Jacob Miller
The life history of him whose name introduces this review is closely identified with the history of Wayne county, which has been his home for many years. His business career was begun in this county, and throughout the years which have since come and gone he has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. His life has been one of untiring activity and has been crowned with a degree of success attained by comparatively few. He is of the highest type of business man, and none more than he deserves a fitting recognition among those whose enterprise and abilities have enabled them to climb the ladder of success and whose sterling qualities have been widely recognized in their native county.
Jacob A. Miller, who is now engaged in the operation of the old Miller homestead in section 20, Greene township, was born on this farm on the 7th of January, 1850. He was there reared and secured fair education in the common schools of the locality. He assisted his father in the work of the farm until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account. He first engaged in the timber for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, at which he continued about sixteen years. During the first part of this period he made his home in Seneca county, Ohio, and later at Defiance, Ohio. He was financially successful in the lumber business and at length was enabled to buy a splendid farm in Defiance county. While living there, he took a deep interest in local affairs and served several terms as trustee. In March, 1887, Mr. Miller retired from the lumber business and returned to his old home in Greene township, Wayne county, which he purchased. He entered at once on the operation of the place, which he has greatly improved and brought up to a high standard of excellence, it being now considered one of the best farms in the township. In addition to the cultivation of the soil, Mr. Miller also gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock, in which also he has achieved a distinctive success. The farm comprises one hundred and sixty-four acres and the present condition of the place indicates to the passer-by the fact that the owner is a man of good taste and wise discrimination. Everything about the place is kept in good shape and the farming operations are carried on under the most favorable conditions, a full line of up-to-date machinery and other convenient accessories being here found.
In local affairs affecting the community generally Mr. Miller has always been found among the enterprising and progressive leaders. He has been instrumental in securing mail routes and telephone service and in other ways has demonstrated his ability and sound judgment. His political affiliation is with the Republican party, to which he gives an earnest support, and he has efficiently served several terms as trustee of Greene township. As a member of the township school board, he has rendered appreciated service as supervisor of the educational system of the township, the schools of which are now considered as models for the rest of the county. He employs the teachers and in other ways maintains a personal oversight of the details of the schools. He is also president of the board of trustees of the Wayne County Children's Home, which is situated in Wayne township, and has been a member of this board for sixteen years. His appointment comes from the board of county commissioners and in his capacity of chairman of the board he practically manages the business affairs of the Home, though the entire board meets on the first Tuesday of each month. The members of this board, all of whom give their services without compensation, are Jacob A. Miller, president: John C. Shultz, Joseph A. Hurple, William Coon. W.. E.Jarvis is superintendent of the Home and Mrs. Jarvis is matron. There are about forty five inmates in the Home on an average, the institution being supported by an appropriation made by the board of county commissioners, the board of trustees filing a quarterly estimate of expenses. The Home farm comprises eighty-seven acres and at the time of Mr. Miller's appointment to the board in 1887 the institution was not being handled in such a manner as to even raise enough cereals and vegetables to keep the table supplied. Under his able direction, these conditions have been changed and now wheat, corn, potatoes and other vegetables, as also hogs and cattle, are raised in sufficient quantity and numbers to keep the commissary well supplied throughout the year. This changed condition is largely attributed to the efficient management of the present superintendent, Mr. Jarvis, whom Mr. Miller was mainly instrumental in having appointed to the position, and it is a matter of much satisfaction to the taxpayers of the county,. In all his affairs Mr. Miller has shown himself to be a man of unusual broad mindedness and sound judgment, being well supplied with that quality commonly called "horse-sense." He has given liberally of his time to the public duties which have been imposed on him and his services have been fully appreciated by his fellow citizens.
On March 4, 1884, Jacob A. Miller was united in marriage to Sarah Pittenger, a daughter of Peter and (Buchanan) Pittenger. Peter Pittenger was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on October 1, 1800, and his death occurred on February 9, 1854. his wife was born in Pennsylvania July 11, 1803, and at the age of three years was brought by her parents to Ohio. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pittenger lived in Carroll county, Ohio, where they entered upon a tract of wild and uncultivated woodland, which they in due time transformed into a fine and fertile farm. Their first buildings were of log, in accordance with the prevailing type of the day,but later these were replaced with fine frame buildings. Mrs. Pittenger died October 20,1872. To this worthy couple were born ten children, namely: Samuel B., Mary, Margaret, John, Nancy, Joseph, Evan, Susannah, Abram and Sarah. Of these children, Sarah became the wife of the subject. She was born in Carroll county, on October 24, 1848, and received a good education in the common schools. She is related to William Pittenger, of Civil war fame, who stole a railway locomotive in the interest of the cause, and who was author of the widely-read book "Daring and Suffering." Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of one child, Grace, born May 6, 1889, but suffered an irreparable loss in the death of their daughter in March, 1894, her death being the result of a gunshot wound inflicted accidentally by a playmate.
Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active members of the Evangelical Lutheran church,in which Mr. Miller is an indefatigable worker, as he is also in the Sunday school which he served many years as superintendent and in other important official positions.
Mr. Miller is a man of spotless integrity and never violates the confidence reposed in him in any of the relations of life, his word being considered literally as good as his bond. He has been in defatigable in his industry, has ever been animated by the highest principles and has been a valuable factor in the development and progress of the county, where he has so ordered his life as to gain and retain the unequivocal confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910