Pioneer Sketches

Compiled by William L. (Bill) Smith

Harmon L. Miller Family Information

Harmon L. Miller was the 3rd son and 5th child of John and Rebecca Firestone Carle Miller, according to family records. He was born 13 Dec 1840.

He first appears in the Federal Census with his family in the 1850 count on 3 Sep 1850 in Brady Township Dist No. 162, Williams Co, OH, age 9, b. OH. He has already gone out on his own by the time of the 1860 census.

He married Elizabeth Amelia Stough on 10 Oct 1867. Records indicate that their first daughter, Clara, was born in late 1868 or early 1869, in Ohio. It also appears they moved to Iowa shortly after her birth. The family appears in the 1870 Federal census taken on 20 Jun 1870 in Richland Township, Guthrie Co, IA, Post Office: Panora. Harmon L. is listed as age 29, Farmer, R.E. worth 5,000, P.E. worth 700, b. OH with wife Amelia, age 24, b. OH; Clara, age 2, b. OH; William, born May 1870, IA; along with Ida M. Haus (sp?), age 6, b. OH (nothing else is known of her).

It appears that William did not survive to reach his tenth birthday, he is not listed in the family records nor in the 1880 Federal census. This census finds them still in Richland Township, Guthrie Co, IA, Harmon L. is listed as a Farmer, age 39, E. Amelia, his wife, age 34; Clara, age 11; Frank S., age 9; Charles W., age 5, and Josie, age 3. Five others are in the household: May Stough, age 18, a sister-in-law; and four servants: Frank Rowley, age 22 (actually a nephew); Joseph, age 20, and Stincel (sp?), age 24, Baltasser (sp?), b. PA; and Sessie Erickson, age 22, b. U.S.S. unknown, parents b. Sweden.

Family records show that their youngest daughter, Ona, was born in Coon Rapids, late in 1880.

In 1882, H. L. Miller founded The City Bank in Coon Rapids, and served as President, becoming quite successful. His family moved to their residence in Coon Rapids, Carroll Co, IA, just a few miles away from their farm in Richland Township, Guthrie Co, IA. Several news items appeared in the Coon Rapids Enterprise from the period:

31 May 1883: Ad for The City Bank, H. L. Miller, President
7 Jun 1883: City Councilmen include H. L. Miller.
14 Sep 1883: Republican Primary - delegate to county convention: H. L. Miller
19 Oct 1883: Josie Miller, about eight years of age, daughter of M/M H. L. Miller, died yesterday morning of diptheria after an illness of six days...Ona miller, another daughter, age three, is also very low with the same disease.
26 Oct 1883: Mr. & Mrs. H. L. Miller desire us to extend their thanks to the kind friends who lent their aid and assistance during the illness and death of their daughters.
9 Nov 1883: In the drawing Monday evening at L. S. Caswell's for the beautiful wax doll which was been on exhibit in their show window for a week now, Master Frank Miller, son of the banker, proved to hold the winning number. Frank is proud of his luck, but more so of his body (sp?), and as he walked off up the street with his handsome price we have no doubt thoughts rested on some fair little girl whom he would like to give it to, if he could manage to keep the boys from finding it out.
14 Mar 1884: Female suffrages in Coon Rapids had a set-back last Monday. In the contest for the election of two school directors Messrs. H. L. Miller and B. H. Shote were candidates on one ticket and their wives on the other, the ladies receiving seven votes each, and the gentlemen eighteen each.
18 Apr 1884: A Coal Company was formed: H. L. Miller elected President.
13 Jun 1884: H. L. and George Miller left last Tuesday for western Nebraska to view the country.
27 Jun 1884: H. L. and George Miller returned Friday from their trip through Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. They seem to have been very much impressed with the mountains and other scenery of the latter state.
4 July 1884: H. L. Miller got up the lemonade at his bank one of the hot days this week.



A seventh child, a daughter, Faye, was born on 9 Jun 1886. She died 25 May 1899, and was buried in Guthrie, OK, in what became the family plot.

In about 1886 his uncle Samuel, who had been living with the family, died and was buried in Coon Rapids.

For 1886 -1887, H.L. Miller is listed as City Councilman and George Miller as Street Commissioner.

Son, Frank S. Miller, graduated from Coon Rapids High School in 1888, in the first graduating class there. His sister, Clara, apparently finished her local schooling in Panora, two years earlier. Later, she attended both Grinnell College and Drake University, according to family information. Brother Charles W. Miller graduated from Coon Rapids High School in the Class of 1890, the second graduating class at the school. He lived in Aberdeen, Washington in 1917.

Harmon's father, John Miller, died in Edgerton, Williams Co, OH, on 7 Sep 1888, at the age of nearly 82 years. It appears that shortly thereafter, his mother moved to Coon Rapids to be with his family. About the same time, his sister, Ellen, with her four children, moved to town. She had been recovering from an illness in Ohio. Her children came from their home in Deer Lodge, MT. She was divorced by her husband, James P. Preston in 1889.

Harmon's mother, Rebecca, died on 6 Oct 1892 at their home in Coon Rapids, IA. Her body was returned to Ohio for burial with her husband in the Shiffler Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Williams County.

The H. L. Miller family moved to Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma in 1894. A newspaper account of his death describes his activities: "(he) ... came to Logan county shortly after the opening and lived here until a few years ago..."

Family records described Harmon as "Investor in land and oil wells in and near Guthrie, OK" and as "a wealthy banker and speculator." I have personally examined some of his land and oil holdings records in Logan county. They were extensive.

Oldest daughter, Clara, married Clay C. Whitacre in 1893. In the 1910 Federal census, this family is in Canton City, Canton Township, Stark Co, OH. Clay is listed as age 46, married 17 years, occupation: Secretary of Fire Protection Co., b. OH, both parents b. OH. Clara R. is listed age 41, only marriage, 17 years, four children, three living (and listed), b. OH, both parents b. OH. Children: Clarice, dau, 16, b. IA; Elson, son, 14, b. OK; Clay C., Jr., son, 4, b. KS. Therefore, it appears they were married in Iowa and Clarice was born there in 1894. They then moved to Oklahoma with her family, where Elson was born in 1896. By 1906, when Clay, Jr. was born, they lived in Kansas (probably in 1900, also, I still need to check this), but had moved to Ohio before the April 1910 census. In the 1920 census, I did find Elson Whitacre, 24, b. OK, on East Libson Street, Waynesburg, OH, with wife Sybil, 25, b. SC. Elson is listed as a salaried Foreman, Buick Plant.

Frank S. Miller married Lulu B. in 1893, probably in Iowa. They apparently also moved to Oklahoma with his family as their first daughter was born there in Sep 1894. The 1900 census for Guthrie Township, Logan County, OK, has Frank S. Miller listed age 29, born Jun 1870, married 7 years, b. IA, both parents b. OH, Farmer, owned farm. Wife, Lulu, age 26, born Aug 1873, MO, married 7 years, 2 children, both alive and listed: Hazel F., dau., age 5, born Sep 1894, OK; Greta, dau., age 2, born Sep 1897, OK. Also in the Household, Lorenzo Redman, boarder, age 20, born Nov 1879, IN, Farm Laborer.

By 1910, Frank and family are in Boynton Town, Sutton Township, Muskogee County, OK, where Frank is listed as Cashier at the Bank, but, they live on a farm he owns. He is listed at age 39, married 16 years., b. IA. Lulu B. is listed as age 35, married 16 years, five children, all living and listed (all b. OK): Hazel F., dau., age 15; Greta E., dau., age 12; Harmon B., son, age 5; Alpha F., son, age 3; Russl, son, age 2. Also in the Household, Charley Fisher, age 64, born in Germany (also, both parents), immigrated to the U. S. in 1882, Laborer, Private Family.

Family records show that Frank died in 1917. 1920 Federal census (Soundex) find Mrs. Lulu Miller and all five children living at 2709 Union Ave, Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. She is listed as age 46, b. MO. Children (all b. OK): Hazel, 25; Greta, 22; Harmon M., 14; Frank Jr., 13; Russell, 11; plus one lodger. (Need to look at full census record, yet).

Family records show that Hazel Miller, oldest daughter of Frank and Lulu, married a Burke, and they had children James, Elizabeth and Lyman. They also show Greta marrying a Warburton, and lived in West Point, WA. The three boys are listed as living in Tacoma, WA.

Harmon L. and Elizabeth A. Miller are in the 1900 Federal census (and Soundex) at 704 East Warner, Guthrie, Logan County, OK. Harmon, age 59, b. Dec 1840, married 33 years, b. OH, Broker, live on own farm. Elizabeth A. Miller, age 54, b. Sep 1845, married 33 years, 7 children, 3 living (Clara, Frank, and Charles) b. OH. Harmon and Elizabeth are listed on the 1910 Federal Soundex in OK, age 68 and 64, along with granddaughter, Hazel, age 15 (she is also listed with her parents, as noted above). The 1920 Soundex has Harmon L. and Elizabeth A. Miller still at 704 East Warner Ave, Guthrie, Logan County, OK, ages 79 and 74.

Family records show that Harmon died 6 Jan 1920, at Canton, Ohio, but was a resident of Logan County, OK at the time of his death, at age 89 years.

The family burial plot at the Summit View Cemetery, Guthrie, OK, has four persons: Harmon L. 1840 -1929, Sergt. Co. H 3rd Ohio Cav.; Elizabeth A. 1845 - 1925; Faye, June 9, 1886 - May 25, 1899; Frank Miller 1870 - 1914. {note the discrepancy with family records - 1917}

At the Oklahoma Historical Society, on 11 Aug 1997, I obtained the following two newspaper clippings:

The Guthrie Daily Leader - Monday, Jan 7, 1929 (Front Page)

Word was receive here Monday of the death of H. L. Miller, a former Guthrie citizen, who died Sunday at Coon Rapids, IA. {apparent error in the report}. The body is to be returned to Guthrie for burial. Funeral services will probably be held here Thursday but definite arrangements are not complete.
Miller, who was 85 years old {another error of fact}, came to Logan county shortly after the opening and lived here until a few years ago when he went to Iowa to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. O. C. Whitacre, following the death of his wife. Besides his daughter, he is survived by one son, Charles Miller, who lives in Washington. {Mrs. C.C. Whitacre lived in Ohio, of course}.

The Guthrie Daily Leader - Friday, Jan 11, 1929 (Front Page)

Former Resident Will be buried in Guthrie.

Funeral services will be held at the Davis funeral home Saturday at 3 p.m. for H. L. Miller, 89, a former Guthrie resident, who died at Canton, OH, Sunday. Miller came to Guthrie in 1894 and lived here until 1925 when he went to Canton to live with his daughter, Mrs. C.C. Whitacre. Death came after an illness of one week. Besides his daughter, he is survived by one son, Charles W. Miller, of Aberdeen, Wash.

This page created 29 Mar 1998. Last updated 31 Mar 1998, by William L. (Bill) Smith.