California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


REV. MARTIN MILLER. A pioneer minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Martin 
Miller is held in the highest esteem throughout the San Joaquin valley where he has been 
instrumental in organizing a number of churches of this denomination. He was born in Carroll 
county, Ohio, December 11, 1836, a son of Joseph Miller, the latter having been born in the 
vicinity of Harrisburg, Cumberland county, Pa. The elder man was a farmer who emigrated 
to Carroll county, where he married and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He made that locality 
his home from 1828 to 1862, when he removed to Montgomery county, Ill., where his death 
occurred in 1873, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, formerly Isabelle McClintock, of Ohio, 
now resides in Illinois, at the age of ninety years, still active and well preserved. They were the 
parents of six sons and one daughter, of whom Martin Miller was the eldest. 

Martin Miller received a preliminary education in the common schools of Ohio and also attended 
an academy in that state. After his removal to Illinois he took a theological course in the Illinois 
State University at Springfield, graduating therefrom in 1865. His first charge was in Montgomery 
County, Ill., and following this he was located in Warsaw, Camp Point and Nokomis. He came to 
California in 1873 and was in charge at Georgetown, Eldorado county, for three years ; then in 
Richland and Marysville, and in 1880 located in the vicinity of Reedley, Fresno county. In January, 
1882, he organized the first Methodist Episcopal church in Fresno, Cal. The same year he 
organized the first Methodist Episcopal Church at Selma, of which he remained in charge for three 
years. In 1894 he was located at Hanford, Kings county, and the following year at Sanger, Fresno 
county. During 1887 and 1888 he preached at Traver, Tulare county. He now has charge of the 
church at Parlier, which he organized in January, 1904. Since his location here he has been absent 
only two years, which time he spent in Los Angeles educating his children, and while there he 
preached at Ivanhoe. He also became interested in real estate in that city, owning some property 
in partnership with a brother-in-law. In 1878 Mr. Miller bought forty acres of land near Parlier, 
where he located in 1880, making that his home until recently, when he sold out and has now 
moved to his new home on the banks of the Kings river, just opposite Reedley. This consists of forty-
four acres, ten of which are planted to oranges, and twelve acres to Smyrna figs. 

In Illinois, August 19, 1866, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Ardalissa M. Dryer, a 
native of that state, and a daughter of Albert and Louisa (Weber) Dryer, natives respectively of 
Vermont and Pennsylvania, but of Holland descent. They were among the early settlers of 
Montgomery county, Ill., and were held in high esteem there. They were prominent members 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he was an officer and leader. He died at the age of ninety 
years and she at the age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of six children, who are all 
living, three of them being in California. Rev. and Mrs. Miller became the parents of three sons and 
one daughter, of whom George A., a graduate of the Stanford University, is pastor of the English-
speaking Methodist Episcopal Church in Manila, Philippine Islands; Charles D. is located in Los 
Angeles, Cal; Clara I. is at home ; and John M. is attending Stanford University. The daughter is a 
well-known teacher of music. In his political convictions Mr. Miller is independent, reserving the 
right to cast his ballot for the man whom he considers best qualified for public office.