Miller, Emily Magoun (1933)

MILLER, MAGOUN, EARLE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/28/2012 at 09:43:35

The Grinnell (IA) Herald

MRS. EMILY MAGOUN MILLER PASSES AWAY
(By W.G. Ray)

When Emily Magoun Miller passed away in Des Moines Sunday afternoon her passing took from Grinnell probably the last of the well known and almost famous Magoun family. I had known Emily Magoun when she was little more than a baby. A kind, genial, generous hearted young woman, taught to love all that was good, to rejoice when others rejoiced and to sorrow when others were saddened, she had a heart and a mind that reached out with a love that made all men kin.

Her foremost musical attainment was playing the violin and in this branch of music she made wonderful progress and her violin playing was eagerly sought in the earlier days when that instrument in Grinnell was almost unknown. With a love for all music and all that was good, she grew up into young womanhood.

Her *marriage to Jesse Miller was an event in the social life of Grinnell and many warm friends gathered at the Magoun home on that eventful afternoon to extend best wishes to the young couple.

Her life was a congenial one in Des Moines. Her twin sons, Alexander and Frederic, were born Feb. 8, 1896, and were named one after the grandfather Miller, and the other after grandfather Magoun. A third son, born later, was named Earle after the grandmother's maiden girlhood name. Life was happily spent until a partial stroke benumbed Mrs. Miller's faculties and prevented her usual activities. With this handicap the years grew on and in every possible way she tried to overcome it. Perhaps no one did more than she to fight the handicap which the condition of her health had place upon her. As she grew older she strove year after year to overcome it, but with only partial success.

Finally, as she grew older, her thoughts reverted to the friends of her youth. She wished to be nearer those whom she had known in her younger days and who had joined with her in creating joy in the lives of so many people. From time to time the handicap had gradually increased and growing weight and age had made it impossible for her physical strength to overcome her weakness.

She maintained her residence in Grinnell until very recently. A short time ago she went to Des Moines and entered a convalescent home where she hoped for new strength and vigor. It was not to be, and Sunday the threads of life snapped and she passed to the Great Beyond, where her father and her mother were waiting to greet her with open arms.

Those who did not know Mrs. Miller in her younger days could have little conception of the character of this wonderful woman. No greater mind than that of her father ever moved in Grinnell and surely, no lovelier woman than her mother ever graced a drawing room in this city. It seems almost unfortunate that when really great minds pass away there are so few to mourn them, but there are yet a few who remember the kindness, the gentle life of Mrs. Miller, the talent of her early youth and the wonderful ancestry from which she sprung.

Funeral services were held from the Dunn Funeral Parlor in Des Moines at 10 o'clock this morning and burial services were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the grave in Hazelwood cemetery, in charge of the Eastern Star.

Pall bearers were Frank L. Child, Dr. E.E. Harris and L.H. Rinefort of Grinnell and Eugene Kell, Harry Lewis and John Samuelson of Des Moines.

Transcriber Note: *Married 15 May 1895 in Grinnell, Iowa