J. A. Miller, the head of this important Lander county institution, has been in Nevada since 1870 and has had a prosperous career as a businesman in various enterprises of the state. He comes of a family whose origin is traced back to France, whence it emigrated to southern Germany. Grandfather Joseph Miller was a native of the latter country, and in 1740 emigrated to New York, where John Miller, the father of the Austin banker, was born, and where he married Miss Louisa Dannenfelser. John Miller was a merchant, and also dealt in real estate and did an insurance business. He died in New York City at the age of fifty-six, but his wife is still living in the seventy-ninth year of her life. They were the parents of six children, four girls and two boys, and two of the daughters and the sons survive.

Mr. Miller, who is the only member of the family in Nevada, was born in New York City, February 7, 1846, and was educated in the public schools there. When sixteen years old, on December 12, 1861, he volunteered for service in the Union army, being just old enough to gain entrance to the ranks. He was enrolled in Company E, Twelfth New York Volunteer Infantry, but at Cold Harbor this regiment was consolidated with the Fifth New York. He was in the battle at Hanover Court House, at Gaines Mill, where he received a shot in the groin, but he remained with his regiment: in the second battle of Bull Run a grape shot caused a scalp wound which kept him from service for a while, but he was soon in the ranks again. He participated at Malvern Hill and at Antietam, after which he was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville. Gettysburg, Rappahannock Station; was in the whole of the Wilderness campaign, from May 1 till June 20: was at the battles of Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Yellow Tavern and Hatcher's Run. On December 12, 1864, he received his honorable discharge at Yellow Tavern, and then returned home for a furlough. He intended to re-enlist, but his mother dissuaded him, and while he was at Nashville, Tennessee, the news of Lee's surrender and the close of the war reached him. Although he was in his teens all the time, he rendered his government valiant service, and stood the fatigues and exposures of marches and the strain of battle like a veteran.

Shortly after his return from the war Mr. Miller took passage by steamer for San Francisco, going by way of the isthmus. He was a bookkeeper in San Francisco for a time and then, falling in with B. Frank Higgs, came with him to Austin, Nevada, in 1870. They began prospecting, and at Gold Mountain both made and lost money. Mr. Miller was also at the excitement in Inyo county, California, after which he returned east to celebrate the Centennial in 1876 and to visit his home folks. On his return he came to Eureka and to Tuscarora, where he found some claims and got a few thousand dollars from them. He then came once more to Austin and took a position with Wells, Fargo & Company, with whom he remained two years. A year and a half was then spent in prospecting on Lander Hill, after which he was elected county clerk of Lander county. He was re-elected to this position eight times, showing his popularity and the confidence the people had in his ability, and gave faithful service for sixteen years. Before retiring from office he purchased the Bank of Austin, and he has since devoted most of his endeavors to the successful conduct of this enterprise. He also is in the cattle and sheep-raising business, has six large ranches, with several thousand acres of land besides extensive ranges, owns some of the best mines in the county, and stands in the front rank of the business men of his county and state.

Mr. Miller has always been a Democrat, and in 1902 was elected to represent his county in the state legislature, in which he is now serving. He is high up in the Masonic circles of his state, and is likewise a Masonic veteran, having received the degree of Master Mason, March 25, 1869, in Ionic Lodge No. 486, F. & A. M., in New York City. He has received all the York and Scottish Rite degrees, including the thirty-second, and joined Lander Lodge, January 25, 1877. He is thrice past master of it, is grand high priest of the grand chapter of the Royal Arch Masons of the state. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, is past master of the grand lodge of the state, is past chancellor of Toiyabe Lodge, is a member of Hope Lodge No. 11, A. O. U. W., and is grand master workman of the state. He is also a member of Lander Post No. 27, G. A. R., and is past commander and aide-de-camp to General Goben with the rank of colonel.

In January, 1880. Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie A. Dawley, a native of Phelps, New York. Their one son graduated from Leland Stanford University in 1903. Mrs. Miller, after a happy married life of over twenty years, passed away in February, 1903, at Oakland, California, and she is buried in Mountain View cemetery. She was a member of the Episcopal church, and a lady of most estimable character. Mr. Miller gives his support to all the churches, and his public spirit and generosity are always manifested for the good of public enterprises and the upbuilding and development of the intellectual and material interests of the town and county with which he has been so conspicuously identified for so many years.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904