Edwin O. Miller, 1847-1913 [RG1238.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG1238.AM:  Edwin O. Miller, 1847-1913

Papers:  1904-1905

Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska:  Commercial Agent for Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway

Size:  Two items

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Edwin O. Miller, a native of Ohio, arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1874 and secured a clerking position with Parker and Lansing, hardware merchants.  Accompanied by other new arrivals to Nebraska, Miller made a trip by wagon over the Nebraska prairie, intending to purchase homestead land in the Republican Valley.  Although he was impressed with the land and its potential for farming and pasturing of livestock, Miller decided not to homestead and returned to Lincoln.  Eventually he secured employment with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, serving as Commercial Agent for that company in 1905.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of two items. The first item is a letter written by Edwin O. Miller in which he provides a transcription of the diary he kept during an 1874 journey across the Nebraska prairie to the Republican Valley.  Miller’s diary entries record his evaluations of the agricultural potential of the land, the appearance of wild game during the trip, and “curiosities” for the prairie, which consisted of wild flowers and plants not found in his native Ohio.  Including also are descriptions of towns along the way, including Fairmont, Sutton, Riverton, and Lowell.  The letter was written in 1905.  The second item is a Way Bill, 1904, for the first load of home grown peaches shipped from Lincoln, Nebraska.  A statement by E. O. Miller verifying this and providing additional information is included.

INVENTORY

Item

1. 1. 1905 letter containing transcription of Edwin O. Miller’s 1874 diary

1. 1. Way Bill, 1904, and attachment providing statement of E. O. Miller, 1905

Subject headings:

Clay County (Nebraska) — History

Fairmont (Nebraska) — History

Franklin County (Nebraska) — History

Fruit-culture — Nebraska

Kearney County (Nebraska) — History

Lowell (Nebraska) — History

Miller, Edwin O., 1847-1913

Overland journeys

Republican River Valley (Nebraska) — History

Riverton (Nebraska) — History

Sutton (Nebraska) — History

AIP/ksa                10-01-1990

Revised TMM      04-07-2017