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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  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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SAMUEL MILLER, ex-Sheriff of Lehigh County, is widely and favorably known throughout this section. He is at present residing in North Whitehall Township, where he owns and occupies a farm of one hundred acres, upon which he has erected suitable buildings and introduced all the improvements of a model estate. He is a native of this county, and his birth occurred July 30, 1837, to George and Magdalena (Newhard) Miller, likewise natives of this section.

Grandfather John Miller, who during his life was a well-to-do agriculturist, was in turn the son of Jacob Miller, a native of Germany, who emigrated to America, and for a short time made his home in Northampton County. Later he removed to this county, and purchased four hundred acres of land in North Whitehall Township from the heirs of William Penn. He fought as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and during that period participated in the battle of Brandywine Creek.

George Miller died May 14, 1861, and of his family who survive we make the following mention: Catherine is the wife of Daniel Braun, and makes her home in Reading, this state; our subject is the next in order of birth; and Hettie, the younger daughter, is now Mrs. Joseph Harmon, and is living in Allentown. He of whom we write spent the first seventeen years of his life on his father’s farm, during which time he received a limited education, but did not have the advantages now offered the young men of the present day. When leaving home he went to Saegersville, and for two years was engaged in learning the trade of a harness-maker. Afterward he erected a shop on the farm which he is at present occupying, and for three years worked at his trade.

Mr. Miller was elected Sheriff of Lehigh County in November, 1889, and entered upon the duties of that responsible position in January of the following year. He served, his term of three years, and during that time gave the best of satisfaction to all concerned. He has also been a member of the School Board, and was Tax Collector of his township for some time.

Mr. Miller while residing in Northampton County was engaged in the lumber business for two years, which trade he also carried on for a twelve-month, in Carbon County, and for several years after coming to this county. His life has been a varied one, and besides the occupations already mentioned he was a butcher for several years, and has often been called upon to auction off the goods of the people in his vicinity. For twenty-two years he had an extensive dairy on his farm, and shipped milk in large quantities to Mauch Chunk.

In his political relations our subject is a strong Democrat, and socially is an Odd Fellow in good standing with the lodge at Slatington. He is an active member of St. John’s Reformed Church, and has many sincere friends in this neighborhood.

The date of our subject’s marriage with Miss Sarah E. Hitter was July 10, 1859. Mrs. Miller was born in this county, May 18, 1841, and was the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Rickert) Ritter, natives also of this county. The father died when she was an infant, and her mother later married Tilghman Kern. By her union with our subject there have been born three children: David H. G., Victor W. P., and Mary A., now Mrs. Henry D. Broder. Mr. Miller is a well informed man, and for several years had a good practice in this county as a veterinary surgeon. He is a thoughtful reader, a close observer, and keeps himself posted on all topics of general interest, and has won his way with no special advantages in his youth to a position of prominence.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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