The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-11-10
JOAQUIN MILLER IS
70 YEARS OLD TODAY
Noted Poet of Sierras Quiet
" Celebrated His Birth
day Anniversary.

OAKLAND, Cal, Nov. 1O.-Receiv.
ing congratulations from distinguish
ed friends in this country, and also
from abroad, Joaquin Miller. the Poet
of the Sierras." quietly celebrated his
seventeen birthday anniversary today.
Notwithstanding his advanced years
the poet Is still enjoying good health
and Is mentally fresh aud full Of en-
ergy.
Cincinnatus Heine Miller was the
name which the poet received in bap-
tism shortly after the day of his birth,
November 10, 1841, and under this
name was he known before he assum-
ed the pen-namc of joaquin" Miller
at the beginning OF his literary career.
In the three-scOre and ten years OF his
life Miller has crowded greater num-
Der of adventures and experiences
than half dozen average men OF the
same age could master in the aggre-
gate.
He was born from Scotch-American
parents in the Wabash district of In
diana and was scarcely ten years Ola
when his father emigrated to Oregon,
then wild and sparsely settled cOun-
try. He received but little education.
but became thoroughly acquainted
with everything pertaining to wood
craft and the adventurous life of the
trappers, hunters and prOspectOrs in
years old when he left home to try
his fortunes in California.
For seven years he aimlessly roam
cd through the wilds of Northern Cali
fornia and Southern Oregon, sharing
the life and dangers of gold-diggers,
lumbermen and trappers and finally
casting his lot with a tribe of Indians,
becoming a "Squawman" and losing
caste with the white men altogether
by this step. He was treated with
contempt, like all "squaw-men' and re-
taliated by leading the Indians in their
attacks upon the white settlers.
After seven years of this life young
Miller returned to his home in Oregon
and began to study law in the office
of George II. Williams at Eugene, Ore
gon, who afterward became attorney
general of the United States. The fol-
lowing year Miller became express
messenger in the gold-mining districts
OF Idaho, which position he resigned
to become the editor of a weekly news
paper in Eugene, Oregon. The paper
was shortly afterwards suppressed by
the authorities because of the sediti-
Gus character of it's editorials.
1t was while he was editor Of that
paper that Miller became acquainted
with Minnie Myrtle" frequent con-
tributor of poetry to the paper. A
marriage and two children were the
result OF that union. Their married
life was not happy. however. His wife
soon separated from Miller and took
the youngest child. a boy, with her,
while the daughter. Maud Miller, in
later years well known as an actress,
remained with her father.
In 1868 Miller opened a law office
In Canon City, Oregon. While living
In that young and struggling town he
distinguished himself by leading an
expedition against the hostile Indians,
who had attacked the settlement. In
1866 Miller was made county Judge
OF Grant county, which post he held
until 1870. His literary activity be-
gan about 1864 or 1865. He began to
write poems. dealing mostly with the
adventurous life OF the West and pub
lished first a collection OF poems in pa
per covers, callen "Specimens" and
next a volume with the title joaquin
ct at" wrich contained defense OF
Joaquin Murietta. the famous Span
ish-American outlaw, who had been
the terror Of California for ten years.
From this Miller took his pen name
joaquin" under which he published
oil his subsequent works.
In 1870 Miller went to London