Photo courtesy of Jeff Puderbaugh collection
History of Darke County, Ohio – From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time – Vol. II – Milford, Ohio – The Hobart Publ. Co. – 1914 – pg. 218
The real artist works toward high ideals whether he transfers his ideas to canvass or carves them in imperishable stone. No mere mechanic can produce masterpieces no matter how well he may know his trade; it takes a genius to create what will live after human dust has returned to its source, and the cunning hands that wrought have been stilled forever. With the growth of proper appreciation of artistic creation, has come a demand for high ideals, and those who understand set a standard others less well informed, follow. In nothing is this more true than in the furnishing of beautiful and appropriate monuments to mark the last resting place of the dead. In former times any kind of a tombstone was accepted without a thought as to its artistic value, but conditions have changed; people are becoming better educated and demand that the man who designs and executes their orders must be one who has in his soul a love of the beautiful and the talent to reproduce in marble or granite his conception of true art. One of the men who measures up well to such requirements in every respect is Jacob Miller, Jr., proprietor of the Arcanum Marble and Granite of Arcanum, Ohio, who is conveniently located at Nos. 356 and Works 357 South Main street. Mr. Miller was born at Evansville, Indiana, in the county of Vanderberg, May 11, 1864. He is a son of Jacob and Hulda (Pickhardt) Miller, natives of Wurtemburg and Rein-Preussen, Germany, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Heinrich Miller (who spelled his name Mueller) died in Germany when his son Jacob was an infant, and as his wife died in young womanhood, their son was left an orphan at a tender age. The maternal grandparents were also natives of Germany, who became early settlers of Evansville, Indiana. The grandfather was a cabinetmaker and conducted a furniture factory at Evansville, where both died, he when seventy-five years old, and she when about seventy. Their children were: Hulda, Adeline, August, Amelia andseveral whose names are not known. Growing up in his native country, Jacob Miller learned to be a cooper, but after coming to the United States, he became a minister of the Evangelical Association, and was stationed at Evansville, but was later transferred to points in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, but finally located at Dayton, Ohio, where he spent the remaining years of his life, being on the superanuated list. His death occurred there in 1892,when he was sixty-eight years old. His widow survives him until she was sixty-two years old, dying in 1900. Jacob Miller, Sr., served his country as a soldier for three months during the Civil war. He and his wife had the following children: William E., who resides at Chicago, Ill.; Amelia, who is deceased, was the wife of William Bibberstain; Jacob, whose name heads this list; Sarah, who is the wife of John Schafer, of Dayton, Ohio; John, who resides at Springfield, Ohio; Emma, who is deceased, was married; and seven who died in infancy.
Jacob Miller, Jr., attended school in the various places where his father’s ministerial duties called him, passing through the grammar and high schools, and then took a short collegiate course at Toledo, Iowa. Learning the carpenter trade, he thought of following it, but found that his inclinations turned in another direction, so fitted himself for his life work by learning the marble cutting trade, and has followed it ever since. In 1898 he came to Arcanum, Ohio, opening a shop on a capital of $100, ninety dollars of which was borrowed. From the start he prospered, for he demonstrated not only his skill, but his artistic talent, and now he conducts a business that necessitates the carrying of several thousand dollars’ worth of stock, and has won recognition as a business man that is shown by his commercial rating.
On June 16, 1885, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Ella Norris, a daughter of Robert and Clarissa (VanLue) Norris, who died in June, 1900. On Apr. 6, 1902, Mr. Miller was married (second) to Bertha Mae Morrison, a daughter of Willis Morrison and they became the parents of five children: Sheldon W., Iona Fern, Frances Willard, Norman A., and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Morrison were natives of Darke county, Ohio.
Mr. Miller is a member of the United Brethren church and his association with his organization has been close and intimate. Influenced by his father’s example, he took a course in the Union Biblical Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio, now known as the Bonebrake Theological Seminary, and preached one year at Decatur, Ind., after which he studied for missionary work and spent two and one-half years at Serra Leone on the west coast of Africa. Returning to the United States he went to Iowa, where he had charge of a congregation at Garwin for eighteen months, following which he was located at Dunkirk, Ind., from whence he went to Geneva, Ind., but resigned to come to Arcanum to found his present business. His religious experiences make him all the more proficient in his work, and all of it is tinged with a reverent appreciation of the dignity of his calling, and the sacred duty the living owe to the dead.Source: History of Darke County, Ohio – From its earliest Settlement to the Present Time – Vol. II – Milford, Ohio – The Hobart Publ. Co. – 1914 – pg. 218
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