Martin P. Miller 1859 - 1904

MILLER, DAUGHERTY, MCKAIN, DENNIS, ROYER

Posted By: Phyllis Hazen (email)
Date: 1/9/2018 at 06:28:16

The Washington Evening Journal
Saturday, 6 February 1904, page 5

DEATH OF MR. M. P. MILLER

Was Stricken Suddenly This Morning With Apoplexy … He Dies in a Few Moments.

WAS 45 YEARS OF AGE.

Prominent In Masonic And Municipal Circles – Was an Active Business Man – His Death Widely Mourned.

“In the midst of life we are in death” was never more truly exemplified in Washington than it was this morning when Mr. M. P. Miller of the New York store was stricken with apoplexy and in a few short moments was dead. Mr. Miller came to the store this morning about the usual time. He seemed in his usual condition of good health. He did some work about the store and stepped out for a few moments. As he was passing in front of the J. B. Crail store he fell suddenly and never regained consciousness. The last words he spoke were to Deputy Sheriff Will Black, with whom he held a short conversation a few moments before he was stricken. Mr. Miller was carried into Dr. Stewart’s office at the rear of the Stewart drug store, a number of physicians were called, the family was summoned and without regaining consciousness this man who has been one of our most prominent and one of our most public spirited gentlemen for years, passed away. In the very midst of strenuous business activity, at the time of life when it seemed that he was most capable of successful effort he was called to take the mysterious journey from which “no traveler returns.” The death comes with a peculiar and striking shock. It was most unexpected. Accidents have their visible causes but the sudden shattering of an apparently healthy man’s life by subtle internal causes makes the realization of the death all the more difficult. So in this instance it does not seem possible that the New York store doors draped in crape signify that the spirit which has ruled therein during the past years has taken its departure. Only yesterday he was full of life, active in planning his business, hopeful for the results of his various enterprises. Last night he was the jolliest of the jolly. Today the mortal tenement is departed, the spirit has flown and home and friends are desolate.
Mr. Miller was a man known to every citizen of Washington, to perhaps almost every citizen of Washington county and to many beyond the confines of the county. In Masonic circles he was known all over the state, being past Grand Treasurer of the grand Lodge of Iowa. In the Masonic lodges of this city he has been for a number of years one of the ruling spirits. He has been presiding officer of each of the bodies and recently he had been appointed as inspector of the Commanderies in southeastern Iowa and his work of inspection was to have begun soon. He was a man exceptionally bright in the ritualistic work. Naturally he seemed to be able to carry in his mental storehouse volumes of ritualistic knowledge. He was mental energy in strongly concentrated form. He was a worker of the most strenuous kind and it is possible that his mental activity was excessive and that that conspired toward his physical undoing. He was of a highly strung temperament, nervously constituted, up like a flash, quick to act, emotional, sensational in his methods and always effective. He did not fear work. He was public spirited and readily identified himself with those things that were of public interest and importance. He was a member of the city council for one term and was at present serving a second time in that capacity. He had time for the city’s business as well as his own. In that work as in all others he displayed his indefatigable activity. He was a versatile man. In conversation one was surprised to discover that he apparently confirmed business man had time to post himself on other things. His knowledge was wide, his views rational, his convictions confirmed. The town has lost one of its most active and enterprising men and the community mourns his demise with the sorely bereaved family.
Martin Peter Miller was born in Lancaster, Penn., the 28th day of January, 1859 and died in Washington, Iowa, February 6, 1904 and was therefore in his forty-sixth year at the time of his death. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller. The father still lives in Lancaster, the mother having died several years ago. Mr. Miller was reared in Lancaster, there he spent his boyhood days, his public school days, his college days and in that vicinity he taught school. In the early eighties he came to Washington and his life since that time has been spent in this city. He clerked in the Seager dry goods store for a time, was later in the employ of Glaze & Ball and later bought out Mr. Glaze, the firm becoming Miller & Ball. The next step in Mr. Miller’s business experience was when Mr. Ball was bought out by C. R. Daugherty, brother-in-law to Mr. Miller and the firm became Miller & Daugherty. Several years ago Mr. Daugherty retired from the business and during these later years Mr. Miller has been conducting the business himself under the name of “The New York Store.” July 8, 1885, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Willie Elizabeth Daugherty, who with three children, Thomas, Dorothy and Maxwell, survive. One son, Charles Young, died in infancy. The oldest son, Thomas, has been attending school in Morgan Park, Chicago, and is expected home tonight. Besides the father there are three brothers and five sisters, who survive Mr. Miller. The brothers are the Rev. Benjamin Miller, of Philadelphia, George Miller, Lancaster, Pa., Samuel Miller, of Chicago. Mrs. Frank McKain, of Los Angeles, Mrs. Dennis and Mrs. Rev. Royer are three of the surviving sisters; two others live in Pennsylvania. All of the friends have been notified of the death and the father was heard from this afternoon. It is not probable that the services will be held before Tuesday or Wednesday next.
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The Washington Evening Journal
Tuesday, 9 February 1904, page 6

Funeral of Martin P. Miller
The funeral service of the late Martin P. Miller will be held in the Methodist church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock. The casket will be open to friends at the residence between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow.
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