My Genealogy Hound

David Miller, a representative and substantial farmer, residing in section 24, Independence township, Oakland County, where he owns a well-improved farm of 546 acres, was born November 22, 1840, in section 15, Independence township. He is a son of George and Mary (Smith) Miller, natives of the State of New York.

The father of our subject was left an orphan when too young to recall his parents, and the only education he had was what he was able to secure through taking advantage of favorable conditions through life. He was, however, a man of energy and foresight, by means of which he was able to accumulate a large property, which his descendants enjoy. He came to Michigan in 1835 and settled in sections 14 and 15, Independence township, Oakland County, his old farm now being occupied by his grandson, George Miller. Mr. Miller lived a long and useful life, dying at the age of ninety years, survived by several of his six children. At Chili, New York, he was married to Mary Smith, a sister of Nicholas B. Smith, and an aunt of the Hon. Samuel W. Smith, of Pontiac, the present member of Congress from the Sixth Congressional District of Michigan. The six children of George and Mary Miller were: Mrs. Hannah Sherwood, deceased; Samuel, of Springfield township, Oakland County; Mrs. Ann McGunagle, deceased; Mary, deceased; George, deceased; and David.

David Miller was reared in Independence township and secured a good district school education. His whole life has been devoted to farming, the improvement, development and cultivation of his large property fully occupying his time. In June, 1866, he located on his present farm, purchasing the first tract of 220 acres from his father-in-law, William Beardslee, and later adding to it until it now aggregates 546 acres. Formerly Mr. Miller raised large crops of wheat, sometimes as much as 2,000 bushels, but since the great wheat lands of the Northwest have been opened up he finds it more profitable to devote his attention to other products of the soil, notably potatoes and corn, the latter of which he uses in feeding hogs, which he sells by the carload. Mr. Miller usually keeps about fifty head of high-grade cattle, raises twenty head of horses for his own use, milks fifteen cows, winters 100 sheep, and has built huge barns, granaries and shelters to accommodate all.

In 1865 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Fannie Beardslee, who was born on his present farm, and is a daughter of William and Lavina (Munsen) Beardslee, and they had six children born to them, namely: George W., who occupies a farm of 300 acres in sections 14 and 15, Independence township, and has two children — Clarence and Vera; Edward J., who is a farmer of Pontiac township and has three children — Beryl, Donald and Ferris F., Annie N., who lives at home; Mary L., who died aged seventeen years; Mrs. Gertrude Stewart, who lives at Waterford, Oakland County; and Samuel S., who resides at home. In politics Mr. Miller is identified with the Republican party. He is a liberal supporter of the Sashabaw Plains Presbyterian Church.