Called Home

One of Kennard’s Honored Sons Passes to His Reward.

(photo)

Leonard N. Miller, M.D.

Born July 2, 1887, aged 22 years, 6 months, 19 days. Died January 21, 1910

Leonard N. Miller, son of Mrs. C. Willumsen, and the late Niels Miller, was born near Kennard, Neb., July 2, 1887. He was baptized in infancy and grew to young manhood in Kennard and proved himself a creditable pupil in our local public schools, and after having exhausted every local facility for education, entered the medical class in Creighton University at Omaha, where he finished the course, and 1908 was graduated, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

After having served a year as interne in St. Joseph hospital, he entered into regular practice in South Dakota.

A short time after establishing practice the symptoms of his last illness manifested themselves, and were of such a nature as to baffle medical skill and render an accurate diagnosis well nigh impossible, but it was evident that cancer in some form entered very largely into the complication.

He traveled extensively visiting in succession such large cities as Omaha Chicago and New York in a vain effort to secure effective treatment and while a patient in the General Memorial hospital in New York, was about to cable for a specialist from Paris, when the doctors decided that the only wise thing to do was to remove him to his home while he was yet strong enough to undertake the journey.

He was brought home early in December, and was immediately confined to his bed where everything possible, in which, patience and tender nursing was done to make him comfortable.

The patient grew steadily weaker and often times was attacked by seasons of intense suffering but toward the last the pain had left him and his passing away was attended by a quiet, gentle, gradual slipping away death occurring in the early morning of January 21st, 1910. A post mortum examination revealed the fact his disease was that known to medical science as Lympho-Sarcoma.

He had been received into the fellowship of Grace Methodist Episcopal church in Kennard, and his constant testimony, was of his knowledge of the Power of Jesus Christ to forgive all short comings, and to cleanse from sin. In the afternoon preceding his death he had bidden all good bye, and from thence forward his constant expression was, “Jesus, dear Jesus”.

At the funeral, the Rev. Mr. Hiller, who was a frequent visitor at his bedside, spoke from the fiftieth verse of the one hundred and nineteenth psalm, “This comfort have I in my affliction: Thy word hath quickened me,” and he dwelt upon the faith attended him in his suffering and the triumph of his faith in the hour of death. He spoke of the moral legacies he bequeathed to those who remained.

To his classmates, would fall the lot of filling his place in the world, just as the soldiers in an army fill in the gap when a comrade falls.

To his mother and fiancée who were faithful and devoted attendants, he left the memory of one who had did in the saving faith of the gospel and the character of earnest manhood.

The sympathies of the entire community go out to the family and relatives, and also to Miss Stella Elder, his fiancé, whose home is in Des Moines, Iowa, and to whom he was to have been married during the holiday season just passed.

#2-26 Jan., 1910 - The Tribune - Dr. Leonard N. Miller

Dr. Leonard Miller died last Friday morning at 8:45, and was buried in the Kennard cemetery on Sunday. The funeral services were conducted at the M.E. church, Rev. Hilles officiating. Leonard was born in Kennard and grew up to manhood among us, and it is sad to think that one should be cut down in the bloom of his manhood. There was a large turnout of sympathizing friends and relatives to pay their last respects to one that was loved by all. Ye scribe and family extend their sympathy to the heartbroken mother.

#3-26 Jan., 1910 - The Pilot - Leonard N. Miller, M.D.

Dr. Leonard Miller, whose strange illness we have previously mentioned, died in Kennard last Friday morning, and was buried Sunday from the Methodist church. Owing to the nature of his case, and for the benefit of others, an autopsy was held by Dr. Dunn of Omaha and Dr. Pruner of Kennard. They found the disease to be sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Hard nodules were found in every gland of his body and medical help of course was powerless. He was a son of Nels Miller, now dead, his mother being now Mrs. Ever Williamson. He graduated from Creighten Medical College and was practicing in Carthage, S.D. when the strange disease attacked him. He went to a Cancer Institute in New York and his case was passed upon by two eminent specialists, one from France and one from England, but all said there was no hope for him. He was not yet 23 years of age, and was a fine, clean, manly fellow, beloved by all who knew him.

Note: Per Kennard Cemetery records: Buried in Block 1 Lot 45 Space 5.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Find a Grave #26420081