The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-02-18

uSudl dCblNiUN, soon m;lue IL one OF
the finest 500 acre farms i'm Benton
county, Iowa, with over 60 acres of
artificial groves, lanes, hedges, etc.
He took quite an interest in educa-
tional matters, and in 1868 was one
OF the projectors in building, and a
trustee of the Blairstown academy,
where multituhes have gained an ed
ucatiOn. He became it's sole proprie-
tor at one time to keep it from pass
ing out of the sphere for which twas
built. In 1868 he built and operated
the first grain warehouse and lumber
yard III Blailstown. When the Pa
irons OF Husbandry was first organ
lied in 1871 he became one Of the
charter members, and trustee of II
firm elevator store, which they run
for IL number of years at Il good
profit to the farmers.
He Joined the Evangelical church in
1870, and was class leader and super
intendent for a number o. years. Al
ways sympathetic, no needy ever
came to him without receiving aid.
To him and wife were born eleven
children, four OF whom are dead. The
living are III. b. Miller, the oldest
son, Il farmer residing at Blairstown,
f. j., j. d., Charles, II. NJ, Mrs. Car
RE Coquillette, and Edward, all re-
siding in Miller, where the family has
resided since the first settlements.
HIS OWN RECORD.
To the above we are permitted to
add the following diary record in
Mr.. Miller's own handwriting:
st was on July 10, 1891, that
Henry Miller and his son Eudell j..
Miller, in prospecting for a sulta bic
country to make settlement in, while
travelling westward by team along
the line of the Chicago & Northwest
ern railroad, came to where the pres
ent Miller now stands. Being well
pleased with the country they made
claim to the southeast quarter OF
section 10, township 112, range 6S,
also the northeast quarter OF section
-, same twp and range.
But not being ready at that time
to make any permanent improve
ments, and for the further reason
that the land was not yet on the
market, we concluded that the
railroad company might grant sps-
cial rates to settlers who would move
here and improve the land along the
line OF their road, for at that time
the company received nothing local
ly west of Huron until they reached
Pierre, u distance OF 40 miles. The
only settlers being II family located
at intervals of L miles, at that time
called Sidings, and instead of being
named, they were numbered. No. /
| was located about one mile east OF
where Wolsey stands, No. : at IVES
sington, No. , one-hali mile east OF
st. Lawrence, No. + at Rec Heights.
These families were sent out by the
company, the husband being section
foreman, to keep the track in repair.
These are the facts which caused the
claimants spoken OF above to com,
municate with the Northwestern Off
cials and make Il proposition to
locate a town here, bring in immi,
grants, settle and improve this cOuu-
ty, &c. if they would give settlers a
very low rate"
AZ later history records this was
carried out, the result being the set
Element OF Hand county, with the
town of Miller as it's capital, through
the efforts of Mr.. Miller and his sons.
In addition to the aged companion,
who has Travelled with him through
the Journey of life, and their children,
to mourn the loss of husband and
father, he also has a brotherin Iowa,
and a brother and sister in California.
Funeral services were conducted
Yesterday, Wednesday, at the Evan
gelical church by Rev. VIM. Bates,