Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN S. MILLER
JOHN S. MILLER.--This worthy pioneer
of Sacramento was born in Washington, District of Columbia, May 31, 1829, the
son of Isaac S. and Jane (Sanford) Miller. He attended school during his
boyhood in the city of his nativity, but when fourteen years of age went to
Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained until he set sail for California. The
route chosen was via Cape Horn, taking passage in the ship Jane Parker. The
voyage consumed six months lacking only four days. They arrived in San
Francisco July 21, 1849, and Mr. Miller settled in Benicia, forming a
partnership in the mercantile business in the firm of Webb, Beveridge &
Miller. Here he remained until 1852, when he went to Colusa, engaging in
business for two years. He then returned to Benicia and was there and at
Vallejo and Suisun until 1864, being employed in the Quartermaster’s
Department, U. S. A. In that year he was sent to Sacramento, holding a position
in the Quartermaster’s Department at General Wright’s headquarters. He was in
Sacramento when the General was informed of the assassination of President
Lincoln. After two or three years in this position, he engaged in the
forwarding business at Latrobe and Galt, combining the agency for the stage
lines with it. At this business he continued for six years, when in 1874 he was
appointed a gauger in the revenue department, a position that he has held since
that date, which makes him the oldest commissioned officer in continuous
service upon the Pacific coast. He has held more than one office of a public
nature, as well, having been deputy clerk, and also deputy assessor of Solano
County. He is a prominent member of the Pioneer Association in Sacramento,
being president during 1878-’79, and for the past eight years its secretary and
in charge of its affairs. It will be of interest to mention further that he was
quartermaster’s clerk at the time the Sixth Infantry were sent down to whip the
Mojave Indians. Mr. Miller was married in 1856 to Miss Esther C. Dean, a native
of Massachusetts. She died in 1882, leaving two daughters: Ida V., who has been
teaching in Sacramento for many years, and Laura, now the wife of Fred Weil,
nephew of John Weil, Esq., of this city.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 12/07/07.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 782-783.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.