Do you save those stories shared on Ancestry to your tree? Have you ever tried to verify the information in a story?
I’m currently researching Alexander Crawford and his wife Margaret McElwee and thier descendants. At times, I feel like I’m chasing my tail while other times it feels like I’m chasing a bright shiny object. This ‘chase’ recently took me to hints for George Washington Miller (1842-1903). One of those story hints just begged for me to chase it.
Some might question my sanity since George W. Miller is not a descendant of Alexander Crawford. However, I believe he is the 19 year old George Miller in the household of John Fish on the 1860 census in Lincoln County, Kentucky. This household also contains a 4 year old James (or Jones) Crawford.
While I’m still trying to locate records to verify the family structure, I believe the mothers of George Miller and James (Jones) Crawford are sisters, Almina and Mary Fish (daughters of John and Mary Fish). This would make George Miller and James (Jones) Crawford first cousins.
Thus figuring out the story of the 101 Ranch is not chasing a bright shiny object but researching my FAN club. And, googling, ‘101 Miller Ranch’ turns up quite a few sites with information about the ranch.
- Miller Brothers 101 Ranch – The Encyclopedia of Oklahama History and Culture
- The White House on the Plains (a RootsWeb site)
- Millers Brothers 101 Ranch (Wikipedia)
- George Washington Miller: Visionary Founder of the 101 Ranch – on Rural Messenger
Besides Google, I also turned to newspapers where I found quite a few stories about the ranch. The 4 December 1932 issue of the Tulsa World contained an article about the demise of the ranch: Oklahoma’s Famed Showplace Is Passing. (found on Newspapers.com)
A 14 Aug 1942 article in The Caddo Herald (Caddo, Oklahoma) provides a glimpse into the glory days of the ranch: Highlights of the Old 101 Miller Ranch. (found on Newspapers.com)
Highlights of the Old
101 Miller RanchBy J. D. Tanner
409 Elm St., Pawnee, OklaThe Miller Brothers 1010 Ranch near Ponca City, Okla., once covered a land area 90×100 square miles. That was when grazing land could be leased for as low as one cent an acre annually. The actual amount of ranch land owned by Miller Brothers never exceeded 22,000 acres but, including land leased by them, the ranch covered 101,000 acres.
The Caddo Herald (Caddo, Oklahoma) 14 Aug 1942, page 2, available on Newspapers.com
No ranch — not even the King Ranch in South Texas with its million and a quarter acres — has history as colorful as the 101 Ranch. This ranch was established in 1881 by George W. Miller, father of Zach, Joe and George Miller, Jr. The three brothers continued to operate the ranch after their father’s death.
About 1912 the 101 Ranch was in the zenith of its glory. Thousands of cattle grazed its wide domain. Each year the Millers marketed from 3,000 to 6,000 fat steers. Most of the cattle were sold on hoof, but the Milers also had their own packing plant and killed and processed meat for the retail and wholesale trade. They also raised grain crops on part of the land and one year harvested 70,000 bushels of wheat. It was easy to make money in these times and the Millers made plenty of it.
Noted Guests of 101 Ranch
A mansion built on the ranch was named the “White House,” where the Millers entertained lavishly. Among their guests were some of the noted men and women of American and Europe. Queen Marie, of Rumania, was a guest at the “White House.” Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan were guests. The great and near-great came from far places to partake of 101 Ranch hospitality.
In 1907 and again in 1924 the National Editorial Association were guests at the “White House.” On this occasion the editors were dazzled by a full-fledged rodeo and Indian pageant staged by the Millers on the ranch ground.
The private rodeos and Indian pageants held on the ranch were so popular that the Millers determined to organize a wild west show and go on the road with it, giving exhibitions in principal cities of the United States. The show, a success form the start, wintered one season in Hollywood, California. While in Hollywood the show, it is said produced the first motion pictures of wild west scenes. It was there that Bill Hart was first introduced to the movie world by the Miller Brothers. Tom Mix was a performer in the show and at one time worked as a cowboy on the 101 Ranch.
Buffalo Bill Joins the Show
There came a time — in 1914-15 — when Buffalo Bill (William F. Cody) did an act in Millers Brothers Wild West Show. Cody’s act was breaking small hollow glass balls (tossed in the air) with a 22-calibre rifle. He shot from horseback, galloping the horse in a circle.
After touring much of the United States with their show, The millers took it to England. There vast crowds attended the exhibitions, including the late King George and other European crowned heads and lesser notables. London was acclaim with Miller Brothers spectacular and unrivalled wild west show.
The Millers had planned to tour other European countries with the show, but World War I broke out and all of Europe seethed with war talk and war preparations. The tour was abandoned and the show returned to the United States.
Back in America, the Millers continued the show and ranch business. They prospered and the “White House” was again a scene of social gatherings and sumptuous banquets with Zach, Joe and George Miller as genial hosts.
Death of George and Joe Miller
During these regal days a shadow fell across the “White House.” George and Joe Miller died suddenly. Joe succumbed from monoxide gas poisoning in 1927 and George was killed in an automobile accident in 1929. The death of these two courtly gentlemen was a shock to their many friends in Oklahoma and throughout the nation.
Colonel Zach Miller tried to carry on after the death of his brothers, whose passing grieved him deeply. He took over the ranch and managed it for a while. Then, moved by an urge to go on the road again with the wild west show, he sallied forth and did well until the 1929 depression, which was a death blow to all shows, including the best ones in New York City.
At Washington, D.C., the famous Miller Brothers Wild West Show folded up and went into bankruptcy.
Colonel Zach Miller, the surviving brother who devoted most of his time to the livestock business, resolved to keep the Miller ranch in Oklahoma a going concern and pay off all debts that had accrued against it. Undoubtedly he would have done this had not creditors closed in and asked the court for a receivership.
The receiver sold all ranch property, including all livestock, and everything else that had tangible value.
Today the 101 Ranch is no more; its land has been divided into a farm settlement project, and the famous “White House,” after foreclosures, has been occupied by NYA boys and their craft handiwork.
Yes, this story is a bright shiny object! But, it likely is also information about a FAN club member that may help me locate more records for my Alexander Crawford research.