Biography of Eudell J. Miller

Eudell J. Miller, born June 15, 1859, in Cedar County, Iowa, was a significant pioneer and businessman in Miller, Hand County, South Dakota. Son of Henry and Nancy Miller, Eudell moved to Benton County, Iowa, as a child. In 1881, he and his father selected the site for the colony that became Miller, South Dakota. He was integral in founding the town, including co-publishing the first local newspaper, the Hand County Press. Miller also worked in real estate with Judge George C. Briggs. He was married to Anna E. Humphrey on December 28, 1882, and they had two children, Bessie E. and Earl H.


Eudell J. Miller is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born on a farm in Cedar County, on the 15th of June, 1859, and being a son of Henry and Nancy Miller, the former of whom was born in the state of Ohio, April 11, 1825, and died February 15, 1897, and the latter born in Ohio, November 13, 1831, and died May 26, 1902. They were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, being among the first settlers in Cedar County. William Miller, the grandfather, was one of the first county supervisors and came to Dakota territory in 1881. When the subject was a child of four years, his parents removed to Benton County, Iowa, from Cedar County, that state, where he was reared to manhood, growing up under the sturdy training of the farm and securing his rudimentary education in the common schools of the locality. Later, he was able to avail himself of the advantages afforded in the academy at Blairstown, that state, where he acquired an excellent practical education, coming forth well equipped for the active duties of life, while, like all persons of alert mentality and receptive powers, he has found each year of his life cumulative in educational discipline gained under the direction of that wise headmaster, experience. He continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1879, when, at the age of twenty years, he engaged in the furniture business in Audubon, Iowa, continuing this enterprise two years, at the expiration of which he disposed of his interests and came with his father, in July, 1881, to what is now Hand County, South Dakota, for the purpose of selecting a favorable location for a colony which had been organized in Audubon, Iowa. They made choice of the present site of the village of Miller, with its environs, and here, September 9, 1881, thirty-six claims were taken up by the members of the colony. At that time the prairie swept far and wide with no sign of improvement or civilization in this district, and the little colony formed the nucleus of a now prosperous and attractive farming section and of the fine little city of Miller, which dates its inception back to the year 1881. From a copy of the Miller Daily Press, published on the 19th of October 1882, we find it interesting to make the following quotation: “How different does everything look in Hand County today from what it did one year ago. Then all was a blank for a distance of over one hundred miles; not a single farm house could be seen in the County and all was quiet as death. In one short year, people from Iowa, Illinois and other eastern states have come to this County and have made for themselves beautiful homes. To the eastern farmer this will seem almost impossible, yet such is the case. Farm houses worth from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars can be seen in almost every direction; a small grove is started on nearly every farm, while in our towns, or rather cities—for they, three in number, are almost that—as large and commodious buildings may be seen as would grace the streets of our eastern cities.” If such improvement was made in one year, none can wonder at the almost marvelous changes which may be made in the succeeding two decades, and no section of the state is more favored than is this. It may be said in this connection that the paper mentioned above was published by the subject and his brother, William H., the latter of whom died February 10, 1892. The subject was intimately associated with his father and brother in the establishing and conducting of many of the enterprises which have proved so potent in conserving the advancement and upbuilding of the town of Miller. He was associated with his brother William in publishing and editing the Hand County Press, the first paper in the County, its initial issue having greeted the people on the 2nd of January, 1882, while during the county-seat contest, which resulted in victory for Miller, they published a daily edition, from a copy of which the foregoing extract was made. For the past four years Mr. Miller has been associated with Judge George C. Briggs in the real-estate business, under the firm name of Briggs & Miller, and they have built up a large and flourishing enterprise, while through the same much has been accomplished for the advancement of the general welfare and progress.

In politics, Mr. Miller gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and while he has never sought political preferment he has been called upon to serve in various township and village offices, and having been incumbent of the office of justice of the peace for six years. He has been identified with nearly every enterprise and undertaking which has had for its object the promotion of the best interests of the town and county, and is known and honored as one of the reliable and progressive business men and loyal citizens of this section of the commonwealth. He and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and Modern Brotherhood of America.

On the 28th of December 1882, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Miller to Miss Anna E. Humphrey, who was born August 4, 1858, and reared in Benton County, Iowa, being a daughter of Joseph and Margaret Humphrey, the former of whom was born January 19, 1816, and the latter born May 30, 1818, being now deceased. To the subject and his wife have been born two children, both of whom remain at the pleasant parental home, in Miller, namely: Bessie E. and Earl H.


Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.


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