USA > Ohio > Highland County > The County of Highland : a history of Highland County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapters on the bench and bar, medical profession educational development, industry and agriculture and biographical sketches > Part 44
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Samuel P. Michael, who commenced life as a blacksmith but has put in most of his time as a farmer, is one of the substantial and respected citizens of Liberty township. He comes of pioneer stock as his father, Daniel Michael, moved in as early as 1826 and became a resident of Penn township. Of his large family of twelve chil-
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dren the only survivor is Jackson, who resides at Russell Station. Another of the sons named Samuel, who was born July 8, 1816, married Acenith, daughter of Elias and Margaret (Hussey) Carey, and by her had the following named children: William, who died in 1861, at the age of twenty-two years ; Carey Allen, now a resident of Lynchburg, who served over two years in the civil war; Joseph, also a Union veteran, who died at Cincinnati on his way home from the army; Mary, wife of DeWitt C. Arment of Xenia; Margaret, wife of Dr. Achor of Oklahoma ; Sarah E., wife of M. W. Rankins of Union township; Martha, died in infancy; Samuel P., further sketched below ; Silas E., a farmer in Union township; and Annabel, widow of James Wright. Samuel P. Michael, eighth of the chil- dren above enumerated, was born in Highland county, Ohio, July 4, 1854, and in early youth put in a good deal of time learning the blacksmith's trade. This useful calling, however, he abandoned in time to take up farming which has constituted the principal occu- pation of his life. At the present time he resides on one of the Evans farms four miles northwest of Hillsboro, which he cultivate's industriously and successfully, enjoying the reputation of being not only a good workman but a good citizen in all the name implies. June 7, 1877, Mr. Michael was married to Martha M., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Runk) Rankins, natives of Scotland who located in Clinton county. The children resulting from this union are: Minnie, who died in childhood; Dora M., wife of Lee Duncan of Hillsboro; Anna B., wife of Peter Runion of Liberty township; Clarence L., at home ; Alva, died in infancy ; Jessie, Clara Acenith, Albert Otto and Francis, at home; Elmer Hobart, who died in in- fancy, and his twin brother, Ellis, at home.
Mrs. Mary A. Middleton, of Greenfield, widow of the late Rev. John Henry Middleton, is the only surviving child of John T. Wright, who came from Adams county to Highland county about 1850. Although he was a tanner by trade, he taught several terms of school in Adams county prior to leaving it, and after coming to Highland county was engaged in teaching, and for many years was a member of the board of school examiners. At the time of his death he had charge of the public schools at Lynchburg and enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most successful teachers in the county. In 1841 he married Sarah T. Roush, of Adams county, by whom he had two children, Maria Louisa (deceased), born January 1st, 184S, and Mary A. Wright. The latter born in Bentonville, Adams county, Ohio, on August 11, 1842, was brought in infancy to High- land county where she was reared and educated. In 1865 she became the wife of Rev. John Henry Middleton, a native of New York who came to Ross county, Ohio, in boyhood. He received his H-26
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education at Greenfield, after which he taught school for many years, and in 1856 was ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and assigned to the Williamsburg circuit. He engaged en- thusiastically in his ministerial work and pressed it with energy until the outbreak of the civil war caused him to exchange the pastoral robes for a musket and other paraphernalia of conflict. In 1861 two companies were recruited in Highland county for the Eighty- first regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and Mr. Middleton enrolled his name with one of these, which afterward became Company C. The command was sent South in the fall following its organization and for some time was kept almost constantly on scouting duty. Dur- ing its campaigning after Forrest, Mr. Middleton was badly crippled so that from that time until the end of his days he was compelled to use a crutch. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was discharged from the military service and resumed his ministerial work, which he continued until 1895, when he retired from the min- istry and took up his residence at Greenfield, where his death occurred suddenly in 1900. His widow, Mrs. Mary A. Middleton, still resides at Greenfield, where she is highly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances for her many excellent traits of character.
Lycurgus B. Milburn, in business at Greenfield, has long been known in Highland county in connection with dairying, sheep- breeding and general farming. The family has been identified with Highland county since 1832, which was the year that David Milburn, father of Lycurgus, came from Pennsylvania and settled in Jackson township. He was only twenty years old when he arrived but went to work immediately and in time became one of the popular men of the township, in which he served as justice of the peace for many years. His wife was Sarah A., daughter of Joseph Hurst, who was one of the advance guard in felling the timber and cutting the roads for the then infant settlement of Jackson township. David and Sarah Milburn became the parents of four children, of whom Therza May is dead, and Hannah E., who married A. J. Fittro, and Deli- lah A., wife of William M. Gall, are both residents of Highland county. Lycurgus B. Milburn, third of the children, was born in Jackson township, Highland county, Ohio, grew up on the farm, and at an early age determined to follow the occupation of teaching. In order to qualify himself for the higher work in this profession, he sought the first opportunity to become a pupil of the National Nor- mal university at Lebanon, Ohio. He remained two terms at this institution for teaching teachers how to teach and when he was through lost no time in testing his efficiency as a practical educator. For twelve consecutive years after leaving Lebanon, Mr. Milburn was engaged in imparting knowledge to the rising generation in Highland and Fayette counties. His long continuance in the busi-
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ness would indicate both his success and popularity as a manager of schools, and as a matter of fact he gained the reputation of being one of the most progressive and skillful of the teachers in his terri- tory. Eventually, he laid aside this work and embarked in the dairy business at Hillsboro, which he prosecuted with varying success for three years, when he branched out into general farming and stock raising. In the latter department he gave preference to sheep, mak- ing a specialty of the Shropshiredowns, and in course of time had a fine flock of this popular strain. In November, 1882, he was mar- ried to Louesa B., daughter of Daniel Koch, a Highland county citizen of German birth. Their four children are Carrie May, Julius Neil, Eloise and Stella B. In 1897 Mr. Milburn decided to re- move to Greenfield, in order to obtain better educational facilities for his children, and after locating there held the position of agent for the Standard Oil company four years, but at present is looking after his farming interests. He has been candidate for the city council on the Democratic ticket and is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
A. L. Miller, an enterprising citizen of Washington township, is a representative of the fourth generation of a family that has long been identified with Highland county, and have con- tributed materially to the present condition of the region. Their work has not been confined to industry, but they have taken an active part in efforts for the general good. Miller's chapel, in Concord township, and the church that meets there, is largely a monument of their public spirit and religious devotion. Thomas Miller, grand- father of A. L., a young man of German and Scotch-Irish descent, came to Highland county from his native state, about 1830, with his parents, who had bought a thousand acres of land on Brush creek in Concord township. He had been married in Pennsylvania to Mary Stewart, and they reared a large family of children: Daniel and Henry, deceased ; Jonathan, living in Missouri ; James E., deceased ; Noah B., of Washington township; William, deceased; Nancy, of Concord township; and Sally, Mary, Alvira and Rebecca, deceased. Thomas Miller was a blacksmith by trade, was engaged in that work all his life in addition to farming, and died at an advanced age from an accident which occurred in the course of his labors at the forge. He is remembered as a devoutly religious man and one of the main supports of the early Methodist church. Noah B. Miller, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Concord township in 1835, and in early manhood married Mary Jane Fisher, a native of Vir- ginia. They began housekeeping near Fairfax, after two years moved to Washington township, and lived there sixteen years, and later, after two years' residence in Concord township, made their home in Washington. Three children were born to them : Armanus,
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A. L., and Sarah A. Noah B. Miller is widely known as a thresher, a business he has been engaged in for fifty years ; is a valued member of the Methodist church, and in politics a Democrat, according to his family faith. A. L. Miller was born August 1, 1859, on the farm now owned by Charles Rolf, in Jackson township, was educated in the district school, and married Rosa Beatty, a native of Marshall township, and daughter of John and Mary Beatty. They began housekeeping on the farm in Washington township now owned by Andrew Matthews, but three years later moved to his present home, where he owns a hundred acres of land. Mr. Miller is also the owner of a saw mill in Concord township, operates a threshing machine, and altogether is an industrious and active man. He is a member of the Threshers' association, and is generally found taking a worthy part in public affairs.
George W. Miller, of Marshall township, formerly a member of the board of county commissioners of Highland county, comes of a well known and numerous family of pioneers. His father, Jesse Miller, was born in Culpeper county, Va., in 1799, and was twice married; to the first union was born Thomas, John P. and Cathar- ine; his second wife was Amanda Davis, and to this union were born six children : William H .; Sarah A., wife of George Bumgardner ; Joseph, George W., the subject of this sketch; Jesse, deceased, and Martha J., wife of Samuel Roads. Jesse Miller, the father, died September 15, 1875, and his wife, Amanda, in January, 1890. They arrived overland in wagons from Loudoun county, Va., about 1830 and located in Marshall township, where they continued to reside until their respective deaths. George W. Miller was born in Marshall township, Highland county, Ohio, October 15, 1850, was reared on the farm with a common school education, and on reach- ing manhood continued in the occupation of farming, in which he has demonstrated an intelligent and progressive spirit. He has been active in public affairs for many years, as a Republican, and in 1885 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, an office he held for seven years. In this capacity he faithfully served the people and the best interests of the county. He has also filled various minor offices in Marshall township. In early manhood he was married to Cora E., daughter of A. W. Spargur, and they had six children : Leslie, Vernon, Ida (wife of Burch Watts), Burch, Stanley and Nina. His second marriage was to Cindora, daughter of William and Margaret (Roads) Elliott, and they have one child, Clarence, born in April, 1890.
Joseph Miller, the present recorder of Highland county, was for many years a popular business man of Hillsboro. His father, Jos- eph Miller, was born in Alsace, Germany, about 1826, learned the
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trade of an iron-moulder, emigrated to Cincinnati in 1840 and some ten years later was married to Catharine, daughter of Jacob Neib. The latter was born in Germany in 1800, and about forty years later came with his family to Ohio and located in Monroe county. Joseph Miller died in 1874 and Jacob Neib passed away in 1884. Joseph and Catharine (Neib) Miller had seven children, four of whom died in infancy, the others being the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, wife of Frank Noble, a resident of California, and Andrew, who died July 2, 1900, at the age of thirty-six. Joseph Miller, oldest of the living children, was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 15, 1860, and was educated in the fine schools of his native city. Several years before reaching his majority he started out to make his living in the world and selected as a favorable point the enterprising capital of Highland county. Mr. Miller arrived in Hillsboro in 1878, secured employment in a barber shop and has followed that business continu- ously over twenty years. Meantime he became widely acquainted with people all over the county, and by gentlemanly manners and accommodating spirit secured the friendship of all those with whom he came in contact. He took a hand in politics, also, and as a worker for his party acquired influence and local leadership. This cul- minated in 1900 in his securing the nomination of his party as can- didate for recorder of Highland county, to which position he was. chosen for a three years' term at the ensuing election. December 4, 1897, Mr. Miller was married to Melissa, daughter of Nelson and Albertine (Washburne) Barrere, who comes from a noted pioneer family of the county, of whom mention is made in other parts of this volume. Nelson is the son of Morgan and Melinda (Colvin) Bar- rere and his wife was a daughter of Dr. Joseph Washburne, who settled in New Market about the middle of the last century.
Thomas H. Miller, of Concord township, one of the most promi- nent farmers of the county, is in the fourth generation of one of the notable early families of Highland county. The founder of his family in the United States was Philip Miller, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who came to Maryland just before the war of the Revolu- tion, through which he served as a patriot, battling for the rights of his adopted country. At the close of the struggle he was rewarded with a patent for one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he located in Pennsylvania near Hagerstown, Maryland, the site in later years of one of the first oil wells opened in Pennsylvania. With his wife and seven daughters and three sons he came to Ohio in 1814 and settled in Liberty township, where he was engaged in farming to a very advanced age, dying in 1825. His son, John, born near Hagerstown, Md., married Nellie Chaney in Pennsylvania in 1802, and accompanied his aged parents to Ohio, taking the leading part in the work of subduing the wilderness and making a new home. He
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lived in Liberty township to the age of eighty-five years, was quite successful in the building up of his property and prominent in social and business and religious life. He reared a family of twelve chil- dren, all now deceased : Adam, James, Jacob, John C., Wilson, Christine, Mary, Jane, Ellen, Amy, Betsey and Catharine. John C., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Rocky Fork, in Liberty township, April 9, 1818, and in early manhood married Elizabeth, daughter of George Frederick and Mary Brous, natives of Virginia, who came to Highland county about 1814. They began their married life in the loft of a milk house on the old Miller farm, and several years later came to Concord township and bought a farm of one hundred acres. In his youth and carly manhood John C. Miller was engaged in the commerce of his day, hauling goods from Cincinnati to Chillicothe, Ripley and Hillsboro. After his mar- riage he prospered as a farmer, came to own 560 acres of land, and for many years was honored with the office of township trustec. He died at the age of sixty-three years. Thomas H. Miller was the old, est of their three children, the others being Amy D. and Mary E. Thomas H. was born November 5, 1848, while his parents lived on the old homestead on Rocky fork, and was educated in the district schools. On reaching manhood he married Minerva, daughter of Harvey and Eva (Surber) Badgley, and they began housekeeping on the place they now occupy. But since then they have made great improvements. The land owned by Mr. Miller now amounts to 1,150 acres, his residence is up to date and very commodious, and his farm buildings are the equal of any in the county in their adapta- tion to his industry and the modern style of agriculture. His land is nearly all under profitable cultivation, and he ranks among the substantial men of the county. Of his three children, Alberta is the wife of Henry Sauner, of White Oak township; Stella is the wife of Harry Sauner of the same township, and Otis, who has married Ora Seip, lives on the homestead. Mrs. Miller is the granddaughter of Captain Andrew Badgley, a revolutionary soldier, who was fam- ous in the pioncer history of White Oak township.
Charles M. Mills, of Mowrystown, a member of the Royal Mill- ing company, established at that town in 1901, is deserving of men- tion as one of the worthy business men of the county. He is a grandson of Abner C. Mills, born in Kentucky in 1807, who married a Miss Hall in that state, and moved with his young wife to a farm in Clinton county, Ohio, about 1830. This pioneer ancestor was an industrious and enterprising man, who ran a saw mill for several years in addition to farming; was much interested in church work, and was generally known as "Squire" Mills. He owned as much as 450 acres of land. Of his nine children, the two eldest, Richard and Burrell, and Priscilla, the youngest daughter, are dead. Eliza
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lives in Missouri, Angeline in Kansas, Daniel H. in Brown county, Ohio, Worden. at Sabina, Ohio, Jane and Frank at Wilmington, Ohio. Daniel H., the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Sabina, April 18, 1835, and in early manhood married Jemima Roberts, a native of Clinton county and daughter of Elias Roberts. From 1859, when they began housekeeping, they lived on a farm near Sabina, until 1900, when they removed to Russellville. Four children were born to them: Emma, deceased; Charles M .; Edwin, of Russellville; and Frank, deceased. Charles M. was born Octo- ber 1, 1866, received his education in the Sabina schools, and after teaching school for a while in his youth, found employment in the flouring mill of W. K. Greeley at Sabina, where he thoroughly learned the trade, and prepared himself for his life work. He was married to Hattie Greeley, and they had one child, Walter, who is dead, and after the death of his first wife in 1895, he wedded Lucy, Greeley, her cousin, who died in 1897. In the same year he moved to Greenfield, and entered the employment of Boden, Patterson & Co., and in 1898 he came to Mowrystown and obtained the position of miller for the White Oak Milling company. Here he was married to Frostie Hallam, a native of Greenfield, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Walker) Hallam, both natives of Ohio, the former of whom died about 1889 and the latter resides in Greenfield, Ohio. He resided a year at Sabina, where he was in the employment of G. H. Lloyd until he returned to Mowrystown and took part in the organization of the milling company already mentioned. In the spring of 1902 he was elected to the office of township clerk, an honor that testifies to the high regard in which he is held by his Highland county friends. He is a member of the United Brethren church and the Odd Fellows, and is a Republican in politics.
Wesley Milner, of Mowrystown, prominent in the industrial affairs of the county, is a descendant of one of the pioneer Quaker families of Highland county. His grandfather, Beverly Milner, a native of Halifax county, Virginia, was married in that state to Anna Hendricks, and coming to the Ohio wilderness with his wife, and children, some of them grown and married, in 1807, contrib- uted to the growth of the settlement of the Friends on Hardin's Creek, in Fairfield township, at what was known as Quaker bottoms. He was an industrious and successful farmer and became the owner of a considerable tract of land, which descended to his children. There were ten of these: Dudley, Beverly, Moses, Amos, Joseph, John, Luke, Oliver, Ruth (Burgess), and Sallie (Anderson). John, who married Susan Kinzer, was a well-known miller for many years. Moses was married in Virginia, and left several sons who were prom- inent citizens. Joseph Milner, who was born in Virginia, married Elizabeth Reams, a native of North Carolina, who came to High-
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land county with her parents early in the settlement, and they began married life on a farın of 107 acres in Fairfield township, to which 130 acres were subsequently added. Eleven children were born to them: Madison and Cary, deceased; John, living in Iowa; Wes- ley, the subject of this sketch; Peter, of Fairfield township; Paul, of Dodson township; Mary Ann, of Fairfield; Sarah and Mahala, deceased, and Emily, who lives in Iowa. Wesley Milner was born in Fairfield township December 25, 1837, and lived at home in his years of early manhood, giving his attention to mechanical pursuits, operating a threshing machine and an engine in a saw mill, until the outbreak of the war of the rebellion. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H of the Twenty-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer infan- try, and was mustered in at Camp Chase, August 13th. His first service was in Missouri, where he had some adventurous experiences. They were sent first to St. Louis, and drilled, and then to Lexing- ton, Mo., and Kansas City. Being taken sick, he was in hospital about three months, and when he attempted to rejoin his regiment he was captured by the enemy, but permitted to go on parole. Eventually reaching St. Louis, and rejoining his regiment at Seda- lia, he was mustered out and sent home. In January, 1862, he joined the band of the Sixty-first regiment, and after spending the winter with them at Lancaster, was mustered out at Columbus. After reaching home he was ordered out under his first enlistment, but the mistake was soon rectified, and he returned home. In 1863 he again went to the front as a member of Ewing's brigade band, and in that capacity was at the siege of Vicksburg, Miss. This was the close of his service, and being again mustered out, he came home and remained. In 1871 he was married to Columbia Hunter, and they began their married life at Jasper, Fayette county, Ohio. Mr. Mil- ner continued to be busied in machine and milling work, and after three years at Jasper returned to the old home place, and a few years later went to Lexington and built and operated a grist mill there. He was in the same business at New Vienna a year, and twenty years at Winkle, Hamer township, where he managed a grist mill, saw and planing mill. He is now doing a successful business at Mowrys- town, as a member of the firm of Milner & Sauner, in the manufac- ture of tile and brick. He is the owner of a handsome home and considerable town property, and is a valuable citizen. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Mowrystown, is affiliated with the Society of Friends, and in politics is a Republican.
Rezin Moberly, a native of Pennsylvania, was one of the pioneers of Liberty township, and progenitor of a family which has had an honorable part in the development of Highland county. While yet a resident of the Keystone state, he married a Miss Fenner, and with his wife and children, early in the last century, he came to Ohio, and
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settled in the forests of Liberty township, assisting in laying out the town of Hillsboro, as the county seat, in 1806 or 1807, and serving as one of the first township trustees. He followed the occupation of farming, and was a man of enterprise in his field. It is worthy of note that the first threshing machine brought into Highland county was set up on his farm. After many years of peaceful and happy life, this worthy pioneer and his wife passed away, and were laid to rest where they began their labors as clearers of the forest. Their children, John, Stephen, James, William and Amos, and Delilah, are also all deceased. John Moberly, the eldest, was a boy of some years when the family came to Ohio, and he aided in building the first house raised at Hillsboro. For many years he was actively identified with the promotion of the interests of the city with which he was thus early associated. Marrying Elizabeth Fenner, a native of Pennsylvania, in early manhood, he made his home on a farm on the Wilmington road near Hillsboro, where he lived until the death of his wife, passing the remainder of his days with his son, Rezin W. Of his ten children, Frederick, William, John, Rezin W., Caleb, Sarah, Rachel, Maria, Delilah and Mary A., all are dead but Rezin W. and Mary A., the last named being the widow of George Brown, of Mount Oreb. Rezin W. Moberly was born at the Liberty town- ship home December 27, 1821, was educated in the district schools, and after spending some of the early years of manhood at home, in 1847 bought a place of 105 acres in Clay township, for about $2.60 an acre, of William Scott. He was busied in clearing and working this farm, living in a small log house, for two years, and then he bought the farm of 130 acres where he now lives. Following this purchase he married Elizabeth J. Roberts, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Roberts, an estimable lady who was also a native of High- land county, who died in 1898 and is buried in Buford. Eight children have been born to them: John A., a resident of Brown county ; George, at the old home; William, of Clay township; Clin- ton and Mary J., deceased; Rachel, wife of George Mink; Ellen B., wife of Lee Barley, of Clay township, and Lulu, wife of George Weaver, of Buford. Rezin W. Moberly has long been considered one of the leading citizens of Clay township, enterprising, intelligent and trustworthy. He has held many of the official positions of the township, some of them a great many years; for a considerable num- ber of years he actively conducted a general store near his home, and he has been active in the work of the grange, holding the office of treasurer for a long time. He has been an extensive land owner, and at one time had seven hundred acres, part of which he has divided among his children. In farming and stock raising he has been suc- cessful, giving considerable attention to Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.
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