Garfield Miller

Birth: He was born around 1880 in Indiana.

Family Information: He married Eveline Jaufroid in February 1932 at the home of Rev. J.B. Tinnin of Leesville, Louisiana.  

Description: After his marriage in 1932 he was said to have a "sparkle in his eye, more color in his cheeks and more vigor in his step."

He was "a scholar not wholly innocent of Greek and Latin. Contrary to common belief, this d[id] not blind him to the practical, utilitarian things of life." He said that to be a really successful teacher, "one should know chemistry, physics, zoology, botany and other natural sciences." He understood capillary attraction and knew how to maintain it -- he cultivated with a rake only. To prove his theory, he scraped off the surface mulch and dug out a handful of soil. It was moist and friable. "Deep cultivation," said Miller, "stops the rise of moisture below the root stalks." Some of his turnip tops and Chinese cabbages had a spread of two to three feet. Everything in his garden looked fine, "Greek or no Greek."  

Pre-Colony History: In 1900 he was living in Jefferson, Indiana with his parents and siblings.

In 1920 he was living in Mobile, Alabama as a lodger with J.P. Savage and working as a teacher in a public school.

He came to the colony from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

Home in Colony: On the 1930 US Census he was listed as a lodger with the Septer Baldwin family.

In March 1932 Bennie Wade Hewett and Ralph Plumb were making a stove at the machine and blacksmith shop to help furnish the little "Bide-A-Wee" cottage located on the edge of the Kid Kolony garden for Mr. and Mrs. Garfield Miller. This would provide plenty of room for Mrs. Miller's well-known penchant for flowers. 

Job in Colony: In 1930 he was listed as being a candy maker in the colony shop.

He also worked as a gardener in the orchard with Comrade Hiatt; in 1930 they were raising a crop of pop corn among the younger trees.

In January 1932 he and Charley Derleth, with his big, good-natured mule, were gathering compost -- they had raked up about five acres.

In February 1932 it was reported that he'd been a teacher in the colony schools and raised vegetables in the Kid Kolony gardens, he being an expert gardener for the past three years.  

Other Info: In February 1932 he presented Langdon Smith's poem, "Phantasy of Evolution," which was greatly enjoyed at a theater program.

In September 1932 he and his wife departed for the Terrebonne unit along with other family members including Louise Jaufroid and Mrs. Dora Adams. A farewell party was held at the home of T.F. Brough. Also attending were Ed Blank, Wm. Bingham, John Aiton, George Taylor, Harry Irwin, Joe Krug, Mrs. Neal, T.F. Brough and his children Billy and Margaret.

Warren Fread delivered the four, along with Sam Hall and a load of household effects, equipment and seed to the lower unit. They left the colony very early in the morning, so left their "au revoir" on the blackboard of the hotel porch.  

Post-Colony History:  

Death:  

Sources: US Census: 1900, 1920, 1930; "Llano Colonist": June 21, 1930, January 23, 1932, February 6, 1932, February 27, 1932, March 26, 1932, May 21, 1932, May 28, 1932, September 10, 1932, September 24, 1932