Capt. Nelson Miner Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1139-1140 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				CAPTAIN NELSON MINER.  

	Captain Nelson Miner bore a reputation as an Indian fighter which 
made him one of the picturesque figures in connection with the history 
and settlement of South Dakota. He was, moreover, an able and learned 
lawyer and was a helpful supporter of many movements and measures which 
had for their object the benefit and betterment of the community. In 
fact, he has been termed "one of the greatest men South Dakota ever 
knew" — so varied and so resultant were his activities. He was born 
September 29, 1827, at Hartland, Huron county, Ohio, and was but 
fifteen years of age at the time of his father's death. He remained 
upon the old homestead farm until nineteen years of age, when, 
realizing the need and value of further education, he made arrangements 
to attend Oberlin College at Oberlin, Ohio. He spent three years in 
that institution, meeting the expenses of his college course by 
teaching school through the summer vacation period At the age of 
twenty-two he put aside his textbooks and almost immediately thereafter 
he was elected justice of the peace at Hartland, filling that position 
for two years, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. At the 
same time he engaged in teaching and in studying law. Attracted by the 
discovery of gold in California, he organized at St. Joseph, Missouri, 
a company of about one hundred men and crossed the plains to 
California, remaining upon the Pacific coast for about a year engaged 
in mining. He then returned to Hartland. When twenty-four years of age 
he was united in marriage to Miss Cordelia Gates, with whom he traveled 
life's journey most happily until they were separated by the hand of 
death. Mrs. Miner survives her husband and now makes her home at Long 
Beach, California.  

	It was in the year 1852 that Captain Miner removed to Adel, 
Dallas county, Iowa, where he entered upon the practice of law and also 
filled the office of justice of the peace. He proved a capable member 
of the bar, preparing his eases with precision and thoroughness and 
presenting his cause strongly and cogently before the court. In 1860 he 
removed to the territory of Dakota, settling in Vermillion, and from 
that time until his demise his life record is inseparably interwoven 
with Vermillion and its upbuilding. No man did more to further its 
development and improvement or contributed more largely to its 
progress. It was not only in his professional capacity but in many 
other ways that he furthered the interests of Vermillion and in pioneer 
times he became one of the best known Indian fighters of the northwest, 
this being at a period when the white settlers had to seek armed 
protection from the Indians.  

	In the fall of 1861 he organized a military company, which on the 
14th of January, 1862, was mustered into the United States service with 
Mr. Miner as captain. This company was ordered for duty in the Indian 
country and during its term of service Captain Miner became one of the 
most noted Indian fighters of the west. The company was engaged in 
active and dangerous service for three years and in January, 1865, was 
mustered out. While in the army Captain Miner had the complete 
confidence of General Sully, who gave him entire charge of the Sully 
expedition in crossing the Missouri and assigned to him almost all the 
Indian fighting that had to be done. Captain Miner had command of all 
the troops between the Jim river and Big Sioux. He went with his 
company to Sioux Falls just after the massacre and drove the Indians 
away from the homes of the people and prevented them carrying off the 
stock. He understood the Indian nature most thoroughly. No matter how 
cunning the device to which the Indian would resort Captain Miller 
could outwit him, for he readily recognized his tactics and his line of 
operation. He was most vigilant and the cunning of the Indian was no 
match to the intelligence and scientific military direction of the 
white man. He was a most vigilant officer and one greatly loved by the 
troops who served under him.  

	While his military experience was perhaps the most spectacular 
chapter in his life record, it was perhaps not the most important. He 
stood very high as a lawyer and there were few cases tried in his part 
of the state on which he was not retained as counsel either for the 
prosecution or defense. His was the honor of selecting the jury for the 
famous Wintermute case. His mind, naturally analytical, logical and 
deductive, enabled him to reason clearly and to present his cause in a 
manner that left no one at doubt as to his position, while. the 
correctness of his views was usually manifest in the verdict. He not 
only was accorded an extensive clientage but he also became a large 
real-estate owner, improving his opportunity for judicious investment.  

	Fraternally he was a Mason, becoming a charter member of Yankton 
lodge, and he was most loyal to the teachings of the craft. He gave 
liberal assistance to the various churches in Vermillion and cooperated 
generously and heartily in all movements which he believed would 
benefit his city, county or state. He was a member of the first 
territorial council and he was register in the United States land 
office from 1865 until 1879. In politics he followed a course different 
from that of the great majority. No cause, convention or nomination 
ever bound him unless it was fair, open and aboveboard and in just 
accord with his idea of the eternal fitness of things. He was 
independent in all that he did, because he believed in the right and 
would follow no other course. He possessed a most kindly, charitable 
nature and was constantly extending a helping hand to the unfortunate 
and alleviating the needs of those who came to him for assistance. The 
first settler in Vermillion, he passed away with fewer enemies than any 
man in the community, for he was always honorable and upright and his 
high integrity and fearlessness of conduct were combined with ability 
and energy. In his own household he was the ideal husband and father, 
his interests centering in his family above all things else. Thus it 
was that he left a precious memory to his descendants, while the record 
of his life remains as an inspiration to his many friends and his 
colleagues.