Rev. I. J. Miller
Rev. I. J. Miller, a retired pastor of the Lutheran Church and a member of the grocery firm of Miller & Company, at Lima, is one of the well-known and much valued citizens of the county. He was born in 1850 in Mahoning County, Ohio, and is a son of George Miller, who was a successful agriculturist of that county.
Mr. Miller was educated at Union Seminary, Poland, Ohio, and at Wittenberg being graduated in theology in 1876. During his period of study he taught school some six seasons prior to entering Wittenberg Theological Seminary. After ordination he served the church at Berlin Center for 12 years, and then removed to Wayne County, Ohio, where he had charge of two churches for a period of six years. In April, 1894, he came to Lima and assumed charge of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, where he continued for eight years. During his active service in the ministry, covering 25 years, he made very few changes.
In 1871 Mr. Miller was married to Louise Spait, who is a daughter of Jacob Spait, a prominent farmer of Mahoning County. The two children of this marriage are: C. E., our subject's partner in business, and Cora A., who is the wife of James W. Halfhill, a prominent attorney of this county. Since Mr. Miller's son, Clark E., has been in business at Lima, his father has taken a half interest. They conduct a very successful grocery business at Nos. 407-411 West Spring street.