Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-09-29
MEManA


1918 the estate paid $2,500000 to the federal gov
ernment under protest; the remainder of the fed
eral claim is still in contest. compromise was
effected by the estate with the state of California
by the payment of approximately $2,OO0,O0O.
Of late there has been a strong popular demand
for the breaking up of the vast acreage. 1t was
in response to this demand and also because of
difficulties of management that order of sale
has been made by the management of the estate.
The big tracts will be cut up into parcels of 20
acres and up. One of the biggest of the holdings
contains about $4,000 acres; it is 54mile
stretch along the San Joaquin from MADEIRA north.
The ButtonwfllOw ranch near Bakersfield contains
$4,000 acres, Of which $4,000 acres under
cultivation. There 10000 acres of orchards in
the Santa Clara valley.
Henry Mlers will was drawn for the future;
the real distribution of the estate will not take
place until the death of his three grandchildren,
Beatrice, George and Leroy Nickel. The latter,
the youngest, recently graduated from college.
The immediate life estate in the trust went to
Mrs. Nickel and her husband, who has taken a
leading hand in the management since Miller's
DEATH They to share and share alike, after
paying $255,O00 in bequests to surviving relatives
of Miller and his wife and $4,000 to employees.
Immediate bequests to charity included fund of
$4,000, the proceeds of which were TO be dis
tributed on Christmas TO the poor of Gilroy and
similar fund of $4,000 for Mers native village
of Brackenheim and $4,000 to the San Francisco
Home for Incurabies. Fifty thousand dollars is
to go to San Francisco charities the death Of
]. Leroy Nickel
Upon the death of the three grandchildren, the
trust is to be dissolved, new distribution among
heirs will take place, and bequests of $4,000 to Las
Animas hospital, Gilroy, and $500,000 for medical
research will go into effect.
Incidentally, the Lux school for girls in San
Francisco was founded under a bequest in the
will of Miranda Lux.
Like many autocratic Henry Miller was
generous. Every ranch had these orders Feed
any hungry man who comes along, and ask no
questions. Any stranger arriving at night shall
have food and lodging for himself, and feed and
stable for his horse, without charge. Anyone
needing meat is welcome to kill calf or sheep,
provided it is for his own use and is not to be
sold"
Many interesting stories told of Henry Mil
Ier The New York World Magazine gives the fol-
lowing excerpts from his letters to ranch fore
men:
"I can stand severe losses where unavoidable,
but losses due to carelessness and nattention are
unbearable."
"Always compare costs with results"
Comfort is necessary as feed for stock"
"a man can't do justice to his employer an
empty stomach
There Is q class of people not made to be
prosperous The instant they have jingle in
their pockets or dollars credit, they are ruined
and lose their bearings.
There is hope for a drunkard, but none for q
lazy, slovenly man."
The New York Times gives this story of Henry
Miller, which would seem to indicate that he had
lively sense of humor.
In the Pacheco pass a Mexican whom Miller
knew took 5000 from him at the point of revol-
yer. The ranchman gave up the money willingly
but pointed out to the Mexican that he was q
long way from home and would need little for
travelling expenses. Would the rObber lend him
$40 The bandit handed a double eagle
Three years later Miller met the Mexican in town
stopped him on the street. and handed him $40
II owe you that" he said. 81 borrowed 1t from
you three years ago!"
Whatever may be said of the methods of this
German butcher boy immigrant in acquiring land
and water rights and of his ambitions contrary tO
public policy, it cannot be denied that he achieved
fame that will last long time in California
In fact, with the functionng Of his charitable be
quests half a century from now, it looks if the
name Of Henry Miller will never be forgotten.