The Miller family has for many years been established in Montgomery county, New York. The founder, Conrad Miller, was probably an emigrant from Germany. He had nine children, Peter, Conrad, Daniel, Henry, John, George, Christiana, Mary and Nancy.
(II) John, son of Conrad Miller, married Margaret Garlock and had children: Henry, Adam, Conrad, John, Jacob, Peter I., Elizabeth.
(III) Peter I., son of John and Margaret (Garlock) Miller, born in the town of Minden, Montgomery county, New York, May 5, 1789, died October 12, 1841. He was educated in the district schools. He was a tavern keeper at Mohawk, New York, for several years, after which he turned his attention to farming, following that occupation for the remainder of his active life. He was a Whig in politics. He married Christina Devendorf, born November 27, 1798, died in Minden, January 28, 1867, daughter of Solomon and Christina Devendorf, granddaughter of Jacob Devendorf, one of the original patentees of the town of Minden. The Devendorfs came from Switzerland prior to the revolution, and one of the name served under General Herkimer and was killed at the battle of Oriskany in 1777. Children of Peter I. and Christina Miller:
- Chauncy, married Barbara Stauring;
- Harvey, married Margaret Stauring;
- Mary, married Charles J. Devendorf;
- Martha, twin of Mary, married Stephen Z. Walrath;
- Jerome, married (first), Louisa Walrath, (second), Martha Davy;
- Peter, of whom further.
(IV) Peter, son of Peter I. and Christina (Devendorf) Miller, was born in the town of Minden, March 17, 1839. He was educated in the district schools and at Fort Plain Institute. For several years he engaged in farming in Minden, then spent two years in Canada in the produce business. On his return from Canada he disposed of his interest in Minden, and settled in Lockport, New York, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, under the firm name of Miller & Smith. He continued in active business life until about 1900 when he retired from active business; since which time he has spent the greater portion of his time in his native town, and now resides at the village of Fort Plain, New York. He has had a successful business career and has been the architect of his own fortune. He is well known in the community as a man of high character and generous impulses. He is a Republican in politics and served while living in the town of Minden as school trustee. In religion he is a Universalist. He married, December 30, 1868, Katherine, born July 29, 1841, daughter of John I. and Eliza (Sanders) Zoller, granddaughter of Jacob I. Zoller, who was a son of Jacob Zoller, one of the four brothers, Jacob, Henry, Casper and Andrew, who came into the Mohawk Valley from their native land, Switzerland, during the revolutionary war, settling at Fort Willett, in Dutchtown, Montgomery county. Jacob and Andrew Zoller served in the battle of Oriskany, where Andrew was taken prisoner and Jacob was shot through the shoulder and also taken prisoner. Andrew returned but Jacob was never after heard from. Jacob I. Zoller was born in Minden, where he died June 18, 1863, aged eighty-six years. He served in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Sacketts Harbor. He married Katherine, daughter of John Christian and Elizabeth Ehle. She was born August 30, 1782, died October 29, 1868. Their children are:
- John I., of whom further;
- Mary, born May 9, 1807, married Henry I. Crouse;
- James, born April 20, 1809, removed to northern New York and settled near Ogdensburg;
- Jacob, born July 29, 1811, died at the age of seventeen years;
- Josiah, born September 27, 1813, built the Zoller House at Fort Plain of which he was proprietor for many years;
- Henry Chauncy, born December 18, 1815, removed to Columbia, Herkimer county, where he still resides (1910);
- Abraham, born May 16, 1818, died September 27, 1854, at Racine, Wisconsin;
- Katherine, born October 25, 1821, married John C. Van Camp, and removed to Otranto, Iowa;
- Elizabeth, born August 16, 1825, is living at Otranto Station, Iowa, unmarried.
John I. Zoller, eldest child of Jacob I. Zoller, was born in Minden, March 9, 1805, died November 15, 1891. He was for many years engaged in mercantile business. In 1843 he was a member of the New York legislature. He married Eliza Sanders. Children:
- Katherine Elizabeth, died young.
- Jacob, born April 15, 1833, died January 27, 1907; he was engaged in the wholesale grocery and provision business in Little Falls, New York; married Mary Jane Dygert.
- Abram P., born July 28, 1835, died April 8, 1908; married Rachel Newkirk; no issue; he was a resident of Fort Plain.
- Martha, born May 4, 1837; married Robert Smith, of Hallsville; three children living: Fred J., Robert Z. and Claude A.
- Mary, born May 26, 1839, deceased.
- Katherine, married Peter Miller.
- Elizabeth, died aged thirteen years.
- Charles, married Ianthe Klock, and died on the homestead farm, October 3, 1902, aged fifty-five years.
Peter and Katherine Miller have no children.