The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-05-10
B. MILLER, PIONEER
ZIMMERMAN, Is DEAD
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF
THE MILLER LUMBER CO., 81
YEARS OF AGE, succUMBEo IN
KANSAS CITY.

.,
of the Miller Lumber Company of
Mariana, died Saturday ats his home
in Kansas City. His remains were
inferred at his old home at Poala,
Kansas, on Monday. Mr.. Miller came
to Mariana last September to spend
the winter with his two sons, Max
ID. and Tom j. In December he con-
tracted a severe cold that ran into
protracted siege of the grip and
kept Mr.. Miller confined to his room
and much Of the time to his bed dur
ing the winter ant spring. Several
weeks ago his condition became cTiti-
cal. Two weeks ago accompanied
by his wife and sou. Max ID. Miller.
he made the trip from Marianne 70
his home i'll Kansas City, where he
died ON last Saturday
Mr.. Miller came to America fron;
his native country, Germany, when
he was twelve years of age, and 10
Gated near Cincinnati, where he
learned the ,iade of carriage maker.
When he reached his majority he
went to Poala, Kansas, where he en-
barked in business for himself, man
ufacturing carriages AMI buggies.
When the Civil war came he enlist
ed In Kansas cavalry regiment and
served throughout the war, following
which he returned to paoia, where ne
continued in business until 1889.
when he came to Mariana aud pur-
chased an interest in small saw
mill plant owned by j. P. Dunham
Later the plant was enlarged, stock
citizens and the name was changed
to the L'Anguille Lumber Company
Mr.. Miller became the directing head
of the business which passed through
number of lean years. During the
stringent period from 1890 to 1895,
embracing the panic of 1893, Mr..
Miller had hard time holding the
business intact. In earlier years he
had met Phil d. Armour, the great
packer, and the two had become
warm friends, and it is stated that
during the period of business depres-
sion Mr.. Miller received valuable
financial assistance from Mr.. Armour
that enabled him to pull the business
through.
After having successfully weather
ed the financial storm, Mr.. Miller be-
gan to enlarge the business of the
L'Anguille Lumber Company and dur
ing the next ten years the plant made
money and developed into one of
the largest pieces of mill property in
this part of the state. In 1907 the
name was changed to the Miller Lum-
ber Company, with B. Miller as presi-
dent; Max d. Miller as vice president
and general manager, and G. N.
Houck as secretary-treasurer. A re-
tail department was added and the
capacity of the plant increased, thous-
ands of acres of valuable timber
lands were acquired and box fact
ory was installed. Since then the
company has had remarkably sue
cessful career and is now by far the
largest lumber manufacturing plant
in Eastern Arkansas.
In 1902 B. Miller moved to Kansas
City, and at that time he gave up
the active management of the bust
ness, turning it over to his son, Max
D. Miller, although the senior Miller
continued as president and advisor up
to the time of his deaht.
Ten or twelve years ago Mr.. Miller
purchased large timber tracts In
Eastern Oklahoma, built thriving
town called Millerton on the Frisco
railroad and at the time of his death
was heavily interested In the Okla
homa property. which is under the
management of his son. A. T. Miller.
Mr.. Miller is survived by his wife,
four sons, Ben Miller. Jr, of Idabel.
Okla, Max ID. Miller and Tom ].
Miller of Mariana; and A. T. Miller
of Millerton, Okla; also by three
daughters, Mrs. X. K. Shofstall Oh
Kansas City: Mrs. p. III. Rollert OF
Kansas City; and Mrs. Jno. Fl. Ryan
OF Millerton, Okla.