Joe C. Miller
Zack Miller
George Miller
Equally at home in the presence of queens or in the company of cowboys in a bunkhouse on the ranch, George L. Miller was the financial genius in charge of the executive and accounting departments of that great enterprise-the 101 Ranch.
Possibly more active and prominent in civic affairs than his brother, George L. Miller was unusually generous in contributions to worthy causes for the advancement of the community.
More than any other one man in Oklahoma, George Miller was responsible for the federal highway No. 77 running north and south through Oklahoma, being routed through Ponca City and the 101 Ranch.
Miller, one of the state's most foremost early-day roadbuilders, Corb Sarchet, secretary of the chamber of commerce in Ponca City, and L.A. Cann, Kay County road commissioner, were in Colorado Springs in 1925 to attend a highway conference to plan the United States highway system and it was through their efforts that the federal highway was brought through this section of the state.
Miller township also has the distinction of voting the first highway bonds, for the improvement of roads, in Kay County. The $18,000 was used for improving the highway between the 101 Ranch and Ponca City. Later the same strip of road was paved at a cost of $40,000.
In 1923 when flood waters destroyed the Salt Fork river bridge near the ranch, the Millers immediately established and maintained at their own expense a ferry for use by the general public.
Lovers of ceremony, crowds of people and the opportunity to play hosts, the Millers found an excuse for another party August 25, 1924 when the new bridge was dedicated. With fitting pomp, Miss Elsie Cann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.A. Cann, christened the new construction with a bottle of crude oil from a Lew Wentz oil well; Felix Duvall, local attorney and long time friend of the Millers gave a short talk on the project and the entire gathering of more than 500 persons, returned to the White House for refreshments.
Opening of the newly paved highway from Ponca City to the ranch furnished another occasion for a celebration the same year.
More than 5,000 people gathered at the ranch for the celebration arranged by George Miller and his cousin W.A. Brooks, as an observance of the event. Special guests at the ceremony was Sidney Suggs, Oklahoma's first state highway commissioner, who had laid out the new road. The evening's entertainment program included motion picture films, with the north side of the office building substituting as a screen, and a dance on freshly-laid concrete.
In addition to the highway, the Millers also paved the road leading around the White House and all roads in the vicinity of their office building. Other ranch roads were oiled at the same time. Beautifying their new acquisition, the Millers planted Bermuda grass along either side of the road for a distance of more than two miles.
Miller, once called the "Henry Ford of ranch business" by Will Rogers, gained state and national recognition as one of Oklahoma's leading and most charitable citizens. His annual contributions to worthy organizations-local, state or national-ran into the thousands of dollars.
The crippled children's hospital had a special friend in Miller and he contributed frequently to that organization. He also donated $2,000 to the Ponca City hospital's building fund and made liberal contributions to the Ponca City chamber of commerce and its numerous projects.
The Ponca Indians had a true friend in Miller, who, like the other members of his family, helped them financially in every possible manner.
He was made a member of the state forestry commission by Gov. M.E. Trapp, was widely discussed as a candidate for the office of governor of the state in 1923 and a few years later declined the democratic nomination for congressman from the eighth district. He also served as state exhibit chairman for the world's fair in Philadelphia in 1927 but later was forced to resign from the position because of ranch duties.
A welcome addition to any gathering, large or small, suburban or cosmopolitan, the Poncan was a guest of Mayor Jimmie Walker, Mrs. Randolph Hurst and other notables while in New York with the show in 1928.
Miller was known to his friends as Oklahoma's Beau Brummell because of his extensive wardrobe and his habit of dressing for the occasion, whatever its nature. Around the ranch and for business dealings, Miller wore typical cowboy-ranchman clothing, including the regulation cowboy hat, but he kept his derby in the late Dr. W.A.T. Robertson's office here so it was convenient when he attended social functions.
Friends still recall his chargrin at accidentally giving his brand new dress suit to the Indians as burial clothing for one of the tribal members, instead of the second best suit he had intended to donate for that purpose.
Another of Miller's favorite stories and one that he frequently told, had its beginning in Eastland, Texas, at the home of Joe Weaver and Mrs. Weaver, who were close friends of the Millers and of the late Lew Wentz. Miller had given Mrs. Weaver complimentary tickets to the wild west show and she in turn had given one to the Weaver hired man, Charlie.
A short while later Charley returned the ticket to Miller with the following letter, explaining why it had not been used:
"You know me, Mr. George, because I'm Joe Weaver's nigger man, Charley. Mr. George, I didn't use that ticket Mrs. Weaver gave me cause a boy friend from here saw the show in Fort Worth and told me the show was no good sept lost of hosses and elephants, I never did like elephants. And I used to work in a livery stable. Did you ever work in a livery stable, Mr. George? If you did, you know how plumb tired a boy can get of horses.
"Now, Mr. George, here is what I wanted to write you about. I didn't use the ticket and a boy told me it is worth four to six bits and I want to given it back to you and want you to send me the six bits, maybe four bits, and next Saturday when our club meets maybe I can run the six bits or four bits up to 20 or 50 dolalrs. Send the money to Charlie Anthony, Box __, Eastland, Texas. Don't send it to Mr. Joe because I owe him a little account and he will keep it.
"God bless you, Mr. George. Come down to see us. Good-bye, your friend, Charley Anthony. Don't send the money to Mr. Joe, send it to me. Thank you Mr. George. The ticket is with this letter. (Miller sent the six bits by return mail)
February 2, 1929, less than 18 months after Col. Joe Miller's death-the second of the Miller brothers, George L. was killed instantly when his car skidded and overturned on the highway 77 curve at the Continental tank farm on the Ponca City-Ranch highway just southwest of the city.
Because of inclement weather, funeral services were held at the city auditorium in lieu of the White House. Hundreds of persons, including a large delegation from the state senate, gathered here for the rites. Arabs traveling with the show at that time in New York conducted their own special mourning ceremonies and a short while later the Poncas held special tribal ceremonies at the show arena at the ranch for another of their adopted tribesmen. Miller's body was placed in the Ponca City mausoleum beside that of his mother and brother, Colonel Joe.