The early education of David Miller was secured in the primitive
subscription schools of his native vicinity, and when he had reached his
majority was given an eighty acre farm as a reward for his long years
of faithful work with his father. He continued to reside on the home
place, however, working with his father and also clearing his own tract,
which he later exchanged for a farm of 220 acres. On March 9, 1864,
he was married to Miss Francis Beardslee, and a year later purchased
the farm of his wife's father, who had died the year before, paying
$500 to each of nine heirs. This tract of 220 acres had been secured
from the government by Mrs. Miller's uncle, John Beardslee, a bachelor,
who made his home with her parents. David Miller added to this farm
from time to time until it consisted of 576 acres, paying as high as fifty
dollars per acre, and a great deal of this he cleared. During the early
days he sold potatoes at twelve cents a bushel, and in one week during
the Civil war hauled wheat to Pontiac and sold it from two dollars and
a half to three dollars a bushel, thus gaining enough money to pay off a
mortgage of $2,3(X), with interest at ten per cent, that was contracted
while with his father and brother. Reared a poor boy, and taught the
value of economy, he had also ingrained in him an appreciation of the
benefits to be derived from system. He erected new and substantial
buildings, and in his barn had a vegetable cellar large enough to allow
a wagon to drive in. In addition to potato growing he devoted twenty
or more acres to rutabagas, with which he also had considerable success,
and eventually developed into a general farmer, raising great crops of
grain and breeding fine livestock and draft horses. Three years ago,
when he was compelled to give up active pursuits on account of failing
health, he held the largest auction sale ever known in this part of Oak-
land county, and when he had disposed of his interests moved to his
present home one-half mile east of the village of Clarkston. Mr. Miller
is a Republican in politics, but has never cared for public life, although
he takes an interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his com-
munity.
