Richard P. Miller

As printed in 1914

RICHARD PETER MILLER.

In a history of the legal profession in Lee county it is imperative that mention be made of Richard Peter Miller, now deceased, who was one of the well known criminal lawyers of his section of the state. As a practitioner he ranked among the most able and resourceful and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all the members of the local bar by reason of his close conformity to the highest standard of professional ethics. He was born at Fort Madison, Iowa, on the 27th of May, 1855, and was one of a family of eight children whose parents were Daniel F. and Rebecca (Phillips) Miller. The father, also an attorney, specialized in the practice of criminal law and spent many years of his life in Keokuk, where he was uniformly regarded as an able member of the profession.

Richard P. Miller studied law in Mount Pleasant and was graduated from a college in that city in the spring of 1874, when but nineteen years of age. Upon attaining his majority he was admitted to the bar, entering upon active practice in 1876. He removed to Keokuk and was actively identified with the practice of his profession in this city throughout his remaining days. He possessed notable oratorical powers which enabled him to strongly present his argument, while the logical trend of his mind was seen in his deductions. In 1899 he was elected district judge of the superior court and served for two years upon the bench, his course being in harmony with his previous record as a man and lawyer, distinguished by unswerving integrity and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution.

On the 28th of February, 1888, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Elizabeth Leary, a daughter of John P. and Mary (Kenney) Leary, of Hamilton, and they have one daughter, Ruth, now at home. Mr. Miller was a Catholic in his religious faith, holding membership in St. Peter's church. He was a democrat in his political views and was interested in all public affairs. He was a great over of children and was generous in his support of all worthy charitable and benevolent enterprises and projects. His tastes were scholarly and in addition to writing poetry he was the author of various interesting magazine articles and was well informed upon a broad variety of subjects. He traveled for five years in the west for the benefit of his health before his death, which occurred on the loth of May, 1901, when he was at the comparatively early age of forty-six years. He left behind him the record of a well spent life, a life that may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing to what possibilities and heights one may attain when laudable and honorable ambition lead the way.

As printed in Story of Lee County, Iowa; (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.