Tuolumne County Biographies

SOL MILLER

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


Mr. Miller, whose portrait appears herein, and who is extensively known 
throughout the greater part of the Pacific States as a most energetic and 
successful commercial trav�eler, was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 
August, 1829.  Leaving his ancestral acres in early life, when the �gold fever� 
took so many westward, he too sought these shores, coming to Panama, thence 
traveling down the South American coast to Peru, from whence: he came to San 
Francisco in the early Spring of 1849.  Going immediately to the mines, he 
worked for a time at Jacksonville, on the Tuolumne River.  A short time spent 
there, he returned to San Francisco, then proceeded, in the Fall of the same 
year, to Angels� Camp, in Calaveras County, subsequently going to Vallecito, 
where he had the good fortune to �strike it rich,� and again returned to San 
Francisco, and engaged in business with P K. Aurand, their house being on 
Wash�ington street San Francisco; but misfortune overtook them, and they were 
burned out on May 6, 1850.
After this calamity, the two partners proceeded to Tuol�umne County, where they 
settled, establishing themselves in mercantile business at a place to which they 
gave the name of Montezuma House, the name of which has remained attached 
to the important mining camp which subsequently grew up near by.
On Saturday, June 29, 1850, the following occurrence took place, which has 
marked an epoch in Mr. Miller�s life:
On the evening of the above date three Mexicans, cus�tomers, came in and 
purchased goods, for which they ten�dered payment.  While in the act of 
receiving the money, Mr. Miller was stabbed by a weapon which one of them 
drew from beneath his serape.  Three wounds were inflicted upon him, one, the 
principal, being through his body, from side to side, penetrating both lungs; 
another in the back of the neck, and the third in the arm.  The victim fell and 
became insensible, so remaining until, awaking in the dark�ness, he found his 
partner near him, who said, "Sol, I am stabbed; are you alive ?�  And they lay 
until midnight, spending their time in giving each other explicit directions as 
to the disposal of their effects in ease that one recovered.  Dying then, this 
brave partner�s last words were a query as to the other�s sufferings.  On the 
following morning help arrived, and the survivor was taken to the hospitable 
house of Judge Robert McGarvey, at Oak Springs, where he re�mained until his 
recovery, his kind host assuming charge of the property of the two men, which 
was delivered uninjured to Mr. Miller.  The outrage was committed for pur�poses 
of robbery, but the desperadoes realized but three hundred dollars for their 
infamous crime, because their victims had taken the precaution to hide the 
remainder of their money, amounting to seven thousand dollars, in a bread 
barrel, where it was undiscovered if by the Mexicans, and was delivered over to 
the survivor.
After an inquest, held by H. P. Barber, Esq., the re�mains of the partner were 
buried where he fell, and for more than thirty years the spot where he rests has 
been kept green and suitably marked by head-board and fence, the one living 
testifying to the good qualities of the dead who perished on that fearful night.
Since then Mr. Miller�s life has been taken up almost entirely by business 
affairs.  In 1850 he formed a partnership with "Count" Solinsky, which existed 
until the establishment of Adams� Express Company, when they became Agents for 
the latter firm, at Chinese Camp, Big Oak Flat, Montezuma, Don Pedro�s Bar and 
Coulterville.  On the failure of their employers, they became Agents for the 
Pacific Express, and afterwards for Wells, Fargo & Co. Messrs. Miller & Solinsky 
remained together until 1870, when the former became Tax Collector for two 
terms, then Under Sheriff during the shrievalty of James Trout.  In 1871 Mr. 
Miller left Tuolumne and went to Stockton, where he conducted a branch of the 
business house of Messrs. Spruance, Stanley & Co., removing, in 1875, to San 
Fran�cisco.  He has since been acting as Solicitor for the last named firm, and 
has achieved a wide celebrity in his busi�ness.
The gentleman married Miss Roxie A. Searl, in January, 1857, who died in July, 
1860.  By her there is a daughter, Miss Agnes A. Miller.  In 1863 he was again 
married, this time to Miss Hattie N Humphries.  The issue of the second marriage 
is also a daughter, Lulu, who is now twelve years of age.  The family now reside 
in Oakland.

�A History of Tuolumne County, CA� B.F. Alley, 1882.  Appendix Pg. 4-6.