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John F. Miller, Jr.

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"Prominent among the leading agricultural men and influential citizens of Fayette county is John F. Miller, Jr., of Pleasant Valley township, for, while yet a young man in years, he has allied himself successfully with commercial as well as agricultural interests, and, furthermore, has, in the latter field, devoted himself to specialization.

John F. Miller, Jr., was born on February 13, 1872, on the farm where he now resides and which he operates in so admirable a manner and to such good purpose, and on this farm he has spend all his life, with the exception of some four years devoted to commercial pursuits. The home farm, however, although large and productive, did not furnish sufficient scope for a man of his energy and ambition, so, while keeping it under a high state of cultivation, he looked for wider opportunities. These he found on what is known as the Crandall farm, a tract of three hundred acres, where he conducted farming on an extensive scale, keeping it under a high state of cultivation. Here of five years he obtained excellent results from his up-to-date methods and careful attention given to the work. In addition to general farming, he gave special thought and attention to the breeding of Swiss cattle, with most satisfactory results, and the raising and breeding of these pure bred animals became a large portion of his work. In 1902 he chose to enter commercial life, and went into the milling business in Clermont, Iowa. This business he conducted to his profit for four years. At the end of that time he decided to return to farm life and to devote his entire time to general farming and stockraising. With characteristic energy, he chose a large tract for operations and now has under cultivation four hundred acres of land. While giving careful supervision to general farming on this land, he is again breeding fine Swiss cattle and conducts a dairy and feeding industry, and also raises fine horses.

Mr. Miller keeps actively in touch with the business world and holds an interest in the electric lighting plant. Politically, he is a Republican and, although not an office aspirant, has accepted a number of township offices.

On February 13, 1896, Mr. Miller was married to Katie Frautschy, who was born in Green county, Wisconsin, from which state she came to Fayette county with her parents. Six children have blessed their union, Walter, Edna, Karl, Wilma, Edwin and Clara, all of whom are living. The family are members of the German Baptist church, to which they are generous contributors, and of which Mr. Miller has been a deacon for ten years. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are a hospitable and genial couple, and their home is always found a pleasant one by those how have the good fortune to visit it. Throughout he community they are respected and admired."