My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE MILLER. Among the attorneys of Benton Harbor prominent mention should be made of Mr. Miller, who for many years has conducted an extensive practice in the various courts. His legal experience has been varied and has extended over a long period, so that he has gained a broad knowledge of every phase of the law. In all the positions of honor to which he has been called, he has served with efficiency and won the golden meed of praise from his fellow-citizens.

The Miller family originated in England, whence some of its representatives emigrated to America and settled in Virginia during the early years of its history. Frederick Miller, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, enlisting with a regiment from his native State, the Old Dominion. Jacob F. Miller, our subject’s father, was born in Sevier County, Tenn., and during the second war with England, enlisted in the defense of the United States, serving with valor until peace was declared. The mother of our subject, Dicy (Weaver) Miller, was born in Virginia and was a daughter of Matthias Weaver, a native of the Old Dominion and a descendant of English ancestors.

Mr. Miller spent his boyhood in Ohio, where he was born in Preble County, August 21, 1830. He gained the rudiments of his education in the common schools, and later spent one year at the Waynesville Academy, located at Waynesville, Ohio. At the age of nineteen years he entered Antioch College, but did not remain until the completion of his collegiate course. His literary education concluded, he commenced to read law under the preceptorship of Ebenezer Parsons, of Troy, Ohio, and after reading Blackstone and Coke for some time, he passed the required examination and was admitted to practice at the Bar of the State at Dayton, Ohio, in the Superior Court July 12, 1852. He opened an office in Eaton, Ohio, for the practice of his profession and remained there until 1859. Removing in December, 1859, to Dowagiac, Cass County, Mich., Mr. Miller embarked in legal practice and very soon became favorably known as an attorney. In March, 1860, at Cassopolis, he was admitted to the Bar of Michigan, and subsequently admitted in Grand Rapids to practice in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States. About 1874 he was admitted to practice in the several courts of Illinois.

In the year 1884 he went to St. Joseph, and a year later came to Benton Harbor, where he has conducted a general practice up to the present time. In politics he is a Republican. He has filled various positions where ability and good judgment were necessary, and has rendered efficient and satisfactory service at every post of duty. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Cass County, entering upon the duties of that office on the 1st of January, 1868, and continuing in that capacity until the expiration of his term of service of two years. In 1890 he was elected Justice of the Peace, but by virtue of the new city charter only held office one year, and then by re-election served two years longer.

During the Rebellion, Mr. Miller was one of the brave men who volunteered in the service of the Union. In 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company L, Ninth Michigan Cavalry, and was mustered in and served as Captain of his company, which was incorporated in the Army of the Ohio. He took an active part in many of the most important engagements of the war, and was wounded at the battle of Lexington, Ky. March 12, 1865. At the close of the war, he was mustered out of the service at Knoxville, Tenn., and returned to his home with a record as a soldier of which his family and friends might well be proud. The command to which Capt. Miller belonged was actively engaged during its years of service. Among the notable instances in which the regiment bore a part were the campaign after Gen. John Morgan through Ohio, and Sherman’s march through Georgia; they also took part in the battle at Bean’s Station, besides about seventeen other engagements. Our subject now holds membership in George H. Thomas Post No. 14, G. A. R.

On the 25th of April, 1871, occurred the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Josephine Wood, who prior to her marriage resided in Berrien Springs. She is the daughter of Warren Wood, of that place. Mr. Miller and his excellent wife are the parents of two children: Maude and Wendell. The latter graduated in the spring of 1893 from the Benton Harbor High School.