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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN MILLER, who is numbered among the enterprising, progressive and substantial business men of Tamaroa, is one of the old settlers of Perry County, and has been no unimportant factor in advancing its material interests. He has been engaged in selling farm implements for over twenty years, and commands an extensive trade among the farmers of the outlying country.

Our subject was born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1823, and was quite young when he accompanied his parents, Jacob and Eva (Masemore) Miller, to Richland County, Ohio. They located near Mansfield, where John grew to mature years, and in 1840 came to Perry County, this state, where he has since resided. The parents of our subject were born, reared and married in Baltimore County, Md., of which place grandfather John Miller was also a native, although his parents came from Germany.

John Miller was the eldest in a family of ten children, of whom we note the following: Henry resides in this county; Caroline, the wife of A. Heap, makes her home in Montgomery County, Kan.; Ephraim is dead; Lydia lives in Kansas; Michael is engaged in farming in Montgomery County, this state; Catherine, Mrs. S. B. Morrow, is a resident of Tamaroa; Jacob A. is a well-to-do farmer in this county; two children died in infancy. Our subject came to this county when in his eighteenth year, and immediately engaged to work out by the month on a farm. Being industrious and economical he soon laid by a sufficient sum to enable him to purchase land of his own, and in this way became the proprietor of an eighty acre tract which is still in his possession.

Mr. Miller and Miss Catherine Heap were united in marriage January 16, 1842, and to them were born nine children, only four of whom are living: Elizabeth, Mrs. Bose Ford; Betsey, the wife of Thomas Stockton; Jacob J., and Eliza, Mrs. J. N. Linsby. Mrs. Miller departed this life February 5, 1894. Our subject helped to build the first house erected in this place, and is consequently one of the oldest residents in Tamaroa. He is a practical business man, possessing the necessary foresight and ability requisite to success in any walk in life, and his affairs are managed with scrupulous honesty and with a conscientious regard for the rights of others. As before stated, he has conducted an agricultural implement store for over twenty years, and for thirty-six years he has been the proprietor of a first-class meat market in this place. With his family he is identified with the Christian Church as one of its most earnest and valued members, and carries his religion into his everyday life. In his political relations he always votes with the Republican party.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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