WILLIAM H. MILLER

WILLIAM H. MILLER, THE SON OF MR. AND MRS. J. O. MILLER WAS BORN IN MONROE TOWNSHIP, RINGGOLD COUNTY, IOWA, FEBRUARY 3, 1874. HE GREW TO MANHOOD IN THE HOME WHERE HIS PARENTS NOW RESIDE. WILL WAS A SCHOLAR.  HE COMPLETED THE COMMERCIAL COURSE AT THE HUMESTON NORMAL. AFTER ATTENDING SIMPSON COLLEGE AT INDIANOLA FOR A SEASON HE CONTINUED HIS STUDIES AT THE STATE NORMAL IN VALLEY CITY, NORTH DAKOATA.  IN 1897 HE GRADUATED TAKING THE HIGHEST HONORS OF THE CLASS. AT VALLEY CITY HE ACQUIRED THE DISTINCTION OF BEING A PROMISING ORATOR. THE FIELD OF LAW OFFERED INDUCEMENTS TO ONE OF HIS ABILITY, ACCORDINGLY HE TOOK UP THE STUDY OF LAW AT THE STATE UNIVERSITY IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN., GRADUATING WITH HONORS JUNE 8TH. BUOYANT WITH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, HE RETURNED HOME. AFTER A TWO WEEK’S VISIT, WHICH WHEN WE LOOK BACK NOW, SEEMS LIKE ONE GOLDEN CHAIN OF HAPPINESS, HE RETURNED TO MINNESOTA WITH THE BEST WISHES OF A MULTITUDE OF FRIENDS, TO LOOK UP A LOCATON.  HE WAS STRICKEN WITH TYPHOID FEVER AND ON AUGUST 6, 1900 HE PASSED AWAY.  THE REMAINS WERE BROUGHT TO BEACONSFIELD BY HIS FATHER WHO HAD HASTENED TO MINNEAPOLIS WHEN HE LEARNED OF THE SERIOUS ILLNESS OF HIS SON. THE FUNERAL SERVICES WERE CONDUCTED FROM THE M.E. CHURCH BY THE WRITER, AND THE INTERMENT WAS MADE AT HIGH POINT. WE SAW HIS BODY LAID BENEATH THE VELVET VERDURE OF THE LAND HE LOVED SO WELL AMID THE LAMENTATIONS OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.  HIS BOOK OF LIFE IS CLOSED, YET HE LEFT BEHIND HIM FOR OUR INSTRUCTION THE LESSONS OF HIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE. HIS BRIEF YEARS WERE FILLED WITH LABORS, WORTHY DEEDS AND KIND WORDS. HE LEFT HIS NAME HONORED AND LOVED BY ALL INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM. HIS DEATH WAS A CHRISTIAN TRIUMPH, HE HAVING LIVED A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE SINCE HIS FIFTEENTH YEAR. “HIS WAS NOT TO DIE AND GO WE NOT WHERE.” NAY, HE ENTERED THROUGH THE GATES AJAR. “EARTH IS A LOSER, HEAVEN IS A GAINER.” WHILE HIS BODY SLEEPS IN THE GRAVE, HIS SPIRIT IS WITH GOD. THIS IS OUR CONSOLATION, “MAY WE ALL MEET AGAIN IN THE MORNING.” (W.O. WOOLEVER)