CEDAR COUNTY, NEBRASKA - MILLER W.B.

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W. B. MILLER, 90  DIED SATURDAY
PIONEER CROSSED PLAINS WITH OXEN TEAM IN 1859
PASSED AWAY
______________

W.B. Miller, well known Cedar county pioneer, died in the home of his 
son Jess in Gross, S. Dak., Saturday morning from a stroke resulting from 
a fall.  Mr. Miller, who was 90 years old, was unusually active, had a 
particularly strong constitution, and altho he realized he was older than 
many of his friends, he had no thot of death.


Mr. Miller was born in Butler county, Penn. on July 25, 1837.  When he was 
19 years old he moved to Wisconsin and on December 19, 1858 he was married 
to Miss Catherine Ann Hover at Green county Wisconsin.    1860 he moved to 
Buchanan county, Iowa and in 1883 to Lyon county, Iowa.  In 1885, Mr. and 
Mrs. Miller moved to Cedar county where he bot the farm owned by “Father” 
Martin, Episcopalian minister in Hartington, which he still owned at the 
time of his death.  Mrs. Miller died in 1913 and abut 3˝ years ago Mr. 
Miller went to Gross to live with his son.

Mr. Miller crossed the plains with Major Russell and Major Woddell in 1859, 
going from St. Joseph in Missouri thru to Denver.    There were 24 covered 
wagons in the train, with eight yoke of oxen for each team, and the passengers 
walked.   The plains were black  with  hordes  of  buffalo and the sky line 
was dotted with smoke  from  many  an Indian camp. Many times during the trip, 
members of the train were in danger of Indian attacks.  In this train was the 
first printing press taken to Denver.  Mr. Miller remained in Denver for 18 
months before making the return trip.

Mr. Miller is survived by 7 children, 36 grandchildren, and 25 great 
grandchildren.   The sons are Jess at Gross, South Dakota, W. E. at Wynot, 
Bert at Clearwater, A.C. and L.A. of Hartington and the daughters are Mrs. A. 
Combellic of Kennewick. Washington, Mrs. B. M. Benson of Deer Park at Washington. 
Three sisters; Mrs. M.J. Grubbs, 88, of Bonesteel S.D., Mrs. Lucy Levanduske of 
Cripple Creek, Colorado, and Mrs. H.F. Burtt of Allegheny City Penn. and two 
brothers, John of Red Wing, Minnesota and James of Itasca, Wisconsin, also 
survive Mr. Miller.  His mother died at the age of 89 and his father at the 
age of 87. 

Funeral Services were held in the Congregational Church of Hartington Monday, 
Rev. Louis Heib officiating, and the burial was made at the Hartington cemetery.  

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Farr of Newport, Leslie Miller of Wessington Springs, and Mrs. 
J.H. Minnear here at attend the funeral. 
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