Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 312.

     CAPTAIN SEBASTIAN E. MILLER, a widely known and esteemed Oregon Pioneer of
1852, and a life-long steamboat captain, now retired and living in comfort in a
beautiful home at Canemah, situated on the banks of the Willamette river, on
whose waters he has spent so many active years of his life, was born in Ohio,
April 15, 1828.
     His parents were David and Sarah E. (Fouts) Miller, the former a native of
Kentucky and the latter a Virginian by birth.  They had ten children, five still
surviving, three sons and two daughters.
     The subject of our sketch was the third child, and was raised in Ohio, and
when grown, became a steamboat engineer on the Mississippi river, where he
remained until 1852, when he crossed the plains to Oregon.  On his arrival at
Oregon City, he accepted the position of engineer on the Canemah, one of the
first little steamers that plied on the Willamette river.  After seven years
constant service as an engineer, he was given command of the boats which ran
between Oregon city and Corvallis, the distance being later extended to include
Portland and Astoria.  One of these boats was the Willamette.  By long years of
experience on the rivers of the Northwest, the Captain became one of the best
informed, most fearless and reliable steamboat men in Oregon.  This was
exemplified in the daring feat which he performed with the steamer Shoshone,
which he brought from Boise City down the Snake river, jumping, with her, all
the falls, and landing her safely at Portland.  The same year, he brought two
steamers down from Thompson river to Pondrey lake, on which trip he jumped
several hazardous falls, and brought them through in safety.  The boats were
built at a cost of probably near $100,000 each, and were perfectly useless where
they were, but could be very advantageously used if brought down.  Accordingly,
he was offered $5 a day for his time, if he would try bringing them down, and he
was to have $1,000 for the Shoshone and a proportionate amount for the others,
if he were successful in the undertaking.  He had the courage to undertake the
perilous enterprise, and the ability to succeed.
     The Captain was married in February, 1853 to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Power, a
native of Virginia and a daughter of Josiah Power, an honored early settler of
Ohio.  they had two children, Clara and Melissa Jane.  the former died of
Scarlet fever in her third year.  the latter is now the wife of Mr.George
Bolton, and resides in East Portland.
     The Captain has been a Republican in politics, and takes a deep interest in
the welfare of his State and the country.
     He and his worthy wife, who has been his faithful companion for thirty-nine
years, erected their home in Canemah twenty-five years ago.  This is on a slight
elevation, which commands a good view of the river and surrounding country.  The
house is surrounded with a fine orchard, which produces abundance of the finest
fruit.  Although, they have a most charming retreat from the cares of life, in
which to spend their declining years, all of which has been provided by the
uninterrupted toil and economy of their younger days.  Both the Captain and his
wife are robust and apparently enjoying the best of health, while they both
overflow with good humor.  their uprightness of character and uniform kindness
have gained for them the universal esteem of their fellow-men, while the
tribunals of their own consciences acquit them of any unkind motive or evil
intention.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.