D. S. Miller Sierra County, New Mexico

D. S. Miller, a prominent representative of commercial and industrial interests in the Territory, is conducting a profitable wholesale and retail general mercantile establishment at Lake Valley and is also largely interested in valuable mining properties. A native of Virginia, he was born in Powhattan County in 1853 and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist in connection with the development of the fields. A young man of twenty-five years, he arrived in Grafton, New Mexico, and entered upon the work of mining, traveling through the country in that connection. Being pleased with the Territory and its future prospects, he decided to return, and did so in 1880, reaching Grafton just about the time of the discovery of gold and silver in that locality. He built the second cabin in the town and was engaged in mining there from 1880 until 1884.

He afterward spent six months in the mining regions of Idaho, and then returned to New Mexico, settling at Lake Valley, where he embarked in merchandising in partnership with S. F. Keller and Henry Herrin under the name of Herrin, Keller, Miller & Company. Three years later Isaac Knight purchased Mr. Herrin's interest and the firm style was changed to Keller, Miller & Company. They conducted stores at Lake Valley, Hillsboro and Kingston for a number of years, but in 1892 the Kingston store was discontinued, and at the present time they are representatives of commercial interests in Lake Valley and Hillsboro. They conduct general mercantile establishments, carrying on both wholesale and retail trade, and their annual sales reach a large figure, for they supply an extensive surrounding territory. For a short time Mr. Miller gave up mining altogether, but returned to it, believing that this district has splendid ore supplies. He has invested extensively and is now heavily interested in zinc and lead mines in the Carpenter district, which will undoubtedly prove a very profitable field, having rich veins of mineral deposits. He developed the Log Cabin mine, which is now producing light-grade ore in immense quantities, while high-grade ore in large quantities is being taken out 'of the Sierra Blanca mine.

Mr. Miller organized the Pioneer Association of Black Range of New Mexico. He is a member of Percha Lodge No. 16, K. P., and in his political affiliation is a stalwart Democrat. He served on the penitentiary commission from 1896 until 1901, but has not been an active politician in the sense of office-seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs and the development of mining properties.

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Source: History of New Mexico, Its Resources and People, Volume II, Pacific States Publishing Co., 1907.

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