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John H. Miller

Nothing is more remarkable than the recent change in attitude towards the farmer. There was a time when the word farmer was a term of reproach, the farmer boy was looked upon as an unsophisticated greenhorn and "rube" jokes were popular. Now the city dwellers are wishing that they owned farms and envying the farmer's lot, the farmer boy is as well dressed and as well educated as any one, has lost his "rube" appearance, and can generally go his city cousin one better on money to spend. The noble vocation of farming is again gaining the respect due it, which for a time was lost.

John H. Miller was born in Wayne county, Ohio, June 28, 1852, the son of Henry Miller, originally of Pennsylvania, and Mary Miller, originally of New York, both of whom came to Ohio in 1842. The first railroad reached Wooster, Ohio, on the day John H. was born. He grew up on the farm eight miles from Wooster, and in 1872, came to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to work in the lumber mills. In summer he ran the big lumber rafts from Eau Claire to Nabisha. On December 30, 1875, he was married to Amanda SMITH, of Durand, Wisconsin, a town where his own home had been while working on the river. In the spring of 1876 he came to this county, where his brother, William Miller, now of Waucoma, had preceded him two years. He rented for three years and then bought the farm lying in the northwest corner of Bethel township. He started on a small farm of prairie and grub covered land. He had to go in debt for every cent of the price and it took years to pay for it. He left it in 1907, coming to his present home in Eden township, but still owns the old place. His present farm contains one hundred and sixty acres, has good buildings on it, and is one of the best improved farms of the neighborhood. The house stands on a ridge in the midst of a fine grove of ash and maple trees, all set out by the owners. The house has been remodeled by Mr. Miller to make it a pleasant home. He also owns a fifty-five-acre farm bordering on Crane creek. His home is four and one-half miles from Waucoma. He has carried on general farming, and has always bred good grade stock. His horses are Hambletonian, coach and Cleveland bay, and he has bred some very fine individuals of all these breeds.

Mr. Miller has two daughters, Gertie, the wife of Guy Trewin, who is farming the old place, a nephew of Attorney Trewin at Cedar Rapids, and the mother of one child, Doris; and Ethel J., a stenographer, graduate of a business college, living at home. Mr. Miller is a Democrat, a member of the Methodist church at Alpha, Crane Creek Lodge No. 338, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Saurer formerly, but of Alpha lodge now, and of the Waucoma lodge of Masons, while he and his wife are both members of the Eastern Star. He is a man of few idiosyncrasies, a plain man who attends to business strictly, and by so doing has gained a competency.