Eudell J. Miller Biography


	This biography appears on pages 873-874 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	EUDELL J. MILLER is a native of the state of Iowa, having been 
born on a farm in Cedar county, on the 15th of June, 1859, and being a 
son of Henry and Nancy Miller, the former of whom was born in the state 
of Ohio, April 11, 1825, and died February 15, 1897, and the latter 
born in Ohio, November 13, 1831, and died May 26, 1902. They were 
numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, being among the first settlers in 
Cedar county. William Miller, the grandfather, was one of the first 
county supervisors and came to Dakota territory in 1881. When the 
subject was a child of four years his parents removed to Benton county, 
Iowa, from Cedar county, that state, where he was reared to manhood, 
growing up under the sturdy training of the farm and securing his 
rudimentary education in the common schools of the locality. Later he 
was able to avail himself of the advantages afforded in the academy at 
Blairstown, that state, where he acquired an excellent practical 
education, coming forth well equipped for the active duties of life, 
while, like all persons of alert mentality and receptive powers, he has 
found each year of his life cumulative in educational discipline gained 
under the direction of that wise headmaster, experience. He continued 
to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1879, when, at the 
age of twenty years, he engaged in the furniture business in Audubon, 
Iowa, continuing this enterprise two years, at the expiration of which 
he disposed of his interests and came with his father, in July, 1881, 
to what is now Hand county, South Dakota, for the purpose of selecting 
a favorable location for a colony which had been organized in Audubon, 
Iowa. They made choice of the present site of the village of Miller, 
with its environs, and here, September 9, 1881, thirty-six claims were 
taken up by the members of the colony. At that time the prairie swept 
far and wide with no sign of improvement or civilization in this 
district, and the little colony formed the nucleus of a now prosperous 
and attractive farming section and of the fine little city of Miller, 
which dates its inception back to the year 1881. From a copy of the 
Miller Daily Press, published on the 19th of October, 1882, we find it 
interesting to make the following quotation: "How different does 
everything look in Hand county today from what it did one year ago. 
Then all was a blank for a distance of over one hundred miles; not a 
single farm house could be seen in the county and all was quiet as 
death. In one short year people from Iowa, Illinois and other eastern 
states have come to this county and have made for themselves beautiful 
homes. To the eastern farmer this will seem almost impossible, yet such 
is the case. Farm houses worth from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars can 
be seen in almost every direction; a small grove is started on nearly 
every farm, while in our towns, or rather cities - for they, three in 
number, are almost that - as large and commodious buildings may be seen 
as would grace the streets of our eastern cities." If such improvement 
was made in one year, none can wonder at the almost marvelous changes 
which may be made in the succeeding two decades, and no section of the 
state is more favored than is this. It may be said in this connection 
that the paper mentioned above was published bye the subject and his 
brother, William H., the latter of whom died February 10, 1892. The 
subject was intimately associated with his father and brother in the 
establishing and conducting of many of the enterprises which have 
proved so potent in conserving the advancement and upbuilding of the 
town of Miller. He was associated with his brother William in 
publishing and editing the Hand County Press, the first paper in the. 
county, its initial issue having greeted the people on the 2d of 
January, 1882, while during the county-seat contest, which resulted in 
victory for Miller, they published a daily edition, from a copy of 
which the foregoing extract was made. For the past four years Mr. 
Miller has been associated with Judge George C. Briggs in the real-
estate business, under the firm name of Briggs & Miller, and they have 
built up a large and flourishing enterprise, while through the same 
much has been accomplished for the advancement of the general welfare 
and progress.  

	In politics Mr. Miller gives his allegiance to the Republican 
party, and while he has never sought political preferment he has been 
called upon to serve in various township and village offices, and 
having been incumbent of the office of justice of the peace for six 
years. He has been identified with nearly every enterprise and 
undertaking which has had for its object the promotion of the best 
interests of the town and county, and is known and honored as one of 
the reliable and progressive business men and loyal citizens of this 
section of the commonwealth. He and his wife are prominent and zealous 
members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified 
with the Modern Woodmen of America and Modern Brotherhood of America.  

	On the 28th of December, 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Miller to Miss Anna E. Humphrey, who was born August 4, 1858, and 
reared in Benton county, Iowa, being a daughter of Joseph and Margaret 
Humphrey, the former of whom was born January 19, 1816, and the latter 
born May 30, 1818, being now deceased. To the subject and his wife have 
been born two children, both of whom remain at the pleasant parental 
home, in Miller, namely Bessie E. and Earl H.