"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. Page 609. Malheur County. JUDGE WILLIAM MILLER It is inherent in our race to give plaudits to the man who has achieved success against a fight with adverse circumstances, and especially so when by virtue of his own ability and pluck and worth, he has won against great odds that for which he fought and labored. As an example of this class of men we are constrained to mention the worthy gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, being one of the leading men of worth and integrity in Malheur county, and also holding his present position of district attorney for this and Grant and Harney counties by virtue of his intrinsic worth, and enjoying a prestige which has been well earned through faithful effort and excellent accomplishment. Mr. Miller was born in San Francisco, California, on January 8, 1834, being the son of David and Agnes (Iriving) Miller. He was educated in the common and high schools, and then went to Stockton and acted as salesman for a number of years, 1877 being the date when he arrived in that city. Eighteen hundred and eighty-two marks the date when he left there and came to Harney valley, in this state. He drove team all the way for J. F. Mahon. In Harney he broke mules, teamed and made posts for the first year; then in 1883 he went into the store of McGowan & Steugars, where he clerked for thirty-three months. In 1886, while acting as deputy clerk for Grant county, he took up the study of law under the direction of Charles Parish, in Canyon City, and in due time was admitted to the practice at the bar. When Harney county was cut off as a separate political division, in 1889, he returned to Burns and selected all the record books for the county, and was the first deputy clerk of the county, under W. E. Grace, being also elected, later, as the first county judge. He was elected on the Democratic ticket and served for four years, being elected in 1890. On account of the failure of his wife's health he was forced to remove from that place, so located in Ontario. In 1898 he was elected district attorney for Malheur, Grant and Harney counties, on the Republican ticket, served two years, and then was promptly re-elected, the term having been then changed to four years. The marriage of Judge Miller and Miss Eva F., daughter of Thomas and Sarah D. (Howard) Cozad, of Canyon City, early pioneers from Missouri, was solemnized on November 30, 1887, the issue of which was five children, as follows: Irving; Edna, deceased; Emmet, deceased; Lulu; and Agnes. On March 1, 1898, Mrs. Miller was called from her home and family by death. On September 11, 1899, Judge Miller contracted a second marriage, the lady being Mrs. Mattie Blakesley, a daughter of Mrs. Sisson, of Baker City. Mrs. Miller had one daughter by her former marriage, Madge Blakesley. Judge Miller is a charter member of Acacia Lodge, No. 118, A. F. & A. M.; also a member of the I.O.O.F., Ontario Lodge, No. 90, being also past grand; and is a member of the W. of W. He is possessed of a good library, some property in both the country and town, including a good office building and much other valuable real estate. Judge Miller is one of the most highly esteemed men of the three counties mentioned, and is well worthy of the entire confidence of the people, being a man of integrity and worth, and having wrought out a success in three counties commensurate with his intrinsic qualities, and it is with pleasure that we have been enabled to grant him consideration in this volume of abiding chronicles of these counties. He is a purely self-made man. Judge Miller is mayor of the city of Ontario, Oregon, at this writing. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.