Millersburg, Indiana

There are few individuals now living within the corporate limits of Clinton township, or, indeed, the county of Elkhart, who have contributed more toward its prosperity and progress than Solomon Miller, who settled in this township iu 18i2, one year later locating on the site of what is now the fiuurisiiing city of Millersburg. During the winter of 1S55 he conceived the idea of a town that would answer the ]'>urpose of diverting trade from some of the country towns, as Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, etc. He was at the time the owner of 1(30 acres, all of which is now comprised within the corporate limits of Millersburg, in the southwest quarter of section Si. Tlie town was platted by Mr. Miller, and surveyed by J. R. McCoi-d, wiio for many years was county surveyor. Streets were laid out and names given to them, as Walnut, Cook, Clinton and Jefferson.

Passage source: History of Elkhart County, Indiana : Together with Sketches of Its Cities ... and Biographies of Representative Citizens : History of Indiana, Embracing Accounts of the Pre-historic Races .., published 1881.

James C. Miller, son of Solomon Miller (from whom this sketch is obtained), erected the first building, a small but neat frame dwelling-house, in what is termed the original town of Millersburg. Additions have been made by others as the town grew in importance. David Eld ridge built the second residence in the place, and the first store. He is described as a soznewhat eccentric genius, who opened out with a limited stock of dry-goods and groceries. On one occasion a customer wishing to purchase twenty yards of muslin was firmly but respectfully declined, on the plea of limited stock and an unwillingness to be the proprietor of an empty store. "Wm. A. Potter was the successor of the above gentleman in the mercantile line, and succeeded, transacting a somewhat lucrative business, and added somewhat to the appearance of their infant village by the erection of what might be termed au eight-square building, to which he afterward transferred his stock. The railway projected in 1S55, known a.- the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Air-Line, aud completed in lSo6, was the means of a large increase in population: and mechanics, business men and farmers became eager purchasers of town lots, some of which were sold by the fortunate owner for almost fabulous sums. Considerable building was carried forward prior to the war; but when armed treason had been trampled into the dnst by the loyal people of the North, when victory wore a garland of peace tliroughout the lengtli and breadth of the land, the now noticeable town had gained some commercial importance that caused a feeling of uneasiness to pervade the inkabitpnts of other inland towns whose birtii dated back a score of years or more previous. A temporary depot for the accommodation of the traveling public was built in 1837 or 185S, which served the purpose of freight and passenger traffic until 1878, when the present depot, constructed after a more modern style, became a source of creditable ]3ride to the worthy people of Millersbnrg.

Passage source: History of Elkhart County, Indiana : Together with Sketches of Its Cities ... and Biographies of Representative Citizens : History of Indiana, Embracing Accounts of the Pre-historic Races .., published 1881.

W. H. Kiblinger &Co. is a firm that commands the confidence of the people whose trade center is at Millersburg, and we accordingly speak of it. The firm is composed of father and son, though the junior member is senior in point of age. The origin of the business dates back to nine years ago, the firm style then being P. F. Kiblinger. "W. H. Kiblinger afterward became sole proprietor, and subsequently a In-other, J. W. Kiblinger, became a partner. Last fall he retired from the firm, and P. F. Kiblinger again became connected with the business, really in name alone, however, for he is interested in the introduction of a patent eaves-trough, and the management of the business naturally rests with his son, who is a business man by training and experience; was for three years bookkeeper in a large book and publishing house of Chicago, and since locating here he finds his time well occupied. The firm is the only one in the village which does a hardware, stove, tinware and agricultiiral implement trade. They have a well-stocked establishment, too. Mr. Kiblinger, Sr., is a native of Virginia, and 28 years ago located in Lagrange county, this State, from there removing here. "While not among the oldest residents of this immediate iocalit}', both father and son are to be spoken of as progressive business men, and so we make this mention.

Passage source: History of Elkhart County, Indiana : Together with Sketches of Its Cities ... and Biographies of Representative Citizens : History of Indiana, Embracing Accounts of the Pre-historic Races .., published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Clinton Township - it names this place 1 more 1 time.