Frank Miller

Frank Miller was murdered by, Albert E. Lary in, Woodville, Oklahoma.

From his Find-A-Grave Memorial:

Otto Franklin Miller or "Frank" was the firstborn child of James and Cordelia. He has one brother, Hugh (MY Great-Grandfather), and two younger sisters, Irene and Elinor.

Frank attended school in Kentucky Town, TX. Upon graduation, he joined his family in moving to Platter, Oklahoma in a covered wagon. They crossed the Red River by hitching the horses to Colbert's Ferry. A short time after, he joined the Citizen's Military Training Camps, and was stationed at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.

When he left the camp, he moved to, Woodville, Oklahoma, and went to work as a service station operator at Midway Filling Station. Shortly after, on April 7, 1926, Frank was shot and killed by an irate police officer (Albert Lary). The officer believed Frank to be the boy whom his daughter was dating. Some family members say Frank was shot at the service station, some say he was shot in his car as he was taking a nap. His official obituary states that he was killed at home. The officer served 4 years in the Oklahoma penitentiary for his crime, before being released on good behavior.

He is buried next to his parents, and his Great Grand Niece (Katrina Miller), at Cannon Cemetery. His grandparents, Jacob and Isabel Miller are buried a few plots down left of his grave. His other grandparents, Henry and Martha Hensley, are buried west of him. His tombstone simply says Frank Miller.

HIS OBITUARY:

April 15, 1926

Funeral Services were held at Cannon for Frank Miller, 20, a former resident of this community, who was killed at his home near Durant, Oklahoma on April 9th.

Reports from Durant state that young Miller was shot when he went to the door of his home on the night of the killing to ascertain the cause of a noise heard by him.

A man living in the community in which Miller has resided has been charged with the killing. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Cleo Chumley of Kentucky Town and Rev. Alvia Henderson of Pilot Grove and were attended by many friends of all sections of this community. Interment was had at the Cannon Cemetery.

Pallbearers, all cousins, of the deceased, were as follows: Haskell McCarley, Olin Alexander, Autrey Dickens, Lee Burk, Bill Miller.

Young Miller formerly lived in this community and was well known to many of the people here, by whom he was highly esteemed. He was a nephew of Beecher Miller of Van Alstyne.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Miller, two sisters, one brother, a number of relatives, all of whom have the sympathy of all of their friends in their bereavement.