Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-09-02
DEATH OF JOHN MILLER
For Fifty Years A Prominent Con.
tractor and Builder of Wausau

On Wednesday, August 9th, 1913,
John Miller passed away at his home
in this city, after an extended illness.
For week past at times he had been
very close to Deaths door. To his
relatives and friends, his condition
was known, but TO the many who
knew MIN more especially in business
affairs, his death came as a shock.
Nearly 90 years of his life had been
spent In Wausau and during that
time he had followed the business of
contractor and builder and under
his supervision many of the city's best
homes and public buildings had been
erected. Practically all of our city
school buildings, our handsome court
house, the present county Jail and old
city hall, public library, Wisconsin
Valley Trust building, Geo. Ruder Co.
brewery. water works building, Althen
store, Livingston store, additions to
the Hotel Bells, Barteld building
now the Wausau Business college
the Ruder store building and many
ohers. Besides at Marathon City, a
public and parochial school
building, at Amigo and Kau-
kauna each a public school,
and public schools at Menasha
and Eagle River. His fastest
building and which he said was
his last, as he desired to retire
from former activity in that line,
was the model residence Of Mr.. and
Mrs. p. L. Goerling on Grant street.
He never took g, contract unless he
could erect the building strong and
durable and of an architecture which
would be credi5able to the owner and
its surroundings and the consequence
is that he had built up reputa tion
that was valuable asset to him in
his declining years. 1t was only neces-
sary to know that contract was in
the hands of John Miller to be as
sured that it would be carried out
faithfully and to the lester.
While his loss to his family, rela-
tives and friends as kind husband,
father and neighbor, brings inexpres-
sible sorrow, his loss to the commun-
ity as just, upright and progressive
citizen and an important factor in its
business interests, is irreparable.
Mr.. Miller, though attending strictly
to his affairs as a contractor and
builder, devoted his energies in other
directions, entering other lines of bus
mess, and never lost an opportunity
to enlist his efforts in any movement
which tended to the betterment and
upgrowth of his home city.
He was native of Germany, hav-
ing been born in the Province of
Hesse, Darmstadt, March 3, l843, he
was therefore 70 years of age on his
last birthday. There were four broth
ers, John, Conrad, Anton and Henry.
In 1854 their mother passed away
and in 1866 their father followed
and Mr.. Miller as a young man
served in the Prussian-AustrianI
war. All but Antonio came to
America in 1868. Deceased came
directly to Wausau and since, he has
ever been identified with this city
and prominent in its business, social
and political affairs. He had long
been prominent in Odd Fellowship
and valued member of the Wausau
Liederkranz and those civic societies
attended the last sad rites i'm body.
Previous to his coming to America,
in 1868, he was united in marriage to
Christina Dern and for fifty years
they have travelled down life's path
way together. She survives him as
also do four children, Mrs. Carl Merk-
lein, Misses Bertha and Aurora Mil
Ter, Wausau, and John Miller, Jr., of
Marshfield. There are also two grand
children.
The funeral services were held from
the home on Jackson street, Friday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. E. G.
Grauer, pastor of st. PauPs Evangeli-
cal church, officiating. They were
largely attended and beautiful flowers,
in profusion, were silent testimonials
of affection from neighbors and
friends. Interment vas in Pine
Cove cemetery. The pail bearers
Were old time friends and neighbors,
viz: Jacob Gensman, John Kiefer,
Gustav Mueller, John w. Miller,
Anton Mehl and William Garske.