Biography of Perry E. Miller

This successful young business man of Nez Perce is associated with Thomas Mockler in a large furniture business which is both successful and well managed.

Referring to his personal career, we note that Perry E. Miller was born in Scio, Linn County, Oregon, on May 23, 1868, being the son of John and Amanda (Redman) Miller. The father was born in Illinois, in 1841, and came to Oregon with his parents in 1849, who took a donation claim of one section, where he was reared and lived until his death in 1878. Perry’s mother was a native of Iowa, born in 1846, and now lives at Freeman, Washington, being the wife of P. J. Wycoff.

Shortly after his birth our subject’s parents came to the old donation claim near Albany and he was educated in the district school there until he was twelve. Then a move was made to Sprague, Washington, and for two years Perry E. attended graded school. Following this, he went to Adams, Oregon, and lived with an uncle, J. T. Redman, a prominent merchant and stockman. Two more years in the graded schools and then four years were occupied in the foremanship of the I. R. horse ranch. Mr. Miller then accepted a position with Reese, Crandall & Redman, wholesale grocers in Tacoma. Two years later he came to Freeman, Spokane County, Washington, and bought a farm, which he handled for years and then, on account of the panic, he was unsuccessful and after much hard work succeeded in settling all indebtedness and had a four horse team and one dollar and twenty-five cents left.

The Nez Perces reservation was the mecca of those who had energy to start again, and our subject is blessed with plenty of pluck. He came straightway, took a ranch, one of the best in the County, thanks to his good judgment in selecting it, and in a short time Mr. Miller had a crop of wheat growing. He freighted between times and in a few years had the entire quarter growing fine crops of the cereals. The fourth year he bought a threshing outfit with his brother, Norton B. and they operated it for two years, being successful. On February 16, 1901, Mr. Miller bought the interest of E. L. Parkers in the small furniture business in Nez Perce and immediately he and his partner built a large twenty-four by one hundred and twenty structure and filled it with a well selected stock. Since then Mr. Miller has devoted himself to this business and is doing well. He personally manages the establishment and is a man of energy and successful business capabilities. This house is the largest in this entire section of country and is favored with a rapidly increasing patronage.

On December 23, 1889, Mr. Miller married Miss Annie E., daughter of Lewis M. and Emma Simpson. Mr. Simpson was a merchant in Adams, where this wedding occurred, but now he is a farmer near Cottonwood. Mrs. Miller was born on November 15, 1872, and on September 6, 1901, she was called by death to the world beyond. She left three sons, Vonley J., Verona LeRoy, Darl V., and one daughter, Madge Leona. Mr. Miller is a member of the W. W., Nez Perce Camp No. 445, also of the auxiliary, being manager of the latter.

In politics Mr. Miller is a Democrat and in 1899 ne was elected County commissioner by a good majority, although the County was Republican. His own district gave him one hundred and forty-two majority, notwithstanding that it was a Republican precinct. Business matters pressed so closely that Mr. Miller could not devote the time to the office that he deemed it deserved and consequently he resigned. He was a delegate to the state convention this year.

On February 19, 1903, Mr. Miller entered a corporation composed of T. M. Mockler, J. H. Mockler and P. E. Miller, doing business under the name of Mockler, Miller & Mockler, of which Mr. Miller is secretary and treasurer. This firm is the largest on the Nez Perce prairie, handling a complete hardware business, farm machinery, furniture and being the only undertaking establishment outside of Lewiston, in the Nez Perces County.

Back to: Nez Perce Biographies

Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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