Miller, Michael Haydon, 1960-

Willis Kise Miller (1867-1955) was the son of David Varner Miller and Verlinda Miller. He was born in Clermont, Indiana on a farm which later became the Indiana Girls' School. Miller operated several companies in the Indianapolis area, starting with a carpet business in the 1890s. He founded the Granite Sand and Gravel Company of Indianapolis in 1916 and was president of the company in the 1920s. Miller was also a principal shareholder in a health spa, Mudlavia Springs Inc., at Kramer, Indiana.

Isabelle Aurelia (Moore) Miller (1872-1965) was born on her father's farm in Wanamaker, Indiana. Her parents were Lucy Ann (Kitley) Moore and William Moore. She attended New Bethel Girls School, and graduated from Butler University as part of the first women's graduating class in 1894. She married Willis Kise Miller on 27 June 1900 in Wanamaker, Indiana. Herschel Miller, the only child of this union, was born on 5 February 1902.

Naturalist William Temple Hornaday was a stepbrother to David Varner Miller, Willis Kise Miller's father. Raised in Iowa, Hornaday studied taxidermy at Ward's Natural Science Establishment in Rochester, New York. In 1882 he was appointed chief taxidermist at the Smithsonian Institution. Hornaday was a prolific writer and an early spokesman for the wildlife conservation movement in America.

Isabelle and Willis K. Miller purchased the Benton House residence at 312 Downey Avenue in Irvington from Dr. Allen R. Benton in 1907. Dr. Benton was president of Butler University. Nicholas Ohmer built the home in 1873. The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana purchased Benton House from Herschel E. Miller in 1966 for $15,000.

From the description of Collection, 1834-2000. (Indiana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 51280808