JOHN B. MILLER, Postmaster, Anna, is a native of this county, and was born September 3, 1829. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Biggs) Miller, the former born in North Carolina, March 5, 1802, and the latter born in South Carolina, May 8, 1795, and died in Arkansas, August 24, 1864; she was a daughter of John Biggs, a native of South Carolina, but a resident many years of Tennessee. The elder Miller was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of the country. In 1825, he emigrated with his wife to Illinois, and settled in Union County, north of Cobden, where he engaged in farming. His father, Joseph Miller, came with him and entered land, but left it soon after. In 1839, Mr. Miller returned to Tennessee, where he died June 5, 1845. Our subject was the third child in a family of five, three of whom are now living, viz.: Joseph M., a farmer in Kansas; Davis W., real estate, Chicago, and John B., Postmaster at Anna. He was raised on a farm, and his years of boyhood and early manhood were not years of prosperity and ease, but of labor and toil. He and his two brothers worked and saved their money, denying themselves the luxuries of life, in order to educate themselves. Mr. Miller, when about twenty-six years of age, entered the Academy at Alton, having previously enjoyed but a limited attendance at the public schools, and was the first representative student in the State Normal School at Bloomington from Union County. In 1839, he accompanied his parents to Tennessee and remained there until after the death of his father. He taught school while in Tennessee, and upon his return he still followed teaching. After completing his education, he made Union County his permanent home. In 1864, he engaged in merchandising at Jonesboro, in co-partnership with his brother Davis. May 1, 1870, he took charge of the post office at Anna, and in 1873 was appointed Postmaster, and as evidence that he is "the right man in the right place," he has held the position ever since, having been twice re-appointed. In connection with his office, he carries on a large store of books, stationery, etc. He was married October 16, 1870, in Jonesboro, to Miss Frances Meisenheimer, a native of Tennessee. She died July 29, 1878, leaving two boys, viz.: John B. and Francis Jeffery. Mr. Miller is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, both of the Lodge and Chapter, also of the Methodist Church, of which he is Treasurer.
Extracted 02 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 78-79.
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