Origin of the Name Millers Bay
Colonel Lucas M. Miller
Special thanks to neighbor Lynette Strasser for her research to determine that Colonel Lucas M. Miller is the namesake for Millers Bay. The following obituary appeared in The Daily Northwestern, on page 2 of the Friday Evening December 5, 1902 issue.
COL. L. M. MILLER DEAD
Col. Lucas M. Miller, of 526 Algoma Street, a member of the Wisconsin legislature in 1893 and congressman in 1892, and one of the most prominent citizens of Oshkosh and Winnebago county passed away Thursday evening shortly before nine o’clock. He was seriously ill only about two weeks. His death was due to a hemorrhage of the kidneys. It was last Sunday that his condition became so grave that fears were entertained for his recovery. He was at times delirious and unconscious, and for forty-eight hours previous to his death he remained in a comatose state, failing to recognize the members of his family. The end was not unexpected. Deceased was seventy-eight years of age. He is survived by a wife and an adopted daughter, Miss Barbara Miller.
OF HEROIC ANCESTRY
Born of a long line of heroic men and women of that true Grecian instinct that was born of freedom and snapped asunder the bonds of servitude, Col. Lucas M. Miller had reason to be proud of his ancestry. His ancestors were great and patriotic in their day, shedding their lifeblood for the freedom they secured, which was the creation of the national spirit of the fair and classic land of the Pelasgi and Hellenes. These Greeks might not have been great but for the nation which gave them birth and imbued them with their worth and spirit.
BORN MID STRIFE
The history of the birth and early boyhood of Colonel Miller is more than interesting—it is romantic. He was born in Livadia, Greece, Sept. 15, 1824, the son of a Greek chieftain who was killed by Turks during the Greek revolution, which ended with the battle of Navarino and the independence of the country, wrung from their old rulers, the Ottoman tyrants. Soon after the death of the father, the mother also passed away and the orphan boy was cared for a short time by a woman who claimed she had found him in an abandoned town ______ after a fierce fight had taken place in its streets between the Greeks and Turks. On the side of the Greek patriots was one Col. J. P. Miller, an American, who had joined the Greek army at the beginning of this revolution. He was a private citizen, but on uniting with the revolutionists he was at once commissioned as colonel and he distinguished himself not only as a brave and efficient officer, but as a true friend to the cause he was fighting for by exerting his influence in securing the donation by his own countrymen of several vessels laden with provisions and clothing for the destitute people of Greece. To this generous minded man, the woman who had in the goodness of her heart become the fostermother of the orphan boy applied for assistance, telling her story and pleading her cause with all the eloquence in her power. Colonel Miller’s heart was touched and he concluded to adopt the little waif, which he did.
COMES TO AMERICA
On returning to America, Colonel Miller, with his adopted son in his care, settled in Montpelier, Vt., where young Lucas M. Miller, for such was the name given him, attended school until he was sixteen years of age, when he was called upon to take charge of the law and real estate business of his fosterfather, who, through an injury was incapacitated for business. The young man studied law and at the age of twenty-one having become a naturalized citizen of the United States, was admitted to the bar. Soon afterward he removed to the then territory of Wisconsin, settling in 1846 in Oshkosh, a mere settlement at that time, but a busy one on account of the lumbering operations and real estate speculations. Having purchased several hundred acres of land, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he met with considerable success. At one time he owned 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Oshkosh, four-fifths of the tract lying within the city limits, thirty-eight acres being where the court house now stands, corner of Otter and Court streets, and his old homestead, now North park, at the foot of Merritt street, is a portion of this original tract. Colonel Miller’s residence still remains in North park and is known as the park house. It is beautifully situated on what formerly was called Miller’s point. Miller’s bay, northwest of the park still bears the name of the deceased.
FROM HAMLET TO CITY
During his residence in Oshkosh and vicinity, of over half a century, Colonel Miller witnessed the growth of a hamlet of some half-dozen houses to a beautiful thriving city with 30,000 inhabitants; and during this long period there has been, probably, no man among the citizens of Oshkosh more closely identified with the history of its enterprises or who has done more to promote the welfare of the city in general. He was instrumental in securing the removal of the county seat from Butte des Morts to Oshkosh in 1847, and donated six lots on which to locate the county buildings. He was also concerned in bringing the land office to Oshkosh in 1849, and assisted very materially in securing the location of the state Normal school at Oshkosh, and the location of the Northern state hospital for the insane in the vicinity of Oshkosh. He was one of a company that constructed the first bridge across the Fox river, and in fact was always closely identified with public movements having for their object the improvement of the city.
HIS POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
Colonel Miller, from the time he cast his first vote, was a stanch Democrat. In 1853 he was elected a member of the Wisconsin legislature, and during his career in that body proved of invaluable service to the young state. Among important measures introduced or advocated by him in the legislature may be mentioned his resolution to permit the Menominee Indians to remain in this state; and he also favored a resolution transferring the Fox and Wisconsin rivers from the state to a company known as the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement company.
NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS
In 1892, during his absence from the state and quite unknown to him, he was nominated for member of congress, and of this event he heard nothing until the day after the convention adjourned. He was elected to the Fifty-second congress on the Democratic ticket, receiving 15,573 votes, against 13,409 for Charles B. Clark, Republican. Colonel Miller served as one of the commissioners of the state board of public works; for ten years he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Winnebago county, and at various times he was urged to run for state office. During the Mexican war and not long after settling in Wisconsin, he was appointed colonel of militia by Governor Dodge.
Colonel Miller resided until May, 1894, at what is now North park, then known as Bonnie View park. This contained 300 acres and was beautifully laid out. He threw the park open to the public for years. In 1891 he sold it to the city of Oshkosh.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral services will be held from the house Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Rev. F. R. Haff officiating.
Additional information available from Wikipedia.
COL. L. M. MILLER DEAD
Col. Lucas M. Miller, of 526 Algoma Street, a member of the Wisconsin legislature in 1893 and congressman in 1892, and one of the most prominent citizens of Oshkosh and Winnebago county passed away Thursday evening shortly before nine o’clock. He was seriously ill only about two weeks. His death was due to a hemorrhage of the kidneys. It was last Sunday that his condition became so grave that fears were entertained for his recovery. He was at times delirious and unconscious, and for forty-eight hours previous to his death he remained in a comatose state, failing to recognize the members of his family. The end was not unexpected. Deceased was seventy-eight years of age. He is survived by a wife and an adopted daughter, Miss Barbara Miller.
OF HEROIC ANCESTRY
Born of a long line of heroic men and women of that true Grecian instinct that was born of freedom and snapped asunder the bonds of servitude, Col. Lucas M. Miller had reason to be proud of his ancestry. His ancestors were great and patriotic in their day, shedding their lifeblood for the freedom they secured, which was the creation of the national spirit of the fair and classic land of the Pelasgi and Hellenes. These Greeks might not have been great but for the nation which gave them birth and imbued them with their worth and spirit.
BORN MID STRIFE
The history of the birth and early boyhood of Colonel Miller is more than interesting—it is romantic. He was born in Livadia, Greece, Sept. 15, 1824, the son of a Greek chieftain who was killed by Turks during the Greek revolution, which ended with the battle of Navarino and the independence of the country, wrung from their old rulers, the Ottoman tyrants. Soon after the death of the father, the mother also passed away and the orphan boy was cared for a short time by a woman who claimed she had found him in an abandoned town ______ after a fierce fight had taken place in its streets between the Greeks and Turks. On the side of the Greek patriots was one Col. J. P. Miller, an American, who had joined the Greek army at the beginning of this revolution. He was a private citizen, but on uniting with the revolutionists he was at once commissioned as colonel and he distinguished himself not only as a brave and efficient officer, but as a true friend to the cause he was fighting for by exerting his influence in securing the donation by his own countrymen of several vessels laden with provisions and clothing for the destitute people of Greece. To this generous minded man, the woman who had in the goodness of her heart become the fostermother of the orphan boy applied for assistance, telling her story and pleading her cause with all the eloquence in her power. Colonel Miller’s heart was touched and he concluded to adopt the little waif, which he did.
COMES TO AMERICA
On returning to America, Colonel Miller, with his adopted son in his care, settled in Montpelier, Vt., where young Lucas M. Miller, for such was the name given him, attended school until he was sixteen years of age, when he was called upon to take charge of the law and real estate business of his fosterfather, who, through an injury was incapacitated for business. The young man studied law and at the age of twenty-one having become a naturalized citizen of the United States, was admitted to the bar. Soon afterward he removed to the then territory of Wisconsin, settling in 1846 in Oshkosh, a mere settlement at that time, but a busy one on account of the lumbering operations and real estate speculations. Having purchased several hundred acres of land, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he met with considerable success. At one time he owned 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Oshkosh, four-fifths of the tract lying within the city limits, thirty-eight acres being where the court house now stands, corner of Otter and Court streets, and his old homestead, now North park, at the foot of Merritt street, is a portion of this original tract. Colonel Miller’s residence still remains in North park and is known as the park house. It is beautifully situated on what formerly was called Miller’s point. Miller’s bay, northwest of the park still bears the name of the deceased.
FROM HAMLET TO CITY
During his residence in Oshkosh and vicinity, of over half a century, Colonel Miller witnessed the growth of a hamlet of some half-dozen houses to a beautiful thriving city with 30,000 inhabitants; and during this long period there has been, probably, no man among the citizens of Oshkosh more closely identified with the history of its enterprises or who has done more to promote the welfare of the city in general. He was instrumental in securing the removal of the county seat from Butte des Morts to Oshkosh in 1847, and donated six lots on which to locate the county buildings. He was also concerned in bringing the land office to Oshkosh in 1849, and assisted very materially in securing the location of the state Normal school at Oshkosh, and the location of the Northern state hospital for the insane in the vicinity of Oshkosh. He was one of a company that constructed the first bridge across the Fox river, and in fact was always closely identified with public movements having for their object the improvement of the city.
HIS POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS
Colonel Miller, from the time he cast his first vote, was a stanch Democrat. In 1853 he was elected a member of the Wisconsin legislature, and during his career in that body proved of invaluable service to the young state. Among important measures introduced or advocated by him in the legislature may be mentioned his resolution to permit the Menominee Indians to remain in this state; and he also favored a resolution transferring the Fox and Wisconsin rivers from the state to a company known as the Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement company.
NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS
In 1892, during his absence from the state and quite unknown to him, he was nominated for member of congress, and of this event he heard nothing until the day after the convention adjourned. He was elected to the Fifty-second congress on the Democratic ticket, receiving 15,573 votes, against 13,409 for Charles B. Clark, Republican. Colonel Miller served as one of the commissioners of the state board of public works; for ten years he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Winnebago county, and at various times he was urged to run for state office. During the Mexican war and not long after settling in Wisconsin, he was appointed colonel of militia by Governor Dodge.
Colonel Miller resided until May, 1894, at what is now North park, then known as Bonnie View park. This contained 300 acres and was beautifully laid out. He threw the park open to the public for years. In 1891 he sold it to the city of Oshkosh.
THE FUNERAL
The funeral services will be held from the house Sunday afternoon at 2:30, Rev. F. R. Haff officiating.
Additional information available from Wikipedia.