The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1912-03-15
lack mIlLeR'S ROMANCE
SHATTERED " CITY


lack T. Miller, who has made fame
and fortune as one Of the proprie-
tors Of the great 10l Ranch show.
Ponca City, Oklahoma, Feb. 1912
Back Of the almost simultaneous fl
Back of the almost Simultaneous fl
ing Of petitions for divorce by both
Mr.. and Mrs. Zack T. Miller lies a
romance OF the wholesome western
plains, whose craft of JOY has been
wrecked upon the perilous shoals Of
show life in distant cities. II is the
story of a man and a girl, born and
reared on the prairies, who married
and might have lived happily ever
afterward but for the lights and al
lurments of the great centers of pop
ulation. The Millers we're from Ken
lucky the brothers having been rear
ed at Crab Orchard.
Those who at any time for several
years up to the summer of 1909 have
witnessed the street parade Of the
1O1 Ranch Wild West show may re-
call an unusually pretty young wo-
man attired in a cowgirl habit Of
purple velvet, mounted upon the fin
est horse in the procession, her sad
die and bride respondent in gold
and silver embellishments. That
picturesque figure was Mrs. Mabel
Pettyjohn Miller, now suing Zack
Miller for divorce at Oklahoma City
and being sued by him at Newkirk.
She could ride fast and shoot
straight, as her exploits in the show
arena proved to delighted thousands
II was the allurement Of the life in
cident to the Wild West show, aver
the attaches Of Millers famous 101
Ranch, a few miles southwest Of this
city. that broke up the happy home
of Zack Miller and his wife.
Mr.. Miller has taken their only
child, a girl of four years, to his rela
tives in Kansas City. In this petit
ION he charges his wife with mf,-
conduct, habitual intemperance and
extreme cruelty to the child.
Mrs. Miller who has gone to live
in Oklahoma City,. alleges that her
husband threatened to take her life,
and that he drank habitually. She
asks for alimony in the sum Of $3.50
a month pending the division Of her
husbands estate, which she says is
worth $4,000, and for attorneys
fees of $4,000.
After leaving Kentucky lack Mil
Ter grew up on his fathers ranch,
one Of the largest in the United
States.
From his early boyhood he was
familiar with the great cattle round
up, the herding and roping of steers
and all the duties of cowboy life
from the standpoint Of the landed
son.
He loved the life. His Injuries
were those of the well-to-do cattle
men-boots at $25 a pair, a SOM
brero at SIS, set of spurs at $50
a bride at 800 and a saddle a,
$3.50.
He expected to spend his whole
life on the big ranch. which
for miles along the Salt
fork of the Arkansas river, where his
brothers, George and j. c. Miller,
joined with him in growing ali kinds
Of grain.
The little town of Red Rock.
few miles south of the No. l0l
Eanch honse. les in what used to he
the Otoe and Missouri Indian reser
walton. Thee was one hotel in the
tcwn, owner by g. ". Pettyjohn.
lack Miller had gnowu little Mabel
Pettyjohn, Il pretty girl IN short
dresses.
When he began passing much of
his time at Red Rock, about seven
years ago, bartering with the horse
men and cattiemen coming up from
Texas with stock to sell, he boarded
at the Pettyjohn hostelry. The Pet
tyjohn girl had grown to be a beau
tiful young woman. Sc, like Mr.. Mil
Ter, loved horses and passed much
Of her time IN the saddle. She vas
the idol of all the humble cowboys,
and even of some of the Indian
youths, who dared to look at her
only from afar. lack Miller, who
gave promise Of being a confirmed
bachelor, fell in love with Mabel Pet
tyjom and married her.
The couple went TO live in the big
ranch house. About that time the
No. l01 Ranch Wild West show was
being organized and young Mrs. Mil
Ter passed much time on horseback
witnessing the rehearsals and TAX
ing part in them.
Va.l- Al.ll.. Il l.