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Henry D. Miller
Born January 7, 1867


MILLER, Henry D., Morley, Democrat 24th Senatorial District Cedar and Jones Counties. Born near Morley, Iowa, January 7, 1867, where he has lived excepting the years from 1917 to 1926, when his business required him to live in Cedar Rapids. He was distributor for the Buick Motor Company from 1910 to 1926, and owned the only firm to import automobiles by the train load into Iowa. Conducted a general store at Morley for fourteen years; also has been interested in the banking business. Maintains one of the largest and most select herds of pure-bred Aberdeen Angus cattle in the world, and is the largest individual farmer in the district which he represents. Elected to senate in 1932, and in 1936. Married to Myrtle F. Farnham; father of one daughter, Florence G. Miller, who has served as principal of several Iowa high schools.

Source: The Iowa Legislature

Reared to the life of a farmer and an agriculturist of prominence himself, Henry D. Miller has not confined his interests to the soil, however, but has become one of Morley's more important business men and one of the well known stockmen of Jones county. He lives upon a farm in Rome township. His birth occurred January 7, 1867. His father, L. K. Miller, belongs to the older generation of men who came to this state when it was first opened for settlement, and is now living in retirement in Rome township. A more extended mention is made of him, however, in another part of this volume. With the blood of pioneers flowing in his veins, the achievements of the early settlers to stimulate him to equal their success, Mr. Miller has more than proved his right to his heritage.
In the district schools of this county Henry D. Miller received his first training in the elementary branches of English education. He then passed on to the high school, returning, after lessons were completed to the work on the farm. For several years he merely assisted his father, and then, when he became of age, the latter took him into partnership in the management of the old homestead. This was a section of land which his paternal grandfather had entered in 1844, and eighty acres of which have since come into his possession. For about sixteen years, however, he operated it in conjunction with his father and at the same time engaged in the breeding and raising of fine shorthorn cattle. In 1901 he embarked in mercantile business at Morley, Iowa, and also opened a store in Martelle, where in addition to a general line of merchandise he handles hardware and farm implements of all kinds. Some years ago he was foremost in promoting the organization of the First National bank in Olin and has since been one of its directors, but with all his business interests he has continued in his agricultural pursuits. The old homestead is still his home, though he has increased his landholdings from time to time until he now owns three hundred and thirty acres on sections 7 and 8, Rome township, and the stock business is still his specialty, for he enjoys the reputation of having perhaps one of the best herds of shorthorn cattle in the county, if not in the state of Iowa.
On the 15th of March, 1891, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Myrtle Farnham, who was born in Rome township, June 19, 1868, and is a daughter of H. P. and Mary C. (Ristine) Farnham. The father was a native of Hanover, Massachusetts, while the mother was born in Ohio, but shortly after their union the couple came to Iowa, which was then in the first stages of its development. Here they have spent their years and are still residing in this county. In their family were six children, and Mrs. Miller has become the mother of two: one who died in infancy; and Florence, who was born July 21, 1899.
A democrat in his political affiliations, Mr. Miller is yet no politician nor office seeker, for his private responsibilities have claimed all of his time. He has, however, been able to attend the meetings of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Masons. He is a most devoted adherent of the latter organization, having attained to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. Mr. Miller belongs in the ranks of those men who have used their every opportunity to its fullest and obtained from each a success that has advanced them far upon the road of life. The excellent condition of his farm bespeaks the character of his husbandry and the prosperity that has followed his business operations is an indication of his acumen in the world of affairs.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 587.

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