From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 381-382.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


JEREMIAH ALEXANDER MILLER

Jeremiah Alexander Miller, ex-mayor of Wheeling, and prominently 
associated with its business and financial affairs, is a native of 
the vicinity of Martinsburgh, W.Va.  His father was John F. Miller, 
who was born in Pennslyvania about the year 1812, the son of a 
Pennsylvania German, a native of Franklin county, Penn.  John F. 
Miller removed to Virginia, and there married Rosanna Ellenberger, 
daughter of John A. Ellenberger, of the valley of Virginia.  The 
father settled there and followed the vocation of a teacher until his 
death in 1852.  The mother removed to Wheeling in about 1863, and 
resided there until her death at the age of fifty-one years in 1874. 
To these parents were born three children, J. A., John M., now living 
in Springfield, Ohio, and Anna Eliza Bell, who died July 1, 1880.  
The subject of this mention was born December 9, 1844. He attended 
school at Martinsburgh, where he was reared.  He then found 
employment as a clerk at that place until his eighteenth year of age, 
when he removed to Wheeling and obtained a position in a retail 
grocery store. He then went upon the road as a traveling salesman for 
James L. Hawley, wholesale dealer.  In 1868 he began business for 
himself in fine groceries and confectionery, and was so engaged until 
1883, when he retired from the same, to go into the wholesale boot 
and shoe business with George E. Boyd.  This firm, with the style of 
Boyd, Miller & Co., succeeded the firm of Boyd & Co., and Mr. Boyd 
was connected with it until 1885, when he retired from the shoe 
business.  Mr. Miller has taken an active interest in municipal 
affairs, and in 1878 was elected a member of the board of education, 
of which he has ever since been a member, and is at present, 
president.  In 1883-4 Mr. Miller served as mayor of the city.  He is 
prominently interested in various enterprises, being president of the 
Citizens' Railway company, president of the West Virginia Printing 
company, president of the Wheeling Ice & Storage company, director of 
the bank of the Ohio valley, and director of the Peabody Insurance 
company.  He is considerably interested in real estate.  Mr. Miller 
is a member of the Wheeling lodge, No.5, F. & A.M.; of Cyrene 
commandery, No. 7; Albert Pike consistory, of Washington; of Mecca 
Temple, Mystic Shrine, of New York, and was grand commander of West 
Virginia Knight Templars, in 1888-9.  He is also a member of the 
Wheeling lodge, No.9, I.O.O.F., and was grand master and grand 
patriarch, in 1777.  During the administration of Gov. J. B. Jackson, 
1881 to 1885, Mr. Miller served by appointment as aide-de-camp on the 
staff of the governor, with the rank of colonel.


(Linda Fluharty)