From "Standard History of Adams & Wells Counties, Indiana," Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1918, pp. 920-1.

MICHAEL MILLER, representing a family of long residence in Adams County, was formerly actively engaged in farming, but for the past fifteen years has been one of the leading road and street contractors in this section of Indiana.

Fifteen years ago he built his first road by contract in Washington Township. It was a three mile stretch of macadam turnpike. A little later he constructed another three miles of the same material a short distance from Decatur. Since then he has taken many contracts, representing improvements of many thousands of dollars, and has built roads and streets both in and out of Decatur. In 1914 he built the street, including curbs and sidewalks, on Tarva Street in Decatur. He also curbed Russell and Oak streets, and put down a mile of sidewalk and curbing on Third Street.

Mr. Miller was born in Huron County, Ohio, August 17, 1856, and was eight months old when his parents removed from that county to Adams County, Indiana, settling in Washington Township, where Michael MILLER grew up and received his early education. He is a son of Mathias and Barbara (Haine) MILLER, both of whom were born in Germany. The father was born about 1820, and was of a Catholic family. They came to the United States when young people, and the father made several trips back and forth to Germany. On his last trip to this country his young bride accompanied him, and they married in New York City. About their first location after marriage was in Decatur, Indiana, but a few years later they moved to Huron County, Ohio. Returning to Adams County in 1857, they bought a tract of wooded land in section 22 of Washington Township, and they put up with the simple comforts of a log cabin home for a number of years. The farm is still owned by the family and represents a high degree of development since the Millers first took possession sixty-seven years ago.

Mathias MILLER was a veteran of the Union army. In 1862 he joined Company K of the Eighty-ninth Indiana Infantry. He was one of 300 that were recruited in and around Decatur at that time. He saw two years and nine months of active service and finally in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, was shot, the ball passing below the upper rib and out through the shoulder blade. It was a wound that incapacitated him for further duty and he was finally discharged. He recovered his health and strength, and became a very energetic and prosperous farmer in Adams County. He lived there to the fullness of years and died at the age of eighty-three, his wife passing away at seventy-seven. They were active members and supporters of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Decatur. Mathias MILLER was a war republican but finally joined the democratic party.

Mr. Michael MILLER was one of a family of seven children. His sister Mary died at the age of seventeen and his sister Barbara at twenty-one. Five of the family are still living, all married.

In Washington Township Michael MILLER married Miss Mary Gass, only living child of John P. Gass. John P. Gass, who died in Washington Township at the age of eighty-two, was an Adams County pioneer. He was born in France November 24, 1813, a son of Henry and Catherine Gass. In 1828 the family came to America, landing in New York City, and for about nine years lived in Oswego County, New York, and spent a similar period in Wayne County, Ohio. In Wayne County John P. Gass married in April, 1846, Miss Catherine Moine. After the birth of their first child, Eugene, the Gass family in 1847 came to Adams County and settled in the woods of section 33, Washington Township John P. Gass built a log cabin there and moved his family into the house before it had windows or doors. His first crop was five acres of wheat, but in the course of time he had most of his land cleared and was rezoned as one of the most prosperous and substantial farmers of the township. The old Gass farm comprised 200 acres. His wife died there on January 12, 1883. John P. Gass was a democrat and he and his wife were pioneer members of St. Mary's Catholic Church. John P. Gass when he came to Adams County had only a team, wagon and $20 in money, but long before his death his hard work and good management had enabled him to accumulate a good state and he was also honored with the confidence of his fellow citizens, serving as road supervisor and in various positions of trust and responsibility.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of three children. One son died in infancy. Bertha E. married Tony Hackman and died at the age of twenty-four years and three months. Christian A. died at the age of fourteen. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church and he is a fourth degree Knight of Columbus.

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