Sketch of the Life of Robert Collin Miller:
Written by his daughter Alta Josephine
Robert Collin Miller was born in American Fork, Utah on 11 March 1868. His parents, Alexander Millar and Josephine Dickerson Millar migrated to American Fork from Scotland in the early days of Utah history. Collie Miller was raised in conservative circumstances along with his brothers. At a very early age he left home to work in the mines in American Fork Canyon and later became a blacksmith for the mines in Bingham Canyon.
Agnes Hensenia Cook Miller was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on 24 Jan. 1872. She, at the age of five years, migrated to America with her parents. Coming to New York City, Salt Lake City and later to Midvale and Bingham Canyon. The cook family experienced all the struggles and heartaches common to coming to a foreign country. Grandpa Cook was a blacksmith and as such was interested in the mining business.
Collie Miller met Agnes Cook in Bingham Canyon. His first introduction to her was a rear view of her sliding down a bannister from the second floor of her mother's boarding house. It must have made a lasting impression on him because before long they were married and settled in a home of their own. Six children were born of this union. One in American Fork and the other five in Bingham Canyon. The early years of this family were filled with all the struggles that come when raising a large family on a little check.
The miller kids (Hazel Agnes, Eterick Arthur, Robert William, Dewey Edward, Alta Josephene and Leonard Leroy) had the usual amount of pep and development. There was never a dull moment in the Miller household. Bingham Canyon laid a colorful background for a dramatic and unusual career for the children. They early developed the reputation of being the first spectators to the fires, the killings, the snowslides and the floods of Bingham Canyon.
Collie Miller worked as a blacksmith for the mines in Bingham and especially for the Utah Copper. One of his great talents was the ability to design and make fine and unusual pieces of equipment. His services were often requested by the big bosses for this type of work. He was a perfectionist in his line and believed in doing an honest day's work for his small paycheck.
As the children were growing up in Markhan Gulch, a horse and small cart became the cherished property of the family. One of my cherished memories is that of dad coming and going to work with the cart, often loaded down with little Millers who waited after school for a ride home. In the winter time we were often marooned because of heavy snowfall and had to wait until dad came along. It was not an unusual sight to see three little Millers on the horse, dad leading and the rest holding on to the horse's tail. In this way the group plowed their way through the drifts and arived home safely where mother was waiting with hot bread and jam, and milk from old Molly the cow.
Agnes and Colly Miller lived for their family. Hundreds of examples could be cited as evidence of their love and devotion. We loved the summers when the entire family went into the mountains to cut oak wood for the winter fuel.
Sorrows and tragedies struck along with the joys. One experience that stands out in my mind is the time that sis went into the mountains to get flowers for neglected graves in the cemetery and grabbed a live wire that nearly burned her to death and threw her down the mountain side. I can still see dad and Doc running up the mountainside in the small wee hours of the morning in long white drawers.
Some of us got married, some didn't. Hazel Agnes, born 4 Oct. 1894 married Lee M. Anderson, Eterick Arthur, born 16 March, 1897 married Olive Lucille Eriksen, Robert William, born 3 Oct. 1898 and died in 1925 married Merle Smith. Dewey Edward, who was born 27 Oct. 1901 married Juanita Rose Musgrove, Alta Josephine, born 23 March 1904 (writing this sketch) stayed single. Leonard LeRoy who was born 19 Sept. 1905 married Lillian Downs. We were all raised as Methodists in Bingham Canyon. Probably because Grandma Cook held church in her boarding house whenever she could get a preacher to come. Hazel joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Provo. Bob joined when he married Merle and later was married in the temple to her. I came into the church next and then in order Dad, Mother, Doc (Eterick Arthur), Leonard and recently Dewey have joined. Now we are all in the Church where we originally belonged. At present we have one grandchild who went on a mission in the Spanish American Mission and Elva, daughter in law of Eterick, on a stake mission in California. While we weren't the richest people in the world in material things, we were some of the richest in love, good care, security and family loyalty. Dad's extreme honesty and integrity and mother's kindness and generosity are attributes that mean so much to the Millers here in Salt Lake Valley.
In 1880, Collie lived at home with his parents and four brothers, along with a "domestic servant" named Mary Hensen. His parents owned and ran a hotel, and his father also was a farmer and hauled ore for the mines.
He had an eighth grade education.
On November 17th, 1891 he married Agnes Marie Hensenia Phelemina Cook in Salt Lake city, UT when he was twenty three and she was nineteen.
Their first child, Hazel Agnes, was born on October 4th, 1894 in Bingham Canyon, UT.
Their second child, Eterick "Doc" Arthur, was born on March 16th, 1897 in American Fork, UT.
Their third child, Robert William, was born on October 5th, 1898 in Bingham Canyon, UT.
In 1900 he lived in Bingham Canyon, UT with Agnes and the first three of their children. He was a silver ore miner.
Their fourth child, Dewey Edward, was born on October 27th, 1901 in Bingham Canyon, UT.
Their fifth child, Alta Josephine, was born on March 23rd, 1904 in Bingham Canyon, UT.
Their sixth and last child, Leonard LeRoy, was born on September 19th, 1905 in Bingham Canyon, UT.
In 1910 he still lived in Bingham Cayon with Agnes, and now they had six children at home. He was working as a blacksmith for the mines.
In 1930 he and Agnes were living in Midvale, UT with only Alta at home with them. He was sixty one years old and still working as a blacksmith. Alta was a school teacher.
In 1940 Collie, Agnes and Alta lived in a house they owned at 41 Oak St. in Midvale, UT. It was valued at $2500. He listed no occupation that year, but made $1800. Alta was still an elementary school supervisor.
Collie died of a cerebral hemorage on June 21st, 1945 at 7:50pm in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was buried at the Midvale City Cemetery in Midvale, UT.
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