Millard, E.D. (Died 1896)

MILLARD

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 5/17/2010 at 20:31:56

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
February 17, 1896

BY THE MORPHINE ROUTE.
An Old Man Named E. D. Millard Takes an Overdose of Morphine Near Merrill

From Saturday’s Daily:
E. D. Millard, an old man formerly employed on the McDonald ranch three
miles west and south of the town of Merrill, committed suicide by taking
morphine, dying at 1:15 yesterday morning. The old man has been a rather
hard drinker for most of his life, and as is usual in such cases, had
contracted a morphine habit. Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock he told Mr. M.
Ewin, who lives on the McDonald ranch, that he was going to the barn to die.
He usually sleeps in the barn, and since he has many queer habits nothing
was thought of his strange statement. He has many times gone to the barn to
retire and not showed up again until the following noon. He was not
therefore disturbed until about 1:30 Thursday afternoon, when John Foley, an
employee of the ranch, found him and reported to Ewin that, in his opinion,
the old man needed looking after. Ewin went to the barn and found Millard in
a serious condition. He denied taking morphine, but requested the attendance
of a physician, although he said he had no money with which to pay one. Ewin
summoned Dr. Nigg from Merrill. When the latter arrived, he gave very little
hope of recovery, although there was a small chance of his pulling through.
Medicine, however, had no effect, and at 4 o’clock the man lost
consciousness. His decline was gradual but certain from then until 1:15
yesterday morning when death came. Dr. Nigg’s presence made an inquest
unnecessary, and he was buried in the Merrill M.E. cemetery at 4 o’clock
yesterday afternoon.

Millard was 73 years of age and had been employed on the McDonald ranch
since 1888. A short time ago he was given his release, but refused to leave
the place. He owned a horse, cart, and harness, which he gave Mr. Ewin, the
tenant of the ranch, as pay for board until February 1. After that date he
remained at the place, sleeping in the barn and takings his meals at the
house. He was rather morose, and, it was thought, was strongly addicted to
the morphine habit. A box of the drug was found in one of his boots in the
room after his death. About a teaspoonful had been removed. Millard was an
American and claimed that he came to Merrill from the Red River county. He
said that he never went to school a day in his life although he was a fair
reader and could write. He often spoke of his family but it is not known
where they are living. If he has a wife or any children it is unknown since
his reference to his relations was always rather indefinite.

~NOTE: Mr. M. (Mathew) Ewin of Plymouth County, Iowa, was the transcriber’s
paternal great grandfather.
~NOTE: More research finds E. Millard, age 63, male, widowed, birth place=
Woodbury Co., Iowa, located at 1007 4th St. Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1885
Iowa State Census.