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Subject: [NCROOTS] Miller, Hasket, Gresham, Paul, Sweney, Brenaman
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 19:37:21 EST

Compendium Of Biography
History Of Henry County, Indiana
B.F. Bowen

Typed by Lora Radiches

Surnames in this biography are: Miller, Hasket, Gresham, Paul, Sweney,
Brenaman,



JOHN A. MILLER

John A. Miller, a wealthy and influential farmer of Dudley township and a
representative self-made man of the county of Henry, was born in Wayne county,
Indiana, November 18, 1862, son of Jacob and Pleasant (Hasket) Miller. The
Miller family in America had its origin in Pennsylvania and from that state
migrated to Tennessee, thence in an early day to Wayne County, Indiana. The Haskets
are North Carolinians and Mrs. Jacob Miller was twelve years old when her
parents moved to Henry County. Jacob and Pleasant Miller began life’s battle poor
in this world’s goods and for many years were obliged to endure the buff of
adverse fortune. They lived in a humble manner, Mr. Miller doing any kind of
honest labor to which he could turn his hand until possessed of means sufficient
to engage in farming as a renter. After spending a number of years in this
county without any material advantage, he moved to Missouri, where his wife died.
The father subsequently moved to Arkansas, where he still lives, owning at the
present time a small but fertile farm which he cultivates in connection with
operating a Cotton gin and saw-mill. He subsequently married a Mrs. Burns,
though has no children by this lady. To his first marriage were born eight
children, six of whom grew to maturity, namely: John A.; William A. resides in this
county; Mary A., now Mrs. L. D. Gresham, of Missouri; Susan, wife of Harrison
Paul, of Henry County; Benjamin F., who lives in Arkansas, and Emma, who
married John Sweney and lives in the same state. John A. Miller remained with his
parents until his marriage and contributed his labors and earnings to their
support. When young he determined if possible to acquire an education,
accordingly he studied diligently until completing the common school course, after which
he attended Spiceland Academy for the purpose of fitting himself for the
profession of teaching. Leaving that institution, he engaged in educational work
and during the six years ensuing taught successfully in the schools of Henry
County, earning an enviable reputation as an instructor. On the 1st of January
1883, Mr. Miller and Miss Angeline Brenaman were made husband and wife, Mrs.
Miller being the daughter of Moses Brenaman, a German who moved to this part of
Indiana in an early day from Darke county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Miller began
housekeeping in a modest way, having but little means at their command, yet they
were rich in those qualities of head and heart that gave promise of future
success. During the summer seasons Mr. Miller labored as he could find work to do
and in the winter devoted his time to teaching. Husbanding his earnings with
scrupulous care, he was soon able to purchase a threshing outfit and with this
made considerable money, meantime renting his father-in-laws farm, which he
cultivated until buying land of his own. Mr. Miller early developed sound
judgment and business qualities of a high order. After making his first purchase of
real estate the way seemed opened to a series of continued successes, as he
added to his possessions from time to time until he now owns one of the finest
farms in the township of Dudley. It consists of one hundred and ninety-seven
and a half acres of fertile land, the greater part in a successful state of
cultivation, and contains good improvements in the way of buildings, fences,
drainage, etc., the farm representing a value of at least three thousand dollars,
nearly all of which was honestly earned by the well-directed efforts of the
owner. Mr. Miller has achieved quite a reputation as a raiser of grain,
especially clover seed, of which he sold in the winter of 1901 over six hundred and
fifty dollars worth from one crop. He also pays much attention to wheat and corn
and raises some livestock, but it is as an agriculturist that his greatest
success has been achieved. He looks closely after the details of his place,
attends with minute care to his business interests, and seldom if ever fails to
realize abundant returns from the time and labor expended on his farm. Mr.
Miller is secretary and treasurer of the New Lisbon Telephone Company, which was
organized in 1901 and chartered under the state law with a capital stock of five
thousand dollars, and takes an active interest in the management of the
enterprise. In politics he is a Democrat and in religion a member of the German
Baptist church. Some years ago he was made a minister in the second degree and
frequently exercises the duties of his holy office with happy results. His life
has been singularly pure and free from faults and his influence has always
been potent for good. No man stands higher than he in public esteem and he is
well entitled to the appellations of an honorable man and upright worthy citizen.
Quite and unassuming in manner, he is a man of actions rather than words,
belonging to that large and eminently respectable class of yeomanry who have done
so much to develop the resources of Henry county and make this one of the
most enterprising and prosperous sections of the commonwealth. The family of Mr.
and Mrs. Miller consists of three children: Elva 0., born August 24, 1887, was
graduated from the common schools in 1901 and is now pursuing the more
advanced studies in the high school; Clessie A., who was born November 13, 1889, is
a student in the New Lisbon schools, and Letta P., whose birth occurred on the
8th of May, 1892, also attends school at that place.

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