Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 39

WILLIAM H. MILLER

In pioneer times in Oregon, William H. Miller became a resident of this state.
Those who undertook the arduous task of planting the seeds of civilization in
the hitherto undeveloped northwest are entitled to the gratitude and thanks of
those who have come later and who have enjoyed the benefits of their labors.
Great changes have occurred since W. H. Miller arrived in Oregon, coming to the
west from Missouri.

William Henry Miller was born near, Wheeling, West Virginia, and was a
representative of one of the old families of that state, the ancestral line
being traced back to Major Miller, who was one of the heroes of the
Revolutionary war, enlisting from West Virginia for service with the American
army that after an eight years' sanguinary conflict won independence for the
American colonies. William Henry Miller was also numbered among the military
heroes of the country, for he served in the Mexican war and after his return
from the army made his way across the country to Oregon in 1850, traveling over
the long hot stretches of sand and across the mountain passes until he reached
the verdant hillsides of the Pacific coast and eventually took up his abode at
Astoria. There he secured a land claim and upon that place spent his remaining
days. He was one of the early merchants of Astoria and was largely identified
with the upbuilding, improvement and progress of the town, his labors
constituting an important element in its growth and advancement. Fraternally he
was connected with the Masons and was a worthy follower of the teachings of the
craft. He journeyed westward with Dr. Ostrander and Seth Catlin and was
therefore numbered among the earliest of the pioneers who aided in laying broad
and deep the foundation upon which has been built the present progress and
prosperity of the state.

William H. Miller was married in Missouri to Margaret Browning. Their daughter,
Margaret M. Miller, became the wife of George Balsam on September 1, 1891, and
to Mr. and Mrs. Balsam were born four children: Constantine George, who enlisted
on the 3d of December, 1917, at Mare Island, California, in the United States
Marine Corps for service in the World war and was discharged March 8, 1919;
Evellea, Marcina and William Miller, all at home. Mrs. Balsam and her family
reside at 403 Hancock street in Portland. Her long residence in the northwest
has made her familiar with the entire history of this section of the country.
She has seen its development from a wild and unimproved region and has watched
its transformation into a populous state, with thriving towns and beautiful
cities, with every known business enterprise, cities that in turn are surrounded
by rich farming districts, while in every other way nature has seemed most
lavish in her gifts to Oregon. All this Mrs. Balsam has witnessed and she can
relate many most interesting incidents of the pioneer times and the changes
which have been wrought by man as the years have passed.


******************* 

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.