From History of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Volume II, Publ. by The Western Historical Company 1881, Page 814-815

Rev. W. G. MILLER, D.D.  Among those identified with he past history of Methodism in Milwaukee, there is no more prominent figure than that of Dr. MILLER.  Entering the State at an early day, and becoming connected soon after with that church of which he was to be so shining a light, he was numbered among those early pastors whose labors in Milwaukee did so much to forward and build up the Church in this city.

Dr. MILLER was born in New York State, 1822.  Before he had reached the age of 18, he had become converted, and was licensed as an exhorter.  In 1844, he accompanied his parents to the West.  Their intention was to settle in Iowa, and in furtherance of this object, they landed in Racine, in June of that year, intending to pursue their journey overland from that place.  Having been induced to make a trip up through the Rock River Valley, the family were so well pleased with a site a few miles from Waupun, that their original intention was changed, and they became inhabitants of Wisconsin.  For a year after their settlement here, Mr. MILLER assisted in the operating of a sawmill, which his father had erected, and while at work carrying away lumber from the mill, he received a beseeching request that he would take the post of missionary to the Brothertown Indians, as the duly appointed missionary had been called away by family afflictions.  After some inward debate, the charge was accepted, and then commenced a ministry that continued in one unbroken stream until disease, brought on by overwork, broke its steady flow in 1874.  So successful was his work at this mission that, in the spring of 1845, Mr. MILLER was granted a local preacher's license, and at the Conference held in August of the same year, was assigned to the Green Lake Mission.  The succeeding year he was transferred to Watertown, where he remained two years.  January 4, 1847, Mr. MILLER was married, his bride being the eldest daughter of Dr. BOWMAN, of Waupun.  Three children, two girls and one boy, were the result of this union.  The eldest of the daughters was united in the bonds of marriage to Captain Frank P. LAWRENCE, in October, 1865.  In November, 1870, the second daughter, Laura Eunice MILLER, was given into the keeping of Jesse SMITH, of Fond du Lac.  In 1848, Mr. MILLER was stationed at Waukesha, coming to Milwaukee in 1850, where he was assigned to the Spring Street Station.  The next year found him assigned to the Fond du Lac District; 1855-6 found Mr. MILLER at Racine, followed by a two years' pastorate at Janesville.  In 1859, Mr. MILLER was assigned to the Milwaukee circuit, as Presiding Elder, and served in this position four years.  The latter part of this term included those terrible early years of the war, when every nerve was strained to send troops to the front.  Into this work Mr. MILLER threw all the time he could spare from his religious duties.  So earnest were his labors, that at one time it was proposed that a regiment should be organized among the churches, with Dr. MILLER as its Colonel.  It was thought best, however, not to create any regimental distinctions of that kind, and the proposed plan was carried no further.  In 1862 he was again appointed to the Spring Street Station, where he remained the full term of three years.  In 1865, Dr. MILLER was granted a six weeks' leave of absence to engage in the service of the Christian Commission.  He was assigned to duty at City Point, and along the lines.  Owing to the exposure, Dr. MILLER contracted a severe cold, which necessitated his withdrawal from the work.  The Conference of 1865 appointed him as Presiding Elder of the Fond du Lac District, where he served four years; 1869 found him settled at Ripon, for a two years' pastorate, at the conclusion of which term, he was assigned, for the third time, to the Spring Street church, in this city.  April, 1874, while in the act of delivering a sermon, Dr. MILLER was attacked with a nervous disorder.  Skillful medical treatment brought about a favorable turn to his disease, and his place was supplied until the assembling of the next Conference, when he was granted an interval of rest.  This was improved by Dr. MILLER in preparing for the press a work upon which he had been engaged, entitled.  "Thirty years  in the Itinerancy" which, together with a pamphlet published in 1873.  "Methodism in Milwaukee" furnish invaluable matter to the religious historian.  Aside from this, Dr. MILLER served for a time as corresponding editor to the Index and Northwestern Advance.  In 1879 Dr. MILLER removed to Nebraska, his present home being Utica, and his relation sustained with Methodism there.

Submitted by Carol