MILLER, Augustus E.C.
Augustus E. C. Miller was born in Gotha, Germany, December 8, 1825, being the son of John C. and Elizabeth Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1837 John C. immigrated to Pennsylvania, in which State he lived until his death. Elizabeth was born in 1798, and died November, 1878, in Dickson County. Our subject was the eldest child, his brother, Herman, being born in 1827, and his sister, Louisa, in 1830. At the age of twenty-five years our subject began teaming at the Pennsylvania Canal, at which he worked for about three years, when he began piloting on the above canal. Afterward he was captain of the “J. W. Igo.” and subsequently owned and ran several boats in the same stream. In 1853 he sold his boats and engaged in farming in Pennsylvania, and in 1869 he came to Dickson County, Tenn., where he now lives. In 1851 he was married to Elizabeth J. Goan, of Pennsylvania, and to this union were born fifteen children, ten of whom are yet living. His wife dying he was married, June 10, 1883, to Laura E. Mitchell, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Our subject is a man of wealth, having accumulated about $15,000 by his own exertions. He has in his possession a pair of shoes which he wore at the age of one year, and has also an old German hymn-book which has been in the family for over 100 years. He was a man of considerable influence in Pennsylvania, and although receiving but three weeks’ education in the English language is a very good English scholar. He takes much interest in church affairs, and has been in sight of the place where Martin Luther translated the Bible.