Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-07-22

$500. am glad of it. They did we'll
by me-"
Still her troubles were not over, even
though cash became more plentiful. She
accepted an offer of $500 cash for one
of her lots-the one where D. r. Smiths
store is-and at once began work on
foundation for a building that was
planned to be the best in town. The
railroad hal come in November, and
the right of way had taken part of her
claim. TLen street was laid out next
to the right Of way, and thus Mrs. Mil
.er's plot was reduced to fifty feet in
depth. This had been a benefit, how
ever, for it made possible the building of
a structure facing three streets on what
were now plainly seen to be the most i'm
portant corners of the new city. The
growth of Creole at that time can be ap-
preciated only by those who saw oil-well
towns spring up in Pennsylvania, the
rush in Oklahoma, or some such enter
prise. People were coming into camp
by the hundred every day, and the rush
for lots to build on was indescribable.
No sooner did Mrs. Miller tear away
a foundation for the new business block
than jumper, with a lawyer, came to
bluff her out of her property. To give
an idea of this woman's character let it
be said that she asked the reporter lot to
mention the jumpers name.
81 beat him; that's enough" she said.
This is how she beat him:
The man with his shyster told her he
had purchased the lots of the town COM
pany, and that she was only a squatter
and must vacate. She said she would do
nothing of the kind. She knew her
rights, and would stand by them. The
man said he would bring workmen, and
begin building. Mrs. Miller deied him.
He came, however, as he had said he
would, and the supreme moment of Mrs.
Mlller's career in Creole was at hand.
AS the man and his shyster and men with
picks and axes appeared, Mrs. Miller
walked out with her boy by her side, and
a revolver in her hand.
81 will blow the brains out of the first
man that puts a pick in that founda-
tion," she said in a voice heard block
away. The shyster began to parley and
the man ordered his workmen to begin
work. A great crowd, hundreds, gath
cred instantly, for it was wild time in
Creole then, and call tor trouble
brought the throng as if by magic.
AS Mrs. Miller showed the revolver
the workmen hesitated, and for brief
moment there was pause, while men
of all social grades looked on in silence.
The workmen were again ordered to pro-
coed, and again they hesitated under the
muzzle of the revolver. Then came the
end. Some one in the crowd shouted.
''Mrs. Miller has fed many man
when he was broke, and never asked him
s. cent. Let's duck the jumpers il the
creek"
A howl of approval arose in answer,
and the jumpers made haste to slip
through the crowd and sneak away.
Mrs. Miller had an offer of $4,000 cash
in February for two of the lots which
she had held to with the aid of her re-
volver-there is no doubt about the aid
of the revolver; any man who looks into
her laughing gray eyes sees the will be-
hind them when it is aroused-and she
sold them at once. She had now money
enough to go on with her building. The
work began the first week in March, and
on April LIST she began to draw $500
month in advance from the rentals.
The building is fifty feet square, and,
as said, fronts on three streets. It is
neat frame structure, two stories high,
with lofty ceilings, large windows, two
large rooms ON the first floor, and
broad, easy stairway leading to the
second floor, where there is wide hall
and nine large well-lighted offices. It is
much the best building in town at this
writing. The total cost was $4,000.
Mrs. Reid Miller, on April 1, 1891,
reached Creole too poor to pay the
freighter who brought her here. In
exactly one year to day she was in re-
ceipt of an income of $500 month and
had snug sum in bank. But the story
is not all told. She might have had
greater income, but deliberately refused
it. As her building approached compile
ton, President McDonough of the First
National Bank offered her $3.50 a month
for the corner room on the first floor for
the use of the bank. While she con-
sidered the offer a man came and offered
her $3.50 month for the same room,
that he might open a gambling resort
there. Mrs. Miller refused the gamblers
offer because she thought that respect"
able business would in the end prove the
most satisfactory.
This is not all of Mrs. Miller's prop
erty. Along in February the State Land
Commissioners sold half section of land
Creole on the south for the