Evi Thaxter Miller Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 972-975

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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EVI THAXTER MILLER, deceased, late editor of the "Clark County 
Republic," of which he owned an interest, was one of the wide awake, 
intelligent men of South Dakota. He enjoyed an enviable reputation as a 
scholar and writer, giving to the reform principles under daily 
discussion a clearness of meaning which could not be misunderstood by 
the students of these questions. 

Mr. Miller was a native of Hamilton, Madison county, New York, and was 
born November 28, 1843. He was the oldest of a family of seven children 
born to John S. and Unice (Stebbins) Miller. The family are descendants 
of a well known English family of Millers. 

At the age of four years our subject removed with his parents to Kent 
county, Michigan, where the father engaged in farming, and here young 
Evi passed the years of childhood. He entered the high school at Grand 
Rapids at the age of twenty years, afterward teaching school for one 
year, which enabled him to take a business course at Eastman Business 
College. He then returned to teaching and was occupied in this vocation 
two years in Michigan and two years in Illinois, when he returned to 
Grand Rapids and entered the law office of Judge Champlin, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1870. He began practice in Grand Rapids, 
continuing a number of years and attaining considerable prominence at 
the bar. In 1883 he went to Dakota on account of the ill-health of his 
family, and took government land in Rosedale township, Clark county. 
Here he carried on general farming for about seven years. In 1890 he 
located in Clark City, having become deputy register of deeds. He also 
taught a few terms of school, and in 1895 purchased a half interest in 
the "Republic" and entered the office as managing editor. This 
newspaper supports the Populist principles in politics. His connection 
with the paper added to its popularity and strength, and he continued 
this connection until the time of his death, which occurred July 6, 
1899. During the same time he devoted some attention to read estate, 
money loaning and did some professional work. 

Mr. Miller was married, in 1870, to Miss Cyntha A. Hilton, a native of 
the state of Michigan. To this union three children were born, named in 
the order of their birth as follows: Elmer E., now pharmacist of St. 
Peter's hospital; Irene F. and Charles W. The family worships with the 
Baptist congregation. Mr. Miller was a member in good standing of the 
Masonic fraternity. In political views he was a Populist, his identity 
with the Populist party dating from his attendance as a delegate to the 
convention at Huron, when he represented the Alliance of Rosedale 
township, of which he was a member. He ever staunchly advocated their 
doctrines by speech and pen. He was chosen a delegate to various county 
and state conventions of his party, and became well known throughout 
the state. His earnestness and sincerity brought him a host of friends. 

While not a member of any church, Mr. Miller was an exceptionally moral 
man and a strong advocate of temperance and all moral reforms, and 
lived in accordance with what he advocated, but never making any 
outward show or demonstration. He was a man of excellent natural 
abilities, fine education and a constant student up to the time of his 
death. A portrait of Mr. Miller is a valuable addition to this volume.