in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company G, joining his regiment at Duvall's Bluffs, Arkansas. He served until the close of the war and was honorably discharged at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, July 12, 1865.

He returned to Rock Island County, Illinois, where he was engaged in farm work until 1885, with the exception of one spent in Madison County, Nebraska. He took up a homestead there in 1873, but the grasshoppers being so destructive, and his situation being forty miles from the railroad, caused him to return to Illinois. Since 1885 he has been a resident of Washington Township. He owns 160 acres of improved land.

Mr. Miller was married in Rock Island County, Illinois, September 2, 1867, to Miss Martha Pearsall, who was born in that county, a daughter of William C. and Jane (Ellingham) Pearsall, the former a native of Steuben County, New York, and the latter of England, who came to America when a child. Mrs. Miller's parents now reside in Rock Island County, Illinois, near Port Byron.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children, viz.: Joseph W., Jane Elizabeth, Martha Isabella, William C., Emma Lucy, Luella. Politically Mr. Miller is a Republican, and is a member of the G. A. R., Robert Provard Post, No. 414, of Carson, Iowa. Mrs. Miller is a member of the Sharon Presbyterian Church.