from Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of York, Ontario
John Clauson Miller M.P.P., who passed away at Colton, California, April 2, 1884, was a well-known business and public man of Ontario. He was born in the County of Leeds December 16, 1836.
The Miller family is of German descent, founded in Canada about the time of the American Revolution by the grandfather of John C. Miller, who served under Burgoyne, and was a United Empire Loyalist. For services rendered he received from the Crown a grant of land in the County of Leeds, upon which he settled. and where he died.
On this farm Samuel Miller, the father of John C. Miller, was born in 1796. and was a lifelong farmer in that county. He married Melita Hayes, who, it is said, was a relative of President Hayes, of the United
States. The children of Samuel and Melita Millerwere as follows:
John Clauson;
Annis, deceased, who married John Thompson:
Henry, of Pennsylvania;
Samuel, of Michigan;
Sarah, who is on the old homestead:
Martha. who married a Mr. Huntley;
and Melita, widow of John Dickey residing on the old homestead.
The father of these children died in 1880, and the mother in 1878.
John Clauson Miller was educated in the public schools of his native place, and at the age of fourteen years held a certificate for teaching in which profession he engaged for a few years. Later he became an assistant in the post office at Brockville. Mr. Miller was born for a husiness career, and was therefore not content with clerkships. even under the government. He consequently engaged in a general mercantile business at Seely's Bay, in the County of Leeds.
In 1864 he removed to Brockville. and for some time was deputy sheriff of Leeds County. In 1868 he was appointed supprintendent of woods and forests under the Provincial Government of Ontario, and settled in Toronto.
In 1871 with A. G. P. Dodge, of New York, he founded the Parry Sound Lumber Company. and later purchased the Dodge interl'st. becoming sole owner. and so continued until he died.
In 18?? Miller took his seat in the Legislature, representing the Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts and continued to serve until 1883 when he resigned his seat to contest the same riding for the Dominion, and was beaten by Col. O'Brien by three votes.
On Aug. ? 1859. Mr. Miller married Miss Adelaide Augusta Chamberlain who was born in the County of Leeds Aug. 2. 1836, daughter of the late Dr. Asher A. Chamberlain.
Dr. Chamberlain was born in 1810, and came with his mother from Y er1l10nt to the County of Leeds in 1812 his father having died in the States. Dr. Chamberlain was s a self-made man, and was a lifelong medical practitioner of Leeds County.
He married Miss Eliza Ann Toffey who was born in Dutchess County, New York, in 1803. daughter of Hulett and Martha (Schofield) Toffey, the latter of whom was a daughter of Dr. James Schofield, a United Empire Loyalist. and an early settler of the County of Leeds.
Martha Schofield Toffey was born at Pawling. Dutchess County, in 1784, and her husband in 1776. They were married Jan. 21, 1803, and to them were born six children:
Eliza Ann;
Major Ira, who served in the Rebellion of 1837-38;
Peter, M.D., D.D., of the County of Leeds;
James, a farmer of that county
Lucy, who married Mr. Hartwell;
Mrs. Fredenburg. and
Mrs. Asher A. Chamberlain had but two children: Adelaide A. (Mrs. Miller) and Dr. Theodore, both of Toronto.
Mr and Mrs. John Clauson Miller were born two children: John B. and Miss Addie Augusta. John B. Miller is the president and owner of the Parry Sound Lumber Company, and vice-president of the Po]"on Iron W orks. He married (first) Hannah Pollock Hunter. by whom he had two children: John C., who was drowned with his mother in 1893, and Henry H.. now an officer in the Queen's Own Rifles. John B. Miller took for his second wife Miss Jessie Thompson, by whom he had one son, John Thompson, deceased. John Clauson Miller was an attendant of the Baptist. Church, of which his widow is a member. He was a Reformer in politics, and was one of his party's standbys though he was careful in voting on various bills. always standing up for what seemed right in his judgment. Fraternally he was a member of the Freemasons.
In 1880 Mr. Miiller erected a handsome residence at Parry Sound. where some years of his life was spent, during his business and public career there. Since his death his widow has sold thp property, and is now residing in her pleasant home in Toronto...
John Clauson Miller was essentially a self-made man. Starting out in life a poor boy, he determined to succeed through honorable methods. This he did. through strict illtel!rit - and upright business dealings, and in his death Canada lost not only a public official of the highest honor, but a successful business man. a representative citizen and a true Christian gentleman.
