MEDFORD, Or., Jan. 23.--(Special.)--D. H. Miller, one of the pioneer merchants of Medford, today sold his hardware business to Garnett & Roberts, lately from Oklahoma.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, January 24, 1905, page 4


    This week a deal was made whereby D. H. Miller disposed of his hardware business to H. C. Garrett and J. P. Roberts, lately of Oklahoma. The gentlemen purchasing Mr. Miller's business are experienced hardware men and business hustlers, and the Mail extends the hand of good fellowship to them.
    Mr. Miller intends to retire from active business for awhile at least, and in his retirement Medford loses its oldest business man. For twenty-one years Mr. Miller has been in business in Medford and during that time has won the respect of his fellow citizens for fair and honorable dealings and sterling worth. He has always been identified with any movement looking toward the advancement of Medford and has contributed not a little to the city's prosperity. His many friends hope that he will live long to enjoy the fruits of his labors.
    Mr. Miller was postmaster of Medford in its early days and has twice been elected county treasurer of Jackson County, which office he now holds.
    He intends constructing a brick dwelling 26x40, on the southern half of the property at the corner of H and 7th Street, for which he already has a lease. The corner he will reserve for the construction of a business block, which he will put up later on, as soon as the growth of the city seems to demand it.
Medford Mail, January 27, 1905, page 1


    D. H. Miller:--"I had a conversation with Capt. Nash the other day--just as we were closing up the railroad subscription--which shows how he feels about the matter. The captain, when the subject of a subscription was first touched to him, would have none of it; but after thinking the matter over subscribed his $1000. In this conversation mentioned he stated that he was now perfectly satisfied as to the road being a paying one in the future and that he would not now accept 10 percent premium on his investment. I believe he is right, and I wouldn't take that for my shares. There are over five billion feet of timber to come out of that country, not counting that on the forest reserve, which will ultimately be cut under the government regulation. That's enough to keep the road busy for a good many years, and if it didn't carry a pound of other freight or a single passenger I am confident its stockholders will realize from 15 to 25 percent on their investment."
"Street Echoes," Medford Mail, March 31, 1905, page 1


    Dr. and Mrs. J. G. Goble, of Medford, were the guests of their old neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Miller, last week.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, October 14, 1911, page 5


    HON. D. H. MILLER. Gold Hill is fortunate in having among its citizens so eminent and valuable a man as Hon. D. H. Miller, a successful hardware merchant and an owner of city property. He is a man with a notable political record and is extremely active in matters which concern the public good. He was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, May 10, 1850, the son of Henry A. and Nancy Miller. In 1840 the parents took up their abode in Jefferson County upon a donation claim, where they resided until 1866, when they removed to Marion County, Iowa. In 1875 they came to Jackson County, Oregon, where the remainder of their lives were spent. In their family were ten children, of whom only three survive.
    D. H. Miller attended the common and high schools and remained at home until he attained his majority. He then embarked in agricultural pursuits, choosing Marion County, Iowa, for his field of operations. He farmed there until 1875, when, becoming convinced that the West offered advantages superior to those of the Hawkeye State, he emigrated to Oregon and engaged in farming for seven years. In 1883 he removed to Medford and entered the mercantile business, in which he continued for twenty-one years. He then disposed of his interests in Medford and settled in Gold Hill, where he engaged in the hardware business. In this line of trade he is meeting with much success, and in addition to the business which he owns and operates he is the possessor of several pieces of real estate in Medford and Portland.
    In 1871 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Elmira Brous, a native of Marion County, Iowa, and a daughter of James M. and Mary Brous, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. In 1842 the parents removed to Iowa, where the mother passed away. The father later emigrated to Jackson County, Oregon, and resided there until the time of his death.
    In his political views Mr. Miller has always been a member of the Democratic Party and has risen high in its councils. In 1909 he was elected to the state legislature, serving for two years. He also served for two terms as county treasurer and was for five years postmaster of Medford, having been appointed by President Cleveland. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Medford and also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of that city, while his wife is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are active and consistent members of the Christian Church and to the extent of their ability labor to make that denomination effective in the community. The Hon. D. H. Miller stands very high in business, fraternal, political and social circles of Gold Hill, where he has long since been recognized as one of the leading citizens of the town. Having been extensively engaged in politics, he has a statewide political acquaintance, many of his closest friends being prominent and honored state political figures. In his immediate community and county he is widely and favorably known and as he is active in his efforts to build up and promote the various interests of Gold Hill, he is regarded as one of its most prominent men.
Joseph Gaston, The Centennial History of Oregon, 1912, page 360


    Uncle Dave Miller, who has more real fish stories in his repertoire than any other veteran of the casting rod in Southern Oregon, emerged from Rogue River with three feet of fighting chinook salmon fast to his line Wednesday afternoon. The big fish was caught a short distance above town, and for two hours gave its captor one of the sternest struggles of his long career with gamey fish. This is the first chinook to be taken in the river at this point so far this present season, and was in excellent condition. Uncle Dave maintains that not more than three days had elapsed since the salmon began his cruise up Rogue River from the blue waters of the Pacific. It tipped the scales at twenty-three pounds, and although many larger fish have been taken here, was a catch worthy of the most arduous angler. Chinook salmon are very infrequently taken at this period, although several weeks later, when the spawning season commences, the big fellows strike viciously at every lure that presents itself. Although Mr. Miller's catch excels all records up to date, some very fine fish--steelheads and silver salmon--have been taken by other anglers the past week. J. E. Marting landed one of the latter which weighed eight pounds.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, July 20, 1912, page 3




    Lloyd Goble, of Medford, who has been visiting his uncle, D. H. Miller, for the past month, left on Wednesday morning for Portland, where he will spend the few remaining days of vacation with friends before returning to his home in Medford.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, August 24, 1912, page 3


    Uncle Dave Miller, who sought surcease from stomach trouble and rheumatism at the Edgewood, Calif., mineral springs last week, returned on Monday to his home in this city. Mr. Miller was benefited, though to no great extent, by the baths, and intends to let rest and Southern Oregon climate perfect the cure. He motored to the springs with Ed Weston, of Medford.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, September 12, 1914, page 3


    Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Miller, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Lester Lord, motored to Grants Pass Sunday. Returning that evening, they found the roads impassable, and Mr. and Mrs. Lord returned by train. Uncle Dave piloted the car back the following day, and declines to discuss the affair.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, October 24, 1914, page 3


    Tobe Brouse, of Medford, visited with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Miller, the forepart of this week.
"Local News Notes," Gold Hill News, November 27, 1915, page 3


    David Henry Miller, the first white man to live on the site of what is now the city of Medford, was struck and killed by train No. 13 near Gold Hill at 9 o'clock this morning.
    To bolster up failing health Mr. Miller has been in the habit of each morning taking a long walk down the railroad tracks. This morning he was returning as usual from his jaunt, thinking, with head bent, as is his usual habit.
    He has been, for several years, hard of hearing, and his first intimation of the coming train came when it was only a few feet away. He jumped, but the train caught him, dragging him 100 feet before the train could be stopped. The back of his skull was fractured and his neck dislocated, either of the injuries being sufficient to cause instant death. In addition his right arm was broken. The accident occurred about 300 feet west of the railroad crossing at Gold Hill.
    He leaves only his wife, having no children.
    Mr. Miller first arrived in Medford to make his residence, Nov. 28, 1883, at which time he assisted in laying out the townsite. In [1885] he assisted in the incorporation of the town of Medford.
    As a Democrat, he filled many offices in city, county and state administration. He was postmaster of Medford under Cleveland for five years. He served on the city council of Medford three terms. In 1902 he was elected treasurer of Jackson County. In 1909 he was elected to the state legislature from this county and served one term.
    Mr. Miller was prominent in the furthering of education in the city. He assisted in the erection of the first school house in Medford, was connected for a number of years with the city schools and in 1903 was one of the promoters of the Medford Commercial College [Medford Business College, q.v.].
    He was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, May 10, 1850. His father, who was a prominent rancher of that section, moved to Jacksonville, Oregon, where he engaged in farming. David H. Miller, who had married Elmira Brous in 1871, accompanied his father to Oregon, first settling in Dallas, and soon after coming to Jacksonville, where he purchased a ranch of 160 acres.
    Coming to Medford in 1883, he started a drug business and later added hardware to his line, taking in Dr. Vrooman of Jacksonville as his partner. Upon the death of Vrooman, Charles Strang succeeded to the partnership.
    In 1891 the partnership was divided, Mr. Miller retaining the hardware end. In 1905 he sold this business to H. C. Garnett, retiring from business for four years, during which time he served in the state legislature.
    In 1910, the year following his legislative term, Mr. Miller removed to Gold Hill, where he engaged in the hardware business until a year ago when he sold out on account of failing health.
    He was a member of Medford Lodge No. 103 A.F.&A.M. and of Medford lodge I.O.O.F. He was a charter member of the Medford Christian church.
    No funeral arrangements have as yet been made.
Medford Mail Tribune, February 3, 1917, page 6


    David Henry Miller, the first white man to live on the site of what is now the city of Medford, was struck and killed by train No. 13 near Gold Hill at 9 o'clock Saturday morning.
    To bolster up failing health Mr. Miller has been in the habit of each morning taking a long walk down the railroad tracks. Saturday he was returning as usual from his jaunt, thinking, with head bent, as is his usual habit.
    He has been, for several years, hard of hearing, and his first intimation of the coming train came when it was only a few feet away. He jumped, but the train caught him, dragging him 100 feet before the train could be stopped. The back of his skull was fractured and his neck dislocated, either of the injuries being sufficient to cause instant death. In addition his right arm was broken.
    The accident occurred about 300 feet west of the railroad crossing at Gold Hill.
    He leaves only his wife, having no children.
    Mr. Miller first arrived in Medford, to make his residence, November 28, 1883, at which time he assisted in laying out the townsite. In [1885] he assisted in the incorporation of the town of Medford.
    He has filled many offices in the county and the city of Medford, and represented this county in the state legislature in 1909.
Ashland Tidings, February 5, 1917, page 8   Miller may have been among the first to move to the town site after it was platted in 1883, but at least a dozen people preceded him, including Napoleon Evans, who homesteaded the site, and the Phipps and Broback families, who owned much of it and had it platted.