was born November 20, 1816, at Bethlehem, Stark Co., Ohio.
His father, Jacob Miller, was a native of Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, and was engaged in transporting goods from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, to Canton, Cleveland, and other points in Ohio, by the old-fashioned "Pennsylvania wagon," drawn by four, six and eight horses. He owned from two to three of these wagons, and continued this line of employment for a number of years after locating in Ohio. When the subject of this biography was about twelve years of age, his father left Bethlehem and settled in Pike Township, in the same county, where he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits, still continuing the transportation business. He continued to reside in Pike Township until his death, which occurred about the year 1855. His family consisted of seven boys and seven girls, named, respectively, John, David, William, Jacob W., Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, Hannah, Catherine, Elizabeth, Harriet, Nancy, Mary and Susan.
At about the age of nineteen, Jacob W., the subject of this sketch, became impressed with a desire to see more of the world and earn his own living. After working for a time in Stark and Wayne Counties, Ohio, he accepted employment as a boatman on the Ohio & Erie Canal, running from Cleveland to Portsmouth, Ohio--a distance of 310 miles. This employment proved pleasanter, as well as more profitable, than farm labor, and enabled him to see more of the world. During the winter seasons, while the canal was frozen over, he was engaged on the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, having imbibed that peculiar love for the water which comes to every one who has followed the boatman's life, and amounts almost to a fascination. For five years, he was engaged in canal-boat and steam-boat life, or until the winter of 1839. At that time, work was begun upon the Indianapolis & Madison Railroad--the first railroad ever built in Indiana. He left the Ohio River at Madison, Ind., and, in company with some former associates, accepted employment in clearing a route through the wilderness for the track of this road. In February, 1840, he started on foot to Delaware County, from the scene of his employment in the southern part of this State. Between him and his destination there intervened 135 miles, over which there were no public conveyances, and but few public roads leading in the proper direction, so his route was necessarily through a dismal, sparsely settled region, over which he plowed his lonely way, often intercepted by ponds and swamps, which he was compelled to circumnavigate, not being able to wade through them. He found food and shelter in the few lonely cabins he met on the way, and, late in February, 1840, reached the home of his brother William, in Harrison Township, Delaware County, Indiana, tired and almost exhausted from his long walk. But he showed his true spirit, after resting a few days, by going to work in good earnest, and, in the course of time, became so well satisfied with his new position that he determined to make Delaware County his future home. In August, 1840, he was wedded to a lady who had been one of his friends in childhood Miss Harriet Worley. She came to this county from Stark County, Ohio, in 1839. After his marriage, he went to reside with his wife and mother-in-law, on the farm entered and formerly occupied by Job Garner, and purchased in 1839 by his father-in-law, Thomas Worley. On this farm, Mr. Garner laid out the town plat of Harrison, a village whose existence was only nominal, and which was vacated by Mr. Miller and converted into a farm. Here, by industry and economy, Mr. Miller accumlated a comfortable sum of money, which he invested in several tracts of land adjoining the original farm, thereby increasing its dimensions to 580 acres. At various times subsequently, he purchased land in other parts of the county, until his possessions in real estate aggregated 1,100 acres, clear of all incumbrances. In the outstart, he made it a rule never to incur any obligation that he could not pay on demand, and this has been the secret of his success. In addition to farming, he was extensively engaged in live-stock speculations, buying all the hogs, cattle and horses within his reach, and driving them to market. In the purchase and sale of horses, he was almost alone. There was no way of getting them to market except by driving them overland, and, in view of this fact, there were few horse-buyers in this region, and none of the residents ventured to deal in this branch of the live-stock business. With him horses were favorites, and some among those he owned were very fine. He found his markets at Chicago, and in the States of Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1851, he made a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he purchased a stock of merchandise, and, hauling it to his home in wagons, opened the first store in Harrison Township. This venture, like the others in which he had been engaged, turned out well, and resulted in a fair profit to himself. He continued the business success fully for about four years, and, at the end of that time, sold his stock and retired from mercantile life. In 1868, he became associated with the Wrought-Iron Bridge Company, of Canton, Ohio, and was elected President of the company. While associated with this enterprise, he traveled extensively in the interest of the business, having all the States west of Ohio as his territory, and contracting and constructing a number of bridges in the various States which he visited.
In 1872, he sold his stock and withdrew from the business, having, two years previously, embarked in the retail grocery trade at Muncie, where he conducted a satisfactory and lucrative business. Subsequently, he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements at Muncie, which was very successful for about two years. While engaged in the bridge business, he rented his farm and brought his family to town; but, after engaging in the agricultural business, the family returned to the farm, the management of which claimed a large share of his attention. In the meantime, the business of his house at Muncie began to decline, and the financial crisis of 1873 resulted disastrously to its interests. In order to place himself in his old position, and have it to say that he owed no man more than he could pay on demand, he sacrificed 400 acres of his estate. This was the first enterprise, among all in which he had been engaged, that had resulted otherwise than favorably: and, had he been able to give it his personal supervision, the result would, undoubtedly, have been different. He next assumed the management of a store which he had erected in 1875, on the La Fayette, Muncie & Bloomington Railway, about ten miles west of Muncie, in which he is still engaged.
Mr. Miller is one of a class of men who are rapidly passing away from this region. In newer States they may still exist, but our own pioneers have fulfilled their mission, and those who, like him, remain to witness the improvements that have followed their advent into the wilderness are reminders of a time gone by. He possesses the characteristics that almost invariably distinguish that class. His early educational advantages being limited, he learned at an early age that whatever knowledge he gained must be the result of his own application; and, by travel and observation, he has acquired a practical knowledge of men and the world that makes up in value what it lacks in a scholastic sense. Strong and self-reliant, he has fought his battles with the world bravely, and has "come off more than conqueror."
From the time he earned his first dollar, he has always had money, and has always so managed that his expenses should be less than his earnings; and his financial standing to-day is the result of his good management. It is true that nearly every enterprise in which he has engaged has been productive of a handsome remuneration to him; and it is equally true that, in all his transactions, he has been governed by a strict sense of honor, and never took a mean advantage in trade, or acquired a dollar about which there was a scintilla of dishonesty. Among all who know him, he is recognized as a man of unimpeachable integrity, and possesses the confidence and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.
With the true spirit of the pioneer, he has ever been a friend to public improvements, and has contributed generously to every public enterprise that was inaugurated in the interest of this county. He was the prime mover in the construction of the Muncie & Bethel Turnpike, and was the first President of that corporation, in which capacity he has served ever since, with a few intermissions. In polities, as in all things else, he is guided by his own perception of the right. He has acted with the Democratic party for a number of years, and, while he has never aspired to official recognition at the hands of his party, he has always been a zealous laborer in its ranks, wielding an influence by no means inconsiderable.
In his battle with the world and his road to fortune, he has been cheered by the devoted wife whose companionship he still enjoys. Their children are named respectively, Jefferson, Harrison, Mary, Robert O., Ira, Emma, Carlton B. and Oliver. (See Miller residence picture below.)
