Capt. Samuel R. Miller, Aged 90, Died Monday, Funeral Rites Today

War Veteran and Pioneer Attorney Dead

Olivia’s Oldest and an Esteemed Citizen Answers Last Bugle Call on January 12^th

S. R. Miller, Olivia’s oldest and an esteemed citizen, has passed away. His death occurred Monday morning at the family home in this village after an illness of about a year. Last winter he suffered a slight stroke which left him in an enfeebled condition since from which he never fully recovered. He was tenderly and lovingly cared for by Mrs. Miller, but owing to his advanced age, recovery could not be hoped for.

The funeral will be held this afternoon from the Methodist church and all of Olivia will pay respect to his memory during the rites. An account of the funeral will appear next week.

Samuel R. Miller was born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 17, 1841, and would be 90 years of age had he lived until next Saturday. His parents were of Scotch ancestry, his grandfather serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of 100 years. He received his education in the district school and at Vermillion College and Wooster University, of Ohio. In April 1891, he enlisted in Company H, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer infantry for three months. After his discharge, he went to La Grange, Indiana and accepted a position as superintendent of the city schools, but in July 1862 he resigned his position and re-enlisted in Company C, 100^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry for three years and served until the end of the war. He participated in more than forty engagements, including the Battle of Bentonville, where General Joseph E Johnson surrendered to General Sherman. For nearly two years he was in command of the Scouts, doing secret service with the army of the Mississippi reporting and attached to General Sherman’s headquarters. He was captured twice, but both times managed to escape. He held the position of First Sergeant until the close of the Vicksburg campaign when he was commissioned a lieutenant.

Following the war, he taught school for a time and then entered the University of Michigan and graduated from the law department in 1871, He began the practice of law at Lake City, Minn. with Col. C. A. Wood and was later appointed postmaster at that place. In 1874 he came to Renville county, locating at Beaver Falls, the county seat. He remained there until the county seat was moved to Olivia when he came to Olivia and has made this place his home since. He was elected and held the office of county attorney in the county several terms and he appeared as an attorney in five noted homicide cases here. In 1907, he retired from practice on account of the failure of hearing, but he continued to hold public office, being appointed as an examiner of titles and also as a court commissioner.

In 1897, he organized Company H, Third Minnesota Regiment National Guard at Olivia, and was largely instrumental in securing the Armory built at this place. In 1898, he organized Company H of the Fourteenth Volunteer Infantry for service in the Spanish-American War and entered the service with the company as its captain, remaining with the company until July 1898 when he was obliged to resign on account of defective hearing. He was a member of the G. A. R., the I.O.O.F., the A. F & A. M., president of the Olivia Board of education for 12 years.

Capt. Miller was twice married; in 1892 to Jennie M. Frazier, deceased; and in 1912 to Mary C. Peterson, who survived him. He leaves one son, Fr. Rockwood P. Miller of Detroit, Michigan, and one grandson, Howard W. Miller.

Reference is made to the personal character of Capt. Miller in an editorial in today’s Times, but we desire here to extend to the bereaved widow and son, our sympathy and condolence, and to assure them that the sympathy of the entire community goes out to them in their sorrow.