Clark County WA Archives Biographies.....Miller, Cedric 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com  May 9, 2009, 12:38 am

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

      CEDRIC MILLER, who fought for his country in the World war, is now 
numbered among the successful attorneys of Vancouver and worthily follows in 
the professional footsteps of his distinguished father, representing an old 
and prominent family of the state. His grandfather, George W. Miller, was a 
native of Iowa and went to California in search of gold. On the return trip he 
crossed the isthmus of Panama and was also in Nicaragua. In 1852 he again 
journeyed to the Pacific coast and after spending a short time in Yamhill 
county, Oregon, he settled near Grand Mound, Thurston county, Washington, 
toward the close of the '50s. There he engaged in farming until 1873 and then 
moved to Klickitat county, Washington, locating near Goldendale. During the 
next twenty years he was the owner of several ranches, raising grain and 
stock, and aided materially in developing the rich agricultural resources of 
this region. He operated a stage line from The Dalles, Oregon, to Yakima, 
Washington, carrying the mail between those two points, and was connected with 
many activities. Prosperity attended all of his ventures and he also found 
time for public affairs, serving as county treasurer while living in 
Goldendale, Washington. In the early days he took quite a prominent part in 
public affairs and for several years served as treasurer of Klickitat county 
and was a member of the territorial legislature from Thurston county. While en 
route from Iowa to the Pacific northwest, in 1852, he became acquainted with 
Miss Manila A. Harper, who was traveling in the same wagon train, and they 
were married in Portland in 1853. She passed away at The Dalles in 1876 and he 
long survived her, dying at Vancouver in 1910. In their family were the 
following children: Mrs. Mary J. Roundtree, a resident of Winlock; Thomas J. 
and Mrs. Letitia K. Stewart, both deceased; Ben F., a resident of Winlock; 
Bethena W., who died at the age of sixteen years; Abraham Lincoln, the father 
of Cedric Miller; George W., deceased; William S.; Mrs. May Arbuckle, 
deceased; Mrs. Katie V. Allison, deceased; Samuel J., a resident of Walla 
Walla, Washington; and Martin E., of Los Angeles.

     Their son, Abraham Lincoln Miller, the father of Cedric Miller, was born 
March 29, 1863, near Grand Mound and attended the public schools of 
Goldendale, afterward working his way through Pacific University. When a young 
man he was a stage driver and later read law in the office of a Goldendale 
attorney named Deston. Mr. Miller passed the required examination and the date 
of his admission to the bar coincided with that of the late Judge George 
Stapleton. They practiced together for a few years in Goldendale and in 1889 
Mr. Miller located in Vancouver. He was appointed prosecuting attorney for 
this judicial district and afterward was elected to the office, which he 
filled for one term. His district comprised Clark and its three adjoining 
counties and in 1893 he was appointed judge of the superior court. For ten 
years he was the incumbent of that high office and his rulings indicated 
careful analysis, a comprehensive grasp of the law and an unbiased judgment. 
On retiring from the bench he returned to private practice and was senior 
member of the well known law firm of Miller, Wilkinson & Miller until his 
death on November 15, 1927. In politics he was a republican and manifested a 
deep and helpful interest in local and state affairs. A York Rite Mason and 
Shriner, he stood high in the order and was chosen grand master of the Grand 
Lodge of Washington. He was also affiliated with the United Artisans and the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In Goldendale, Judge Miller married Miss 
Ella Stapleton, a sister of Judge Stapleton. Mrs. Miller's parents, John and 
Josephine Stapleton, crossed the plains in 1864 and after a short stay in the 
Boise valley of Idaho they traveled westward to Klickitat county, Washington, 
while later members of the family settled in the Willamette valley of Oregon. 
To Judge and Mrs. Miller were born two children: Cedric; and Margery, now the 
wife of Howard Miller who is engaged in the insurance business in Centralia, 
Washington. Mrs. Miller is connected with the Eastern Star and active in the 
affairs of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. She resides in Vancouver and holds a 
secure place in the esteem of its citizens.

     In the acquirement of an education Cedric Miller attended the public 
schools of Vancouver and afterward matriculated in the University of 
Washington, from which he was graduated in 1917 with the degree of LL. B. He 
was admitted to the bar in the same year and soon afterward enlisted in the 
United States army, becoming a first sergeant in the motor truck section of 
the combat division. Mr. Miller was attached to the Twenty-ninth, known as 
the "Blue and Grey Division," and in May, 1918, was ordered overseas. He 
participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne drives and in May, 1919, 
returned to the United States. For twenty-six months he was in the service of 
his country and at Camp Lewis, Washington, received his honorable discharge. 
Following his arrival in Vancouver he entered his father's office, in which he 
remained until September, 1919, when he was appointed justice of the peace. He 
filled the office until January, 1921, and has since been a member of the firm 
of Miller, Wilkinson & Miller. This is one of the strongest legal combinations 
in the city and has successfully handled many notable cases.

     Mr. Miller was married May 4, 1917, in Vancouver to Miss Frances Barrett, 
a native of North Dakota and a daughter of F. C. and Helen Barrett. The father 
passed away in 1927 and Mrs. Barrett now lives with her daughter Frances. Mr. 
and Mrs. Miller have two children, Saxon and Jewel, aged respectively nine and 
seven years, and both are attending the public schools.

     Mr. Miller belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and is 
exalted ruler of his lodge. He figures prominently in the activities of the 
American Legion, of which he was a vice commander for two years and state vice 
commander for one year. Studious, painstaking and thorough, he has rapidly 
advanced in his profession and his merit compels esteem.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 645-646

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