The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-09-04

THE MILLER HOMES FAD YIN ELM
the second woman to graduate from
Colby College and she has recently
been appointed a trustee of her alma
mater.=the first woman trustee of
whom Colby has ever boosted. Mrs.
Coburn's second daughter. Frances
Coburn Pepper, has made her home in
Concord, Mass, since her marriage to
Charles II. Pepper Grace Coburn
Smith. her youngest daughter is also
identified with Skowhegan life. al
though living part OF the year in
Washirgton being the wife of George
Otis Smith. director OF the United
States Geological Survey.
Helen Miller Coburn's son, Charles
Coburn. the last to carry the Coburn
name, met an accidental death soon
after he graduated from Colby Col
lege Words of too high praise can
not be said of him, and his sad pass
ing away was deeply mourned by
everyone who knew him.
The first son born to Rev. and Mrs.
Charles Miller bore his fathers name.
He is best remembered for his excel
lent service during the Civil War for,
while his title was that OF Major his
credit was that of a worthy and re-
spected leader of his men. He died
in 1877, after holding office in Ala
bama.
Elizabeth Miller, Father Miller's
youngest daughter, always made
Skowhegan her home. She was an
able teacher and at the time when
Stephen Fletcher was principal of
Bloomfield Academy (which has since
become known as Skowhegan High
SCHOOL,. she was preceptress in the
same institution Some years later
she served in the school board. and
was the helpful friends of scholars
and teachers alike.
Mr. G. Davis Miller. by whose name
we designate this old homestead, is
the Youngest and the only surviving
child of Rev. and Mrs. Charles Mil
Ter. Like other lifelong residents of
spected, and highly esteemed. For
twenty years he was on the post office
force, the first eight of which he serv
ed as clerk and the last twelve as
postmaster. In 1871 he was married
to Arazne r. Pratt of Newport. Mrs.
Miller was formerly teacher, but at
the time of her marriage, she was
conducting an extensive business in
dress and cloak making. Mr.. Miller
like his father, is a lover of the out
door world, and lie now devotes a
large share of his time in working
on his farm,-a snail farm of about
thirty acres which used to be a part
of the Neal property
But what change has time wrought
upon the buildings? 1t was about
siXty-five years ago that Father Mil
Ter bought his home of Greeneaf
White. son of former Judge White of
this town At that time the appear
ance of the buildings was about as
the accompanying picture shows. To-
day it is with difficulty that SEM
blance of the oldtime picture can be
! traced. A cool, inviting porch now
extends across the front of the house
and the stable has not only been en-
larged, but twice it has been moved
! Several thousand loads of stone and
dirt have made of the rough and
homely dooryard of yesterday, the
smooth and attractive lawn of today.
and the driveway is now on the ops
posite side from that which it used to
! claim. The large willow trees that
make such a beautiful background
for the house and stable. were but
tiny sticks when they were placed in
the bank of the river to prevent the
earth from too rapidly crumbling
away About fifteen years ago Mr..
Miller built, as reinforcement for
these trees, a strong wall of cemented
stone, and now the river may tug