Obituary of David Franklin Miller, Tensas Parish, Louisiana
From The Tensas Gazette, August 22, 1941, written by Mr. Josiah P. Scott
Transcribed, as written, and submitted by Edith Ziegler

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


Another Solid Citizen of Tensas Parish Goes To His Reward
     From month to month, almost from week to week, the Grim Visitor
makes his unwelcome appearance in our parish and takes from us another
of our best citizens. The shock of one loss is still felt ere another
is dealt us. Today it is our sorrowful duty to chronicle the passing
of one of the landmarks and solid supports of Tensas parish-David
Franklin Miller. age practically 61 years, native of Tensas parish and
scion of one of our oldest and best families, truly a man without fear
and withour reproach. Self-made from the ground up he made his mark in
life through his own indefatigable efforts, never knowing the word "quit"
and always playing the game fair, taking with a smile whatever the fates
gave him. Beginning at the bottom of the ladder, by the strength of his
own will power, unusual intelligence and executive ability and perse-
verance that knew no relax, David Miller built up a home and leadership
second to none in the parish, despite afflictions of the body that would
have discouraged, yea paralyzed, the spirit of many another. The iron 
will that marked his life left the impress of his personality wherever
he labored, and thus in passing David Miller has left "footprints on the
sands of time." as inspiration to those that follow to ever press onward.
     Words cannot express the grief that passed over Tensas parish when
the news of Mr. Miller's death became known. His funeral at Natchez, Monday, 
was certainly one of the largest ever coming from Tensas, a parish noted for
its loyalty to its dead. Scarcely a home was unrepresented, the attend-
ance including nearly all colored tenants of deceased's large holdings,
who loved him as master, friend and counsellor, nearly all being with
him for years. The floral offerings were perhaps the largest seen in
years at one funeral, the multiplicity of orders exhausting the florists'
stocks, and requiring several trucks to handle, the cards acompanying
exceeding ten score. Many belated orders for flowers could not be filled
and donors, in lieu thereof, made cash contributions to charity in
"Memory of D.F. Miller" as evidenced by acknowledgement to the family of
recipient institutions.
     Automobiles, parked four tier, utterly blocked Wall and State streets,
the procession en route to the cemetery lengthening a full mile. At the
City of the Dead the assemblage, numbering certainly several hundred,
showed a gathering of Tensas people in that beautiful and sacred place
unexceeded by any similar occasion, each face depicting sorrow. Several
score telegrams from far and wide have come to the family, expressing
sympathy.
     David Franklin Miller was the son and grandson of Louisiana plant-
ers, and his own life, from early youth, was identified with the same
business. Stock raiser and stock dealer as well as cotton planter, his
notable success was due to habits of thrift, industry and concentration.
     Mr. Miller was born on the Highland plantation, in Tensas parish,
Septemer 5, 1880. His grandfather was David F. Miller, who was born at
Point Pleasant, in Concordia parish, and spent his long and active
career as a cotton planter. David Franklin Miller, son of David Drake
and Rachel Ulrich Miller, was only three years old when his mother died.
She was a native of Pennsylvania and came of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry,
David Drake Miller was born in Concordia parish in 1842 and died in 1918.
He served four years as a soldier in the Confederate army, being dis-
charged at close of the hostilities with the rank of Lieutenant. As a
young man he settled on Highland Plantation, and was a well known citi-
zen in Tensas parish. He had fine business qualifications, and was int-
erested in public affairs, serving as a member of the Episcopal Church,
His second wife(now deceased) was Rosie Johnston, who,following the death
of her husband, spent the latter years of her life in New Orleans,
     David Franklin Miller was the youngest of his mother's children.
He is survived by on brother, John Ulrich Miller, popular traveling 
salesman out of Natchez, and four sisters, Mrs. Chas Frierson, of Amite,
La., Miss Mamie Miller and Mrs Annie Miller Watson, relict of the late
Mr. S. Dalton Watson, both of Tensas parish, and Mrs. Camille Roark of
New Orleans. 
     Deceased grew up in Tensas parish, attending the public school at
Waterproof, and his education was acquired as a result of his resolution 
to prepare himself well for life, and he contrived many of his school
opportunities. He attended Chamberlain-Hunt Academy at Port Gibson, Miss.,
for three years. At the age of 18, his father place him in charge of
Richland plantation. Practising self-denial he saved almost his entire
salary for several years, in time acquiring the property, and adding to
the holding until he finally became on of the largest taxpayers in Tensas
parish.
     Mr. Miller was ever deeply interested in education, never forgetful
of his own bitter struggle to fit himself for the battle of life. For a
short period he was a member of the police jury of Tensas parish, repres-
enting the Seventh Ward, and except for that time has been constantly a 
member of the School Board of the parish for thirty years, serving as
president for 20 years.
     On September 6, 1904, Mr. Miller married Miss Emily Maher, daughter
of Mrs. Fred J. Maher and Mrs. Emily Lyle Maher, of Natchez, both now
deceased. This union was blessed with eleven children-all bright and 
promising, and ever devoted to their parents.