Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 527 - 528 

CYRUS MILLER, a resident of Sedgwick County since the spring of 1883, owns and occupies eighty acres of good land which, under a course of thorough cultivation, now yields an abundance of the choicest crops of the "Grasshopper" State, which, in spite of the various tribulations through which it has passed, is second to none in the great West, and the fact of its having attained to its present position is largely due to the energetic and enterprising men who settled within its limits during the early days when it was in the transformation period.

            The early home of Mr. Miller was in the northwestern portion of the Keystone State, he having been a native of Warren County, where his birth took place July 19, 1848. His parents, Elias and Margaret (McCue) Miller, were also natives of Pennsylvania, and the heads of a large family of children, of whom the following survive: Olive, of Warren County; Lawrence, of McLean County, Ill.; Eli and Silas, in their native State; Cyrus, of our sketch; Hannah, of Reno County, this State; Minerva, of Erie County, Pa.; Alice, of Pratt County, this State, and Emily, of Phelps County, Neb.

            Elias Miller, about 1859, removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Woodford County, Ill., where Cyrus, of our sketch, was reared to manhood, and where the father passed from earth. Mrs. Miller, mother of our subject, now resides in Pennsylvania. Young Miller, in common with his brothers and sisters, received the advantages of only a limited education, but fortunately acquired the habit of study and observation, and is now considered one of the most intelligent men of his day. He started out for himself at an early age, and for five years thereafter was employed as a farm laborer in Woodford County, receiving from $20 to $25 per month. Before reaching his twenty-third birthday he was united in marriage, in January, 1872, with a maiden of Woodford County, Miss Mary Ayers, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, and who by her union with our subject became the mother of one daughter, and departed this life at their home in Woodford County, November 20 of that same year. The little motherless girl was named Bertha, and only survived a few months.

            Mr. Miller contracted a second marriage, on the 18th of February, 1883, with Miss Ida Ayers, who was also born in Butler County, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1860. Mrs. Ida Miller is the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (House) Ayers, who removed from the Buckeye State to Illinois, and thence to Sumner County, Kan., where they are now residing. Of this marriage of our subject there have been born two children—Edward E., Feb. 18, 1884, and Viola L., Jan. 19, 1886.

            In December, 1881, Mr. Miller came to this State and located in Sumner County, where he continued until the spring of 1883, thence removing to this township. Mr. Miller uniformly votes the Democratic ticket, and in November, 1887, was elected Constable of Salem Township, of which office he is now the incumbent. Both he and his estimable wife are popular in social circles and number their friends among the best people of Salem Township.

            The father of Mrs. Miller was twice married, there being born of the two marriages seven children, four of whom are living, namely: Samuel L., Albert H., Laura B. and Ida. Upon removing from Ohio they settled first in Woodford County, Ill., and later in Livingston County, whence they came to this State about 1877. Mr. Ayers has been a good business man and a praiseworthy citizen, and in his declining years is enjoying, as he so well deserves, all the comforts of life.

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