JOHN MILLER, farmer, P. O. Thebes, was born in Alexander County August 5, 1839; is a son of Peter and Catharine Miller, who died when he was nine years old. Young Miller was therefore thrown out on life's sea to battle for himself. He applied himself at" anything he could get to do, for different persons. At the age of fifteen years, he began learning the trade of a lumber sawyer, with H. S. & E. E. Walbridge, with whom he remained until reaching his majority. In 1876, he began merchandising in the country, and subsequently removed to Oran, Scott Co., Mo., following the same business, where he remained until 1877, when he went to Butler County, Mo., where he continued the mercantile business and also engaged in a saw mill, and in a short time lost both enterprises by fire. Mr. Miller then went to Dallas, Texas, but not liking the country he returned to St. Louis, and thence to Cairo, where he acted as lumber agent for some time. He subsequently located in Jefferson County, Mo., and in 1881 he came to Thebes Precinct, Alexander County, where he purchased ten lots, which he cultivates. He is head sawyer for M. & A. Brown. He was married, March 1, 1866, at Cape Girardeau, Mo., to Miss S. S. Hancock, a daughter of Henderson and Rebecca Hancock, natives of Kentucky. She was born September 29, 1846. She is a member of the Baptist Church at Thebes. He is a Republican and a member of the Villa Ridge Lodge, A., F. & A. M.
Extracted 29 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, page 232.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
 |
Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
