Aged Pioneer Dies Monday

Early County Resident Dies At Age Of Eighty After Brief Illness

Came To Lincoln Township In 1870

Served as Precinct Assessor Many Years; Also as a Member of the County Board of Supervisors.

The community was saddened Monday to learn of the death of B. P. Miller, prominent Washington county pioneer, who died at his home near Orum at the age of eighty after a short illness.

Mr. Miller was born in Schleswig, Denmark, February 23, 1852, and came to Omaha in 1870 at the age of eighteen years. After a short residence in Omaha, he came to Lincoln township and started work on a farm in the Orum neighborhood. He soon saved enough money to start farming operations for himself and gradually increased his land holdings until at the time of his death, his home place consisted of 250 acres, which was farmed under the direction of his son, Albert H. Miller.

On August 25, 1875, Mr. Miller married Lena Oberbrinkmann at Orum, and to this union eight children were born, Henry, of Kennard, Albert H., of Orum, Mrs. Alice Larsen, of Omaha, Mrs. Evelyn Lundt, of Omaha, Mrs. Lars Larsen, of Orum, and Miss Alma, who lived at home with her father. A daughter, Emma, died in 1900, and a son, Berthal, died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on August 25, 1925. Mrs. Miller passed away in May, 1929.

Mr. Miller was one of two survivors of the original Danish colonists in the Orum vicinity, the other being Mrs. Elsie Jorgensen 93 years of age, who now makes her home in Blair.

At the time of his death, Mr. Miller had lived continuously in the same precinct for 62 years and on the same farm for more than 54 years. He was a great love of home life and had never been away from home overnight until a recent trip to Excelsior Springs when his health began to fail.

Mr. Miller joined the Odd Fellow Lodge in Blair more than fifty years ago and on July 7, 1932, he was presented with a jeweled pin in recognition of his fifty year of membership in that organization. The pin was presented by Judge I. C. Eller, himself a veteran Odd Fellow, at a ceremony held in Blair, and was one of Mr. Miller’s most prized possessions.

One of those sturdy pioneers who had come to Washington county at the time that Lincoln precinct was virgin prairie, Mr. Miller had participated in and been an important factor in the development of that vicinity into one of the most productive regions in the world. He had outlived depressions and crises; throughout he maintained his firm belief in the value of Washington county real estate. Mr. Miller upon coming to this county worked first for E. S. Gaylord and bought his first farm, consisting of (?) acres for $400.

Untoward events were numerous when he first went farming yet in a virtual dugout Mr. Miller matched himself against the unbroken soil. Of such circumstances he often spoke, one of his most impressive recollections being the grasshopper plague. “Talk about the grasshoppers,” he often said, “I can remember when you couldn’t see the sun because of them. They took everything in front of them.”

Public spirited always, he served nearly 25 years as precinct assessor and also for a time on the board of county supervisors, when such a system was in effect here. An ardent republican, he followed the political situation closely and until a few days before his death he had watched with interest the affairs of his chosen party. Mr. Miller was one who cast an absent voters ballot at the recent election, declaring at the time that it was his wish to “vote for another republican before he died.”

Besides his children, Mr. Miller is survived by one sister, Mrs. Peter Larsen, of Omaha, and by great grandchildren.

Funeral services, in charge of the I.O.O.F., were held at the Miller home near Orum Wednesday afternoon with Rev. Walter H. Jackson officiating. His body was laid to rest beside that of his wife and two deceased children in the cemetery at Orum.

Enterprise 24 Nov 1932

B. P. Miller Is Called To Rest

Berthel P. Miller, highly respected citizen of Washington county, passed away at his farm home west of Blair on Monday, Nov. 21, 1932 at the ripe old age of 80 years 8 months and 28 days. Deceased was born in Schleswig Holstein, Germany and came to this country and to Washington county when a lad of ten years. For sixty-two years he has made Lincoln township his home and for the past fifty-four years has resided on the farm where he died.

He was married to Lena Oberbrinkman, Aug. 25, 1875 and to this union eight children were born, three boys and five girls, six of whom still live and mourn deeply their loss. They are Henry of Kennard, Albert H., Mrs. Lora Larsen and Alma of Blair and Mrs. Evelyn Lundt and Mrs. Alice Larsen of Omaha.

When a young man of twenty-one years Mr. Miller became a citizen of the United States and took great pride in the fact that he had never missed an opportunity to vote. He was a real citizen, always interested in the civic affairs of his country and community and at different times served as precinct assessor and as county supervisor.

He was confirmed and baptized in the Lutheran church in his native country and kept his confiding faith in God through the years.

He joined the Odd Fellows Lodge in Blair more than fifty years ago and just recently was presented with a fifty year veterans jewel of which he was very proud.

His wife passed on three years ago but with the help of his son, A. H., and his daughter, Alma he was made happy and content by seeing the old home kept together and the work go on.

The writer has known the deceased intimately for years and his pleasant visits to this office when matters of community interests were discussed will remain a bright spot in our memory. We will always retain the thoughts of his fairness and broad mindedness on subjects of public nature and in his passing we realize that Washington county has lost a substantial citizen.

The funeral services were held from the home on Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock with Rev. Walter H. Jackson officiating and interment was made in the Orum cemetery under the direction of the Blair Odd Fellows Lodge.

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