James and Margaret Miller and Descendants
Courtesy of Emma (MacNevin) MacMiIlan
Wm. and Mrs. Miller. From an original carte-de-visite c.1870.
Following are transcripts of the two newspaper articles referred to previously.
William Arthur Miller In M emoriam
Charlottetown has lost another of its best known citizens in the person of William Arthur Miller, who died at his residence, 249 Euston Street, Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. Miller, who was in his 69’h year, took ill about two months ago.
After spending a week in the Prince Edward Island Hospital he went to Montreal, where he underwent an operation in the General Hospital.
Two weeks ago he returned home, accompanied by Mrs. Miller and their daughter, Mrs. Trueman. Since then he gradually became weaker until he
breathed his last. The late Mr. Miller was born at Marshfield, June
8’”, 1869, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Miller, the latter being Miss Emily Ann Bovyer, a daughter of the late Robert Bovyer of Bunbury.
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Mr. Miller Sr. was a son ofJames and Margaret Miller, both natives of Scotland, the father being born on the Clyde River near Glasgow and the mother in the Highlands.
They came to Prince Edward Island in 1818 settling first at Lot 35, where James Miller became one of the most successful farmers of that locality.
He had at one time 435 acres of land. He was extensively engaged in the live stock and dairy farming.
Their son William located at Marshfield and like his father was also extensively engaged in farming, specializing in the breeding of horses and Ayrshire cattle. For a time he was manager of the Provincial Government Farm at F alconwood.
For a number of years and until his father’s death in 19]], William Arthur Miller also carried on farming on land adjoining that of his father.
0n the latter’s death in 19]] he disposed of his farm and purchased Oakwood, the beautiful Wright property on the St. Peter’s Road on the outskirts of Charlottetown.
Here he took up fox ranching on a large scale having at first as his partner, the late Mr. E. R. Brown. They were among the pioneers of the industry in this section of the province.
About nine years later Mr. Miller purchased the Brown residence on Euston Street and resided with his family there, although continuing the fox ranching at Oakwood, associated with his son. W. Frank Miller.
The late Mr. Miller was a worthy member of a family that was highly honoured and respected throughout this province and whose eflorts materially contributed to the advancement of our great basic industry, agriculture.
He was a man of a high order of intelligence known for his strict integrity in all his business dealings, and held in the highest esteem by a very wide circle of friends.
Just as he had achieved success in general farming through his industry and intelligence, so he was equally successful in fox ranching, and became an expert in that line.
Like his father, the late Mr. Miller, he was a stalwart and consistent supporter of the Liberal party and was always active in organization work.
Although a true son of the soil, and always devoted to agriculture and live stock breeding, Mr. Miller was also interested in antique furniture, and