"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



The record of Michael P. Miller, of St. James, Watonwan county, doubtless could not be equaled by that of many men in Minnesota, for he has been a locomotive engineer continuously for nearly four decades and will in a comparatively short time round out a half century in railway service, and all the while he has been with the same road. His long retention would indicate able and faithful service.

Mr. Miller was born in Germany, October 14, 1849, and is a son of Peter and Anna (Thiel) Miller, both natives of Germany, the father bom in 1818 and the mother in 1820. There they grew up and were married. They immigrated to America in 1872, locating at St. James, Minnesota, where they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1890 and the mother in 1912, at the age of ninety-two years. They were the parents ot the following children: Nicholas, Magdalena (deceased), Michael P., Peter, Jacob (deceased), Nicholas L. and John.

Michael P. Miller spent his boyhood in Germany, where he attended school. Coming to America in 1868, he spent about six weeks in New York City, then moved to Scott county, Minnesota, where he remained until 1870, then came to St. James, in which town he has since made his home. He at once took a position as fireman with the Omaha railroad, with which he has remained for a period of forty-seven years, continuing as fireman four years, then was promoted to engineer and has thus been in charge of an engine for a period of thirty-nine years. He has been one of the company's most trusted and faithful employees. He took a home-stead in Nelson township, Watonwan county, in 1871, which he held about ten years and sold. He has remained in the residence he still occupies for a period of thirty-seven years. He has seen, the town grow from almost the beginning and has taken much pride in the same.

Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was a member of the school board for a number of years and also has been a member of the city council for many years. He and his family belong to the Catholic church.

Mr. Miller was married on May 3, 1875, to Katherine Sieren, who was bora in Ohio, February 14, 1855, and is a daughter of John and Margaret (Wagner) Sieren, both natives of Germany, the father's birth occurring on February 17, 1833, and the mother's on January 10, of the same year. He was brought to the United States when twelve years old, and she was a child when her parents brought her to this country. The parents of each located in Ohio and there these children were reared and married. In 1858 they came to Minnesota and located at Mankato, where they spent one year, then took up a homestead of eighty acres in Blue Earth county, to which forty acres were later added, and they continued to live on this farm until 1901, when they removed to St. James, where they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Sieren dying in 1909, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1907. They were parents of ten children, namely: Katherine, Margaret, John (deceased), Peter, Mary L,, Ida, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Appelona (deceased) and Anna B.

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller ten children have been born, namely: Josephine M., John W., Herman N., Edward P., Ida M., Elizabeth I. died in 1888, when three years old; Rosalia M.; Caroline L. and Clara M. are twins; Frederick M. is the youngest.

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