- DAVID P. MILLER, a settler of Rock County of 1856, and proprietor
of a livery and feed stable
- in Beloit, was born in Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., June
23, 1816. His parents, David and Sally (PATTERSON) MILLER, were
also natives of the same county, and had a family of nine children,
six of whom are living: Thomas and David P. are residents of
Beloit; Robert is living in Ft. Scott, Kan.; Sarah is the wife
of Perry WHIPPLE, of Cheshire, Mass.; Jane is the wife of Curtis
CLEVELAND, of Rochelle, Ill.; Elizabeth wedded David EDDY, a
resident of North Adams, Mass. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. MILLER
were members of the Congregational Church. Politically, he was
an old-line Whig, and a great admirer of Henry Clay and Daniel
Webster. His death occurred in Franklin County, Mass., in June,
1855, and the following year his wife came to Wisconsin, and
resided a few years, and then returned to the East and wedded
a Mr. WHIPPLE, of Lanesboro, Mass., where she departed this life
in 1875.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life in his
native county, and received a liberal
- education in the Greenfield Academy. When fourteen years
of age he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade for six years,
receiving as compensation his board and clothes, until the last
eight months of his servitude, when he bought the remainder of
his time, for which he had to pay a bonus of $200. In 1837 he
first made a trip to the West, going to Marshall, Mich., in the
employ of a Mr. BELDING, but not being satisfied in that community,
he returned to Massachusetts and opened a merchant tailoring
establishment. He secured a large and valuable trade, and followed
that pursuit for nineteen years.
- In 1840 Mr. MILLER and Miss Mary A. HOLMES were united in
the holy bonds of matrimony.
- The lady is a native of Franklin County, Mass., born in February,
1820, and is a daughter of Capt. Nathaniel HOLMES, of New Hampshire.
One child was born unto them, but died in infancy. As before
stated, Mr. MILLER settled in Rock County in 1856, and soon after
his arrival purchased a farm, for which he paid $6,000. He then
engaged in agricultural pursuits for about three years, but for
the past eighteen years has been engaged in the livery business
in Beloit. He keeps every accommodation in his line for his patrons,
and has built up a good business.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 347-348.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|