Joseph Miller
Conspicuously identified with the business and material interests of Burbank and the township of Canaan is the subject of this sketch and he has won for himself an honorable position in the community and is a distinctive type of the successful self-made man. Not a pretentious or exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and to which the biographer may revert with feelings of respect and satisfaction. Identified in a prominent way with various interests, and having attained prestige by successive steps from a modest beginning, it is eminently fitting that a sketch of his life, together with an enumeration of his leading characteristics, be given in this connection, as he is recognized as a man of strong and alert mentality, deeply interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the community along material lines and today is recognized as one of the progressive men of the county of Wayne. Mr. Miller is widely and favorably known in the community and stands high in the esteem of all who know him.
Joseph Miller is a native son of Ohio, having been born at Rocky River, Medina county, Ohio, in 1838. He is the son of John and Adeline (Addleman) Miller, the former of whom was native of France. Early in the nineteenth century John Miller left the vine-land hills of sunny France and came to the United States with the intention of improving his material condition. Going to Cleveland, Ohio, he had an opportunity to buy land there for one hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre, but, not liking the appearance of the sandy soil there, he located in Medina county, this state, and took up a farm of one hundred acres. He entered at once on the task of clearing this and rendering it fit for cultivation and in the course of time he found himself the possessor of one of the best farms in that section. He made that his home during the remainder of his life and died there at the advanced age of eighty-four years. In connection with his farming operations, he dealt extensively in livestock, in which also he was successful. He and his wife became the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. John Miller was a man of many worthy parts and stood high in the community in which he lived.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of Medina county, his attendance at school being somewhat limited, as at the age of fourteen years he began to learn the dual trade of blacksmith and machinist. He developed into an expert workman and followed these occupations during the following sixteen years. In 1860 Mr. Miller moved to Burbank, Wayne county, where he worked at this trade for six years, and at the end of that time he entered the hotel and livery business and also secured the contract for carrying the mail, which at that time was a good business. He was occupied in this way for thirty-eight years, when he suffered the loss of the hotel by fire. Since that time he has lived practically retired from active participation in business. He still retains a strong interest in the welfare of the town, however, and in 1907 he erected the largest store building in Burbank, in the residence of which building he now lives. In addition to this property, Mr. Miller owns several farm properties in Wayne and Medina counties, and on these he is extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of pure-bred Holstein cattle. He is an alert and progressive business man and is alive to the best interests of the community. In evidence of this fact, he states that he will rent his fine new store room in Burbank at a mere nominal rental in order to induce another store to open in the town. He evinces a public-spiritedness that reflects greatly to his honor and it is this spirit which has gained for him the exalted position he now occupies in the community.
Mr. Miller was married to Lizzie Stein, who was born in Medina county, the daughter of Andrew Stein, an early settler of that county and who died in Toledo, this state. To Mr.and Mrs. Miller four children have been born, namely: William; Lizzie, the wife of O. D. Odenkirk, of Wooster; Jennie the wife of John Spreng; Rose, the wife of Frank Watson.
In politics Mr. Miller renders a stanch allegiance to the Democratic party, and takes a keen interest in local public affairs.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910