John Henry Miller (1901)

FULLER, MILLER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 9/16/2009 at 10:08:29

Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 1901
Page 2

John Miller Dead

The announcement Monday afternoon that John Miller was dead came as a shock to the community as it was entirely unexpected. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were calling on friends Sunday afternoon and he appeared in ordinary good health. He was taken sick during the night and the doctors called. He passed away about the middle of the afternoon, doctors assigning his death to heart failure.

John Henry Miller was born in Decatur county, Ia., Sept. 14, 1861, but practically lived his life in Winterset. He was married in 1885 to Jennie Fuller who survives him. John had the reputation of being the best barber in the city and was a popular man. He was a charter member of the W.O.W. under whose auspices the burial services were conducted Wednesday afternoon. The funeral sermon was preached at the residence by Rev. L. E. Follansbee at 2 p.m.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 1901
Page 5

County and City

An inquest was held over the body of John H. Miller, an account of whose death is printed on the 7th page of this paper. The verdict will be given as soon as it can be ascertained from the officers.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 28, 1901
Page 7

SAD AND SUDDEN DEATH

John Miller, the Well Known Barber, Dies Monday Afternoon Under Peculiar Circumstances

The public was greatly surprised and shocked last Monday afternoon to learn that John Miller, who has worked at the barber trade so many years in this city, had just died in great agony. The story ran at first that he had drank wood alcohol, from the effect of which he had died. But there was no truth in that story. The physicians say they found no trace of wood alcohol.

It seems that he had been drinking up on Sunday morning. It is reported that he bought liquor and drank, and later a party of “boozers” got into his company and in his free hearted way he furnished them money to buy more liquor, and they all drank together.

His wife came up town to look for him and about noon found him and got him to go home. In the afternoon they went to Mrs. Lucy Bullock’s, ate supper there, and about 9 o’clock went home. Miller retired in his usual health, the effects of his morning drinking having passed away. He slept till 3 o’clock Monday morning, when he awoke violently sick. He vomited frequently, towards the last showing streaks of blood.

About 2:30 in the afternoon physicians were first called. Dr. Sterman got there first and found him running about the room, gasping for breath, suffering from intense depression. He got him on a sofa and administered an anesthetic to quiet him till he could do something for him. In about ten minutes Dr. Thompson arrived. He administered an injection to start the heart action, and met with slight success at first, but the effect soon passed away and in not more than three-quarters of an hour from the time the first physician arrived death had completed its work.

There is something unusually sad in this sad end of a good natured, free hearted man. He had become unfortunately dissipated, and made several efforts to reform. A crowd of vicious associates always hounded him, because he was free with his money, and a jolly boon companion. The “gang” probably has peaceful memory of him now.

The funeral services were held at the residence in the southeast part of the city, Wednesday afternoon, under the auspices of the Woodman of the World, of which order he was a charter member. The sermon was preached by Rev. L. E. Follansbee, the minister for whom he had sent several times when making an effort to break away from his old habits and associates.

John Henry Miller was born in Decatur county, Iowa, September 14, 1861, most of his adult life having been spent in Winterset. He was married May 17, 1885, to Jennie Fuller, who with two children, survives him.
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The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, March 29, 1901
Page 5

John Miller Dead

Friends Say That He Died From Overdose of Acetaniline

John Miller, the well known barber, died at his residence in the east part of the city, Monday afternoon from the effects of an overdose of acetaniline which he was taking for headache.

Miller had been drinking heavily, Sunday, and went home with a headache. He was accustomed to take a headache preparation containing acetaniline and had a lot of it in his pocket. He had been warned by his physician that the medicine had a depressing effect on the heart, and that if he took too much of it he would kill himself. Bruce Rowe, Miller’s partner, says that Miller not only took one dose of the stuff, but that, the headache increasing, he took it repeatedly. Monday afternoon Miller sunk into a stupor and in spite of all efforts to arouse him, died about four o’clock.

Dr. Sterman, who was called to attend him, says that there is no doubt that he died from taking the acetaniline, though he scouts the idea of Miller intentionally taking his own life. He says that from the evidence which he was able to gather, Miller took enough of the acetaniline to kill two or three men.

An inquest was held Wednesday by Coroner Martin. Who instigated the inquest is not known. The testimony of Mrs. Bullock and Mrs. Miller seem to be conclusive that Miller died from the effects of some drug. Owing to the inquest the funeral services were incomplete, the coroner not having completed his work at the hour set for the funeral. Many of the friends of the family, having been told that the funeral had been postponed, were not present. No post mortem examination was made. The coroner’s jury will not return its verdict until Saturday.

John Miller was one of the best barbers in the state and always had a good business in the city. His unfortunate taste for liquor was his only bad fault. He grew to manhood in Winterset, coming here with his father, Brice Miller, when only a boy. He was forty years old. He leaves a wife and three boys. He carried an insurance policy in the Woodmen of the World for $3000.

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