The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-07-04
HISTORIC nth OF JULYS
PIONEER CELEBRATIONS
early Settlers and Sioux indians Join i'm
Il Noise and Patriotism.

Gf dITlNcu d loSl VI lNSS llciSiiIo
people joined the throng."
This celebration was held in a
wigwam erected in South Miller.
Major A. G.. Kellam, Of Chamber
lain, was speaker of the day.
The music was furnished by dou-
BILE male quartette and the Miller
band. The quartetteS were compoS-
of Edward, Thomas, William, and
Dick William, brothers, and J. II.
Wcscott, w. Fl. Kephart, J. 2. Cut
ting and Chas. Dixon. None Of
these are now residents. Dick Will
Jams visited here this summer.
Henry Miller, founder of the town
made the address of welcome.
The afternoon was devoted to
foot racing, horse racing, dancing
and various sports. The game of
ball between Miller and Rec Heights
stood to in favor Of Miller. In
the evening the people were treated
to a magnificent display of fireworks
costing nearly $50"
lSS4-With Sioux Indians
Our fourth-the biggest celebra-
ton in Southern Dakota -342 Indians
once more camp on their favorite
hunting grounds Mitchell and Kim
ball advertised White Ghost, and
Miller got him."
This was the heading over the 4th
of July article in the PRESS in 1884.
when Miller invited 40 Sioux Indians
to help celebrate. The result was a
horde of bucks, squaws, papooses,-
dogs, fees, ETC., came swarming into
town to help celebrate, and butcher
a couple of promised beeves. .-- -.
Major Ledwich was orator of the
day. The old Sioux Chief White
Ghost, also made a speech, which
was interpreted, as did Running
Bear and the Sioux chief of police.
About 2 p. m. the vast concourse
of people assembled at the Indian
camp west of town, where over 100
tepees were pitched on a horse shoe
shaped embankment. Men, women,
and children were carried away with
delight. 1t was indeed an imposing
scene to behold thousands of white
people dressed in the newest fashions
of the day, gazing in wonder at the
antics of the remnent of mighty
nation of wild men that formerly oc-
cupied the entire western hemi-
spher.
One of the incidents of this 4th
was a scare of an Indian uprising.
This dispatch appeared in the Chi
cago Times:
Huron, Oak. July 3, 1884. Alb
out 800 Indians were seen in Hand
county last night. The people were
frightened. Gen. Terry was tele-
graphed to for troops for fear of an
outbreak, He answered that the
Indians were only going to Miller to
celebrate the 4th.
Assessor j. II. Warke made these
figures on that day:
There were in Miller 513 wagons,
80 buggies. % OK teams, and 1867
people. 1t is estimated that the
Indians left $1,000 in Miller at the
stores.
Last Saturday Henry l.. Rector
proved up on his government land
before county Judge Payne. in the
tepee of White Ghost just west of
town, on NW4 33-116-69."
Among incidents recorded IN those
history making days was birth of
an Indian papoose on the lot back of
the old Beasom hardware store, now
occupied by the Masonic Temple
building.
In 1886 the Indians were again
invited and 800 of them poured into
the town. They remained for cir
Gus on July 6. to which they were
admitted for half price. If there is
anything that will cause the Ameri-
can Indian to lay aside his stoicism
it is a circus. They actually talked,
laughed and made signs about the
wonderful feats performed.