The family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Two McFall brothers emigrated from Scotland to New York City, one of whom went up into the Mohawk Valley in the Empire State, and the other, the ancestor of our subject, located in Northampton County, Pa., near the city of Easton. The mother's side of the family is said to be descended from Col. Thomas Martin, who was one of William Penn's surveyors, and who helped to lay out the city of Philadelphia. Martin's Creek was named after him.
Thomas McFall, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in the eastern part of Northampton County, where he lived throughout his entire life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Seven children gathered about his fireside, of whom six were boys, and one a girl.
P. Winters McFall was born in Northampton County, and there received a liberal common school education. He followed the example of his father, and also adopted the vocation of a farmer. He located in Mt. Bethel township, of the same county in which he was born, and engaged in milling at Martin's Creek in 1860. Distilling was also one of his occupations; this was carried on with his brother-in-law, Joseph Martin, under the name of McFall & Martin. During the war he was drafted to serve in the Union Army, but because of his years he was excused. He then went to Stroudsburg, Pa., and was a resident of that place for several years, while he engaged in milling there. He finally returned to Northampton County, and lived in the village of Bangor when the final summons came that told him it was time to lay down life's burdens and enter into rest. His politics were pronounced; in his early life he was a Democrat, but later he supported the Whig party, and at last became a Republican. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in his younger years took a prominent part in the church at Martin's Creek. He was a man who always did what he could to promote the good of the community. His death took place in 1887, while his wife passed away three years later in 1890. Their children were: Calvin, deceased; Zwingle; William, deceased; Francis Marion, of whom this sketch is written; Elmira, deceased; and Lewis Cass.
Francis Marion McFall, the subject of this article, received a common school education and then engaged in the railroad business, learning telegraphy at Stroudsburg, Pa. He was at work there two years and then went into the general store of Wallace & Co., at that point, as one of their clerks. He remained in their employ, proving himself a painstaking, conscientious young man, and entitled to the greatest consideration on the part of the members of the firm, for four years, and from there moved to South Bethlehem, where for two years he conducted on his own account a hardware business. He then moved to Easton, Pa., and was head clerk for Becker & Rader for six years. His next place of residence was Binghamton, N. Y., where he entered the employ of the D., L. & W. R. R. as time-keeper, but only remained there a short time, going from that point to Syracuse, where he was employed in the freight office of that company only six months, when he was made head clerk and cashier of the freight department. For four years he held down this position, and only severed his connection with the office because his health would not allow him to stand confinement. He was accordingly made ticket agent, a position that had lighter work, for the company was unwilling to dispense wholly with his services. He held that position two years, and then removed to Cortland, N. Y., in 1885, where he assumed the office of freight, ticket and express agent of the D., L. & W. R. R. at Cortland. Seven years marked his continuance in that office---seven years that were filled with faithful service, alike satisfactory to the officials of the company and to the traveling and shipping public of the county. He resigned on account of the ill health of his wife in 1892, and went to Baltimore, Md., where he became bookkeeper and cashier for the Eutaw Beef Co. He was obliged once more to give up his business because of his wife's health, and make a change in his residence. He came back into New York State, and worked at Corning for the Beef Company for two years and a half. In the fall of 1895, he moved back to Cortland, where he received a hearty welcome from his numerous friends, who were delighted to hear that he was about to establish himself in business in Cortland village. He entered into a partnership with W. H. Angell to carry on a first-class meat and grocery business under the firm name of Angell & McFall. They have done very well, and have a large patronage, that is still on the increase. Mr. McFall is one of Cortland's best citizens; he was considered the most popular station agent ever in Cortland. When he resigned that position, the leading paper wrote a long article, highly complimentary to him, in which great sorrow was expressed over the loss the town was about to sustain in the removal of so good and capable a man for the position. He is the secretary of the Business Men's Association of Cortland, and identifies himself in every manner with the town's progress and development.
Mr. McFall was married to Mary Frances Keller, of Stroudsburg, Pa., November 2, 1869. Mrs. McFall is a daughter of Joseph Keller. Three children have been born to them: Frank K.; Joseph W., deceased; and Carrie, also deceased. Our subject is a member of the M. E. Church of Cortland, and was superintendent of the Sabbath School for five years when he first lived in Cortland, and also served as superintendent while living in Corning and Syracuse. He is at present steward of the Cortland Church. In the Sabbath School he is a hard worker, and has a class that he instructs each Sunday in God's Word. In his politics he is a Republican.
Source: pages 13-17
CHARLES P. McVEAN, a prominent business man of the town of Willet, is a son of Peter and Charity (Snider) McVean, and was born in the town of Solon, this county, November 4, 1835. Peter McVean, the grandfather, was a native of the Highlands of Scotland; he came to America, and located in Johnstown, this state, shortly after the Revolution. About the beginning of the present century, he came to Cortland County, and settled in the town of Virgil, but his death occurred in Freetown about 1850. He was a farmer all his life.
Peter McVean, Jr., the father, was born in Johnstown in 1801, but was reared to young manhood in the town of Virgil. In 1823 he went to Freetown and there opened the first store. He dealt in potash, salts, cheese, and such products as the farmer had for sale in those days; these products were taken to Albany by teams, and there exchanged for groceries and other staple articles that were in steady demand with the people. After leaving Freetown, he followed farming for the rest of his life, dying in Solon township in 1888. He was married to Charity Snider, a daughter of John Snider, a native of Germany, who fought in the Revolution, settling in Virgil shortly afterward. He was a tailor by trade, and also carried on farming. To Mr. and Mrs. Peter McVean were born six boys: John A., a retired farmer of Marathon; William S., also a farmer of Marathon; Charles P.; James G., a farmer of Virgil; an infant that died; and David W., who resides with his brother, John, at Marathon.
Charles P. McVean was married to Phoebe L. Bailey, February 9, 1860. They adopted a daughter, Cressie L., who is the wife of Merton D. Mathews, a salesman in Mr. McVean's store. Our subject was brought up on the farm with few educational advantages, as his parents were poor, and he had to do his part toward the support of the family. He attended the common school for a time, but at the age of thirteen, secured a position as a clerk at Virgil. However, being a great reader, and persistent in his search for knowledge, he has obtained a fund of valuable information, superior to that of many college-bred men. At the age of eighteen he taught school for one term in Freetown, and then took up agriculture, in which he was engaged for ten or twelve years in Freetown and Cincinnatus. He then embarked in the mercantile business at Texas Valley, in the town of Marathon, where he remained for six years, until 1874, when he came to Willet and opened the store in which he is at present. He carried a large stock of general merchandise, and does a large business. He is still interested in farming and is successfully operating a farm at present, as well as buying and shipping stock to the eastern markets, which undertaking with his direction is quite a profitable business. By careful and judicious management, he has been able to acquire a neat income, due entirely to his own efforts; while at the same time he has won for himself the most enviable reputation for honesty and veracity. So high is his standing in the community for rectitude and uprightness in all his dealings, that he has often been importuned to act as trustee in the settlement of estates. He is one of the directors of the Broome County Agricultural Society. In politics, he is a Republican and has held many town offices, having been justice of the peace in Freetown, Marathon and Willet, in all about fifteen years. In 1888 he was elected to the office of supervisor of the town of Willet, which was a great compliment to Mr. McVean, as the town was strongly Democratic.
Source: pages 242-243
Our subject's parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Harrison) Miller, were both of English birth and parentage, and both came from the same locality---Penroth, County Cumberland, England. The father was born in 1812, and the mother in 1807. They were married while still residents of Old England, and there their first two children were born: George and Margaret. The former died on the voyage to America, being then a young child; while the latter, then an infant, lived to maturity, and married Abner Hall, and now lives in Auburn, N. Y. The family emigrated in 1839, and first located in the town of Truxton, where they lived five years, until 1844, when Mr. Miller purchased a farm of 170 acres on East River, near East River P. O., upon which he resided, and which he improved and cultivated for a period of twenty-seven years. In conjunction with his avocation of husbandry, he carried on the closely related industry of dairying; he was very successful in his labors, and accumulated an ample competency, upon which he retired in 1871. To be free from cares and in a position to enjoy the sunset years of his life, he removed to the village of Homer, where he spent the rest of his days. He died there July 16, 1895. His wife had preceded him to the other shore, her death having occurred in January, 1878. They were both members of the Episcopal Church, and aided in erecting the first Episcopal Church Building in Truxton; in all branches of the Master's service, they were ever alert, active, devout, and anxious to do what they could. Our subject's father voted the Democratic ticket, but that was about as far as his interest in politics extended. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller in Cortland County, who were as follows: John H. and Jane, twins, the latter now deceased; and Elizabeth, the wife of John B. Henry, a farmer and representative citizen of Homer township.
John H. Miller was born in the town of Truxton, this county, March 22, 1844, and was but ten days of age, when his parents moved into the town of Homer; with the exception of one year (1860-61), spent on a mill property near by, he has always resided on the homestead. In 1870 he purchased the interests of his sisters in the homestead, and by purchase added to the original tract until his estate now contains 217 acres of valuable and well improved land. His residence is a very fine one for a country home; it is modern in its architecture, furnishings and appointments, and presents a pleasing appearance no matter from what vantage ground it is viewed. The barn and other farm buildings are kept in good repair, and possess every convenience that could suggest itself to a practical farmer. Everything on the farm, in the buildings and out of them, is kept orderly and neat. All farm machinery has a place where there is shelter, and tools are to be found in their accustomed places. In addition to farming, Mr. Miller, operates an extensive dairy, and also deals largely in live stock, in which pursuit he has been engaged for many years with profit. He is regarded as one of the successful and affluent men of Cortland County, and this, too, with good reason.
In January, 1872, the words were said that united our subject and Elizabeth Bell, daughter of James and Mary Bell of Truxton, this county, in marriage, and their union has been fruitful with two children: Jennie C., born April 25, 1875, and died December 3, 1897; and Jessie B., born February 7, 1883. Mr. Miller is a Democrat politically, but beyond exercising his right of manhood suffrage, he does not let politics claim any of his time. He is a member of the Truxton Council of the A. O. U. W.
Source: pages 325-326
NATHAN L. MILLER junior member of the law firm of Dougherty & Miller, of Cortland village, was born October 10, 1868, in the town of Solon, Cortland County, N. Y. He is a son of Samuel Miller, and grandson of Paul S. Miller. The name is of German origin. Paul S. Miller came from Johnstown, Fulton County, N. Y., to Cortland County and settled in the town of Cortlandville, where he was engaged in farming the greater part of his life. He was married before he left Fulton County, and part of his children were born there, the rest in Cortland County. Seven sons and five daughters were reared in the family.
Samuel Miller, father of our subject, was born in Johnstown, N. Y., and was but a boy when his father moved to this county. The advantages of a good education were never presented to him, but by perseverance and energy he acquired a practical knowledge of business principles. Believing in the fertility of the soil, and its adaptability for cultivation, he determined to follow the pursuits of an agriculturist. This was his occupation for a number of years, but he is now a resident of the village of Cortland. He married Almira Russel, and they reared three children, namely: Webster R.; Nathan L.; and Lillian M. (McMahan). Samuel is a Democrat. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
Nathan L. Miller, who heads this sketch, received his primary education in the common schools and Groton Academy; he then took an academic course in the Cortland State Normal School, and graduated with the class of 1887. The next four years he taught school at the following places, Burdett, Brooklyn, Blodgett Mills, and McLean, being one year at each place.
Having determined to enter the legal profession, he read law throughout the four years of his teaching. In 1891, he entered the office of the late Judge A. P. Smith of Cortland, where he finished reading law, being admitted to the bar, Nov. 3, 1893. He immediately began practice in Cortland village, being alone until 1895, when a co-partnership was formed with Mr. James Dougherty.
Mr. Miller is active and energetic. Although he is a young man his enterprising spirit is felt in all the movements to advance the business and social interests in the village. He is a strong Republican and does much to further the interests of his party. He is a public-spirited man, a good thinker and a capable orator. His style of speaking is easy and flowing, and not in the least ostentatious. He was elected school commissioner the same year he was admitted to the bar, and in 1896, he was re-elected to the same office. In his official position he has shown great executive ability, and attends well to the duties of his office. The law firm has a large practice, and the ability of Mr. Miller is bound to bring him forth as a legal light in his community. Mr. Miller was married November 23, 1896, to Elizabeth Davern, daughter of James Davern.
Source: pages 52-55
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JOHN HARRISON MILLER. Of the sturdy farmers, who furnish for the nation the supplies of food products, Cortland County has its full quota. Its men are known as citizens of long residence, who are closely bound to the great Empire State, believing that it holds a position that is second to none other in the sisterhood of states. Of such a stamp is the subject of this sketch, whose name heads these lines. Mr. Miller is engaged in carrying on general and diversified farming on his estate in Homer township, and is highly respected by his neighbors and acquaintances as a man who is thoroughly acquainted with his calling, and who has not lost sight of the elements of success wherever they may lie. He ranks with the best agriculturists of the county, and represents the best type of agriculturist of Central New York. His experience goes far to disprove the statements that there is no money in farming, for he has steadily accumulated it, and to-day has one of the nicest properties to be found in many a long day's journey. There is money to be made, but only by intelligent farming; this calling must keep pace with progress in other walks of the industrial world, or at once fail to keep on the farm the best men we have.
All biographies are from Book of Biographies - Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Cortland County, NY
Biographical Publishing Company - Buffalo, NY - 1898
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