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ERNEST F. MILLER. One of the old and highly respected families of Jackson county, Illinois, members of which have distinguished themselves in business life and the professions for a number of years, is that of Miller, prominent members of which are found in Makanda, as representatives of the well-known banking firm of R. H. Miller & Son, of which R. H. Miller is president and Ernest F. Miller, cashier. Ernest F. Miller was born on a farm near the village of Makanda, December 19, 1881, and is a son of Robert H. and Mahala (Qakes) Miller, and a grandson of Alexander and Catherine (McMullough) Miller, the former of Scotch and the latter of Scotch-Irish descent.

Robert H. Miller was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 2, 1837, and was a lad of fifteen years when brought to Illinois. Here he was reared to agricultural pursuits, and on reaching manhood took up that vocation, which he followed for many years. He is now living on a farm near the old homestead, and his wife, a member of the old Qakes and Zimmerman families of Union and Jackson counties, also survives. They have had three children: Miss Hattie, Charles A., a well known physician of Macon; and Ernest F. Mr. Miller is a well-known Mason, has been interested in Republican politics, and is a member of the Presbyterian church, with which his wife is also connected. Both are well known and highly esteemed in their community.

Ernest F. Miller's early life was spent on his father's farm, and his early education secured in the public schools and McKendree and Ewing Colleges. On finishing his education, at the age of fifteen years, he entered the employ of the Jackson State Bank, of Carbondale, was later in the First National Bank of East St. Louis, and eventually became connected with the Diamond Joe line of steamers. Eventually he became paymaster of the Defiance Box Company, at Defiance, Ohio, but in 1905 resigned this position to engage in the banking business with his father, and this has demanded all of his attention to the present time. Although still a young man, Mr. Miller has been recognized as one of the Republican leaders of his section, and has served as president of the village board. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America, in both of which he is very popular, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which both he and his wife are active.

In 1907 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Venita Hall, daughter of J. C. Hall, of McLeansboro, and they have had one son, Frederick Eugene. During the time the business of R. H. Miller & Son has been operating in Makanda it has firmly established itself in the confidence of the people here, and it is considered one of the solid, substantial institutions of this part of the state. The elder Miller has always borne an unblemished reputation in all of his business dealings, and his son has inherited the same high principles that have made his father so

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highly respected. He has been ready at all times to aid by his means and enterprising spirit the building up of this part of Southern Illinois, and has many friends in both the business and social fields.