Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1892-02-11

MILLER'S DEAD.
W. II. Miller. Founder Of the Presy and
Noted Character Gives up
the Battle.
A North Hand County Man Found Dead
Alone In his Heuse--The
BODY Frozen.
Artesian Machinery Working 20 tap the
Flow Worlds Fair Day IN
ScheOls.
BILL MILLER DEAD.

4 A. 9 o'clock Wednesday morning Feb
ruary 10. 1892, the spark OF life fiickereil
out Of the mortal casket of william Henry.
fourth son of Henry and Nancy Miller.
after an illness OF several months. TIE
direct cause OF death being. as reported
To the PRESS, first mountain fever, fo :
lowed by heart trouble and pnenmonia.
He was born in Cedar county, Iowa. Aug.
4th, 1857, being "a years. fye months and
Il days old. His education was obtained
IN the public schools, Blairstnwn Acad-
emy and the State University at Iowa
City, where he graduated in the law de.
parment. He engaged in the practice Of
law for some years in Iowa and Texas,
and also in the merchanti.e business at
Audubon, Iowa. with his brother Z. j.,
until 1881, when they sold out aud began
pre- psratIons for the colonization of Hand
county, establishing the town Of Miller
in September 1881, of which deceased
was one Of the townsite owners, the first
postmaster, and a political leader.
On Jan. 4th, 1882. The HAND County
PRESS was issued by Henry Miller with
W. II. Miller the controlling spirit in its
business and editorial management, be-
ginning the hrst written history Of Hand
county, and portrayIng conditions of lIfe
In this portion Of the great American des-
ert, to which the ewes of the world
were at that time attracted. Soon aban-
doning newspaper work he engaged in the
varied Industries of land locating, real
estate. postmaster and at torney. fualiy
in 1886 condensing his energies into the
mercantile business, since which time,
associated with his brother L. J., he has
condu,ted general merchandise store.
In Nav 1884 he was married to Miss
Matte Barber, and to them have been
born three boys.
At time of death deceased was chair
man Of the township school board and
member Of the city council. He was a
member Of the l. .. o. +. aud Modern
Woodmen orders, Carrying $4,000 insur-
Ance in the latter.
Local history contains the name Of no
more prominent or peculiar character
than this many sided man. He was
among the 6rst white men TO set foot in
this section with intent to make It habit.
able for man, aud his name aud nc Is are
more unremitungly interwoven with the
superstructure OF Hand county's history
civil, political and inancial--than any
other individual, with possibly one, or
at most two, striking exceptions.
"Bilr Miller, rs usulllv cll,ed, was
one of the formost figures in about all
is sues and matters attracting public at
teution, the result Of an excIable tenn
perament. His impulsive, impetuous
nature frequently lead TO acts that candor
might condemn, but the faults, if such, of
this unique man grew but from false
premise, not corrupt or ungenerous
thought. His heart vas right, and when
his mind took counsel of hA heart, his
unseltish acts mirrored a generous nature,
kindly disposition, a desire for the BEN
eft of others than himself.
But death bequeaths TO oblivion the
frailties OF man, yelling with charity
whatever OF error might otherwise be re-
yealed to the eyes of fellow men looking
alone with sympathy's Kindly glance for
the nobler qualities Of character known
to exist. Death removes from this sphere
of action restless, energetic factor, ever
manifest in local affairs, with a prebabl-
ity that the place allotted him by the
historian viii never be exactly filed.
This summons Is not unexpected, as the
pam -racked body has lain for months the
unwilling csptor If a soul attuned for its
flight to that ~indowless home Of rest
where the sorrows and disappointments,
regrets and hopes Of material life are lost
in that vastness OF eternal peace-where
wiser than man sees the purities more
fully, and reokons the errors more Justly
whence also must come CLEANS of hops
and sunshine 10 pierce the dark clouds Of
gloom now lingering ever the lonely
home Of prostrated wife and three faith
erlsss babes, the bowed parents and sad.
dened brothers, TO whom the commu-
nity's sympathy pours out in unmeasured
volume.
The funeral services will be held Fri
day at one p. m. at the Presbyterian
church. conducted by Rev. Bowman, Rev.
Hoy assisting, and the remains are to be
buried in the I. o. o. F. cemetery. IN
der the auspices Of that order.
The city schools and business houses
will be closed during the services.