Miller, Nelson 1872-1955

MILLER, AIRD

Posted By: Linda Mohning, Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/25/2010 at 20:26:51

Le Mars Globe Post
April 21, 1955

Nelson Miller

Death came to Nelson Miller, whose legal career in this community virtually spanned the first half of this century, on April 19, 1955. Mr. Miller, the son of Nelson and Kristen Miller, was born on a farm in Marion township, Plymouth county, Iowa, on April 12, 1872. His early education was obtained in the country schools in his home community and he later attended the Le Mars Normal school, predecessor of Westmar college, the University of Wisconsin and he was graduated from the college of Law of the State University of Iowa in 1901. Mr. Miller was admitted to the Iowa bar that year and shortly thereafter he took up the practice of his profession in LeMars, where he enjoyed a large and varied practice until ill health forced his retirement in December of 1951.

Mr. Miller never sought political office but he served his community as city solicitor for three terms from 1917 to 1923. Mr. Miller was one of the few lawyers of his generation in this community admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and a case he handled involving a treaty between the Untied States and a foreign power was appealed by him from an adverse decision to the Supreme Court of Iowa and reversed by the Supreme Court of the United States and is still cited as the law on the point involved.

Legal scholarship absorbed Mr. Miller's attention in and out of the court room and his dedication to it over a long and active career gained him an enviable reputation among his colleagues on the bench and at the bar.

Mr. Miller was married to Mary Aird, a member of another pioneer Plymouth county family on the 22nd day of October, 1931. Mrs. Miller, 1 sister, Mrs. Anna Cook, of Alta Dena, California, several nieces and nephews, survive him. The couple had no children. Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Mrs. Maria Bergner, Mrs. Lena Anderson, Mrs. Christine Hendrickson, and Carrie and Mary Miller.

Mr. Miller was a life long member of the Presbyterian church in Le Mars and served as a member of its board of trustees.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon, April 22, at the First Presbyterian church in Le Mars, Iowa, at 2:00 p.m. with the pastor, Rev. James Ransom, officiating. Honorary pall bearers will be the members of the Plymouth County, Iowa and 21st Judicial District Bar Association.
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Another obituary found:

Nelson Miller, 83, lifelong Plymouth
county resident and prominent
Le Mars attorney, died
April 19 at Cherokee. He had
been in ill health the past four
years. Funeral services will be at
2 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian
church, Le Mars. Surviving
is his wife, Mary of Le-
Mars; a sister, Mrs. Anna Cook
of Alta Dena, Calif., and nieces
and nephews. Mr. Miller was one
of the few. lawyers of his generation
in this community admitted
to practice before the
United States Supreme court. A
case he handled involved a
treaty between the United States
and a foreign power, was appealed
by him from an adverse
decision in the Iowa supreme
court and was reversed by the
supreme court, The decision is
still cited as law on the point involved.

Floyd Valley Farmers News
Friday, April 22, 1955
Le Mars, Iowa

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