This is a journal written by Joseph Roger Coulson Miller, known as J.R.C. Miller on many documents. As a preface to this journal, the reference to this family as recorded in the 1971 Denton Ne. Centennial book is as follows: 

J.R.C. Miller was born in Pennsylvania in 1854. His father was killed in one of the early battles of the Civil War, and Joe, a mere boy, took over the support of the family at an early age. In 1875 he moved to Nebraska. He farmed east of Denton and taught school during the winter. His mother, Martha Jane Miller and his sisters Ellen Helm and Mary Reider and their small daughter, Myrtle E. accompanied them They settled west of Denton near the Haines Branch and spent their first winter in a home which was a partial “dug out”.

Written by R.W. Hamilton
J.R.C. MILLER JOURNAL
I landed in Lincoln Neb Oct 1st 1875, from Pennsylvania. I was looking for a homestead. I went to Saline County found none. Took a school to teach at twenty-five dollars per month. I later made arrangements to farm the East half of the south east quarter section 34-9-4 which I farmed in wheat. I also had a piece of barley. I lived across the line in Saline county.

The grasshoppers came in hoards and consumed everything above ground. I had a good potato crop and my wheat and barley. I taught school the winter of 76-77 in the district for three months for one hundred dollars. Thus we lived, for my wife had joined me. Among my first acquaintances was Alford Burlingame who died in after years and is buried on the south east corner of the west half southeast quarter of 34-9-4.

I next became acquainted with Ellis Shane, who was looking for a girl to care for his wife who was ill. He procured my sister Mary who with my mother and sister Ellen had joined up. In early spring of 1878, I was appointed director of the school district where the land I was farming lies. The appointing board, saying, I was new and knew nothing of the affairs of the district they were leaving me all the records of the district, and wanted to know what money was in the district and report to the annual meeting my report. I did and reported the books showed four hundred dollars on hand. 

The treasurer reported they had no school house and no pupils to attend and he had loaned the money but was prepared to make it good. The man he had loaned it to was a carpenter. The money loaned had earned forty dollars and he was prepared to call it his or the districts as they chose to elect. I made the motion to call it the districts, build a school house with the money on hand. This the district did. The house was completed after harvest. A Sunday school was organized for Sunday afternoons. 

This was well attended from surrounding communities as there was none other short of Saline county and Camden on the Blue River. The Beams, Wilson's, Greer's. Lazader's and Denton's of Lancaster County attended. I became acquainted with Paul Denton. He had a Miss Van Slyke, a neighbor girl for a wife in arrangement to farm the land where the Village of Denton is now located. 

Before moving to Denton I disposed of my corn at twelve cents a bushel and my hogs at one dollar and ninety cents per hundred. We built a two room house just south of where the section house now stands. When I moved in I found Evan T. Wilson living in the section house then located just north of the track and east of the crick. His wife and children proved quite neighborly. 

I discovered he had had a homestead on 
sec 14-9-5 and a timber claim on sec 30-9-5, that his wife had been a Miss Greer a daughter of Mrs. Beam by a former marriage. She had a brother Rolland who was also married and lived on the same section. Evan Wilson’s father and mother had located somewhere on section 10-9-5. Later I think they returned to Iowa. Many of the early settlers after the grasshopper experience had disposed of their homestead and had sought “lands fairer than this” or gone back to “God’s country.” Among those I found on arriving in Denton was Ellis Shane, a Civil War Veteran who had married a Miss Cummins, a daughter of an early settler who lived on a farm near where Burnham now stands. 

Mr. Shane located on sec 20-9-5 where he was later joined by his father who also located on the same section. On the same section was located Rufus Markle who had married Elizabeth Wilson, a sister of Evan T. Chauncey Owens and Christopher Stahl were also early settlers on section 20-9-5. Hugh Coates and Robert Thurston were early settlers along with the Beam's, Greer's and Wilson's on section 30-9-5. A man by name of Parker and another by name of Geisler were located on 32-9-5. James B. Abbott wife and family and Cap Emsley and Peter Brandenberger was on section 1-9-5. Elder Hudson wife and family and Hamilton and Wesley Queen with their families were on section 12-9-5. Carl Reiche wife and niece were on 14-9-5. John Kuhn wife and Carl Shell a nephew and a man by name of Husenstein wife and daughter who later went by name of Sofia Stone was on section 34-9-5. 

A blizzard in late spring of 1874 or 1875 was said to have caused the death of a man by name of Parsons. Ellis Shane told me that a man by name of Haines had come north on the divide east of what is now Cheese Creek to its confluence with the creek now known by name of Haines Branch by reason of their camping on its banks. His wife who was sick, died and is buried there. 

The Overland Trails crossed the county east to west. It crossed the divide south of Denton precinct in sections 8,9,10 T 8 R 5 and crosses a small creek. When the freighters fed and watered their teams, Mother McGill milked cows and made cottage cheese and sold to the freighters, who called the creek, Cheese Creek. Along the north Haines branch there were settlements made by George Robinson, two Whitten families, a Mr. Pratt and a Mrs. Carter, Jacob Brong and family.

Phineas Helms and family consisted of one son, H. Smith Helms, a man by the name of Flower, Peter Schamp, Mike Deere, Addison Judd wife and family. Jacob Haist married Medora Brong, a daughter of Jacob Brong. A man by the name of Shrader, another by name of Riley also lived along the branch. Henry Reider wife and family consisting of one son, Manford Reider and two sons whose names were Perry Talley and brother, sons of his wife by a previous marriage. Lester Williamson and family, son and daughter. The daughter married a Charles Bentley in 1879, Smith Helms married Ella Miller the same year. D.A. Jones wife and family, a family Reeves by name, went on section 23-9-4. Early settlers in 12-9-4 were Milton Dunten, A.B. Dunten, better known as “Doc” and W.S. Dunten better known as Scott and Frank Stern. The boys were all Civil War Veterans. Doc Dunten was a violinist and furnished the music to the old and young of the community backed by his cheerful sunny smile. Scott Dunten was the professor and taught the young of his surrounding neighbors the rudiments of an education. He later became the first merchant of Pleasant Dale. 

There were other families on 6-9-5 and 18-9-5 but were transients and this writer is not sure of some of the data. A man by name of Andrews located on the SW ¼ of 9-9-5. Thomas and Steve Bott with their families located on the NE ¼ section 9-9-5. Jonas Reed was located on the W ½ of the NW ¼ 10-9-5. The year 1876 saw quite an influx of settlers over the Burlington who had built their ----- in 1871 and were anxious the country should be developed. They took up their tracks at Denton and put in a siding on the NE ¼ 15-9-5 and then delivered the lumber necessary to building of improvements for the English colony who came from North Adams, Mass. consisting of Mr. and Mrs. James Hocking and family, his brother Thomas Hocking wife and family, William, Samuel, Lester and two unmarried sisters. A William Mills who had married a sister of James Hocking and Fred Berryman who had married his oldest sister. 

They with their families constituted the Hocking fraternity and located on section 15, 10, and 21-9-5. Along with them came J.R. Roscrow wife and family, John Harley wife and family, Battice Fushia wife and family and Leonard Fushia and wife, they French Canadian. A man by name of Hazlett and later E.J. Marshall, wife and family settled on section 11-9-5. Thomas Huddleston wife and family located on SE ¼ 10-9-5. Andrew Nelson and wife located on W ½ of SW ¼ of 12-9-5. A family by name of Huddo located on S NE ¼ of 15-9-5 and then sold to J.W. Maughan and wife who located thereon. William Olney, wife and son J.W. with Joseph Morris and wife and daughter with her husband George Stewart settled on the NW ¼ 14-9-5. Robt. Moffett had bought out the Andrews and Bott homesteads, fed cattle and horses a couple of years, then sold to the Rev. John Smith wife and sons, J. Harry and J. Howard who moved thereon. 

George Descher, wife and their family acquired the SE ¼ of 4-9-5. Joe Payne, H. T. Johnson and wife and others whose names I have forgotten located on section 4-9-5. A German by name of Hoppe and family located on the south east ¼ sec 10-9-5. Charles Herpolsheimer located on the East ½ section 29-9-5 and his brother Fred and family located on section 31-9-5.

The Irish colony came in 1877 and located on section’s 24, 25, W ½ of 26-9-5, 1 in 8-5 and 6-8-6 and 19 and 30-9-6 consisting with their families of Timothy F. Jerry U, John R. Eugene F. James F, John P. and Murty Sullivan , a man by the name of Lowney, John Shea and Frank Enright. The Safford and Exley families had come in earlier and located on section 18-9-6. In the same year the Dutch began coming in from Penna among the first with their families were Frederick Haase, Charles Buelow, John Fraas followed later by Henry Haack and family. 

The Collis family, the Lukehart's, Joseph Burgess, Walter Miller, Frank Dauwalter, Standish Rapp, Robert Shaw who had married Emma Dunten. Oscar Olson, Emanuel Peterson, J.B. Carpenter, Joseph Allen, John Green, J.M. Kendall, Chas. T. Gray, Mr. Ratch, Herman Borgman, Henry Davis and with families were located within the precinct. Mr. and Mrs. D.A. Gilbert with son Martin and daughter Mattie were early settlers in 1882. At the same time Maxey M. Cobb who had married Carrie B. Gilbert moved to section 28-9-5 when he was joined by the D.A. Gilbert family. They had control of two sections. Robert Cameron on the north line of the precinct and others too but this writer does not recall their names.

The early settlers when they could, held their products off the market until assured the coming crop would mature. They fed their crops mostly to their livestock of which they aimed to keep sufficient to consume all their roughage. All the farmers had a small bunch of cattle, hogs and poultry, and were living within their means. D. M. Denton and Jonas Reed were the first sheep men, each of whom had quite a flock. J.R.C. Miller , Al Luzader and Frank Denton were the first sheep shearer's and were kept busy during the season.

These early sheep men were followed by J.O. Wakem on section 27-9-5 and G.R. York on section 33-9-5 and a man by the name of Lockwood on sec 3-8-5 all of whom had large flocks. J.O. Wakem disposed of his flock and land to C. R. Jones a new arrival from England. Paul Denton had accumulated quite a herd of cattle which he was herding summers and fatting out winter for the market. He migrated for the west with his herd in the spring of 1881. Henry Lane came in for feeding and fatting of cattle. F. R. Denton followed. R.F. Moffett followed with cattle and horses. D.A. Jones with cattle and sheep. The Smith's contented themselves with cattle and hogs. Hogs were always following cattle and were a by product. Pretty generally this was successful though loses occurred.

James Giles with family who came from England came to the north ¼ of section 17-9-5. His sons and daughter married the daughters and sons of the earlier settlers. The few years had made quite a change in the neighborhood. Marriages had added new homes. Henry Abbott, a son of J.B. Abbott had married a Miss Fushia, daughter of Battice Fushia, Harry Marshall, a son of E.J. Marshall had married Minnie Wilson. Joe Payne had married the eldest daughter of James Giles. Lem Beam married a Miss Markle, a daughter of Rufus Markle and had gone to the far west. They had been preceded by Roland Greer and family who had heeded the lure of the west. “There is a land that is fairer than this”? They were followed by Lem Wilson, a son of Evan T., the Shane boys and others. 

The Carpenter's, Judd's, Reeves', Shaw's, Payne's, and Weldon Kendall who had married Belle Wilson , the last daughter of Evan T. and others. They had all sought that “fairer land”. Robert Moffett who had married Mattie Gilbert sold his holding to the Smith's and went south. He is sleeping in Moberly Mo.

Among the early deaths occurred that of the Elder Shane, Coates and wife, Rufus Markle and the wife of George Reed who died of tuberculosis. The funeral was on a bitter cold day in those days. The cemetery at Yankee Hill was far away. In returning from the cemetery, Frank R. Denton and J.R.C. Miller agreed there should be a cemetery closer home. A few months later D. M. Denton had gone north to visit his son Paul, took cold and died of pneumonia. His sons brought him back and buried on a plot of ground which F. R. Denton later had platted into Sunnyside Cemetery ,where are interred some of the later comers. 

The Elder Abbott's are buried on the home place. The Hudson's in cemetery near Raymond. Some at Crete, many at Yankee Hill. The Giles', the Sittler's, the Hocking's, Waugh's, Shells, Clegg's, Herpolsheimer's, Harley's, Beam's, Berryman's, Nelson's, Morris, Taylor's, Reeves', Ward's, Baughman's and many other are all sleeping their last sleep in Sunnyside. J.R.C. Miller had put a memorial casket in the church where all are invited to place the cards for all our residents no difference when buried. Ellis Shane and wife, Mart Howe and wife, Evan T. Wilson and wife, Rufus Markle and wife and many more are sleeping in Yankee Hill.

The sorghum industry was followed by two makers on the north line of the township and J.R.C. Miller. They produced a good grade of molasses which met a ready sale at good prices. The market for seed was also good and they were progressive until the wholesalers began importing the by product from the sugar factories which they could buy for fifteen cents per gallon. The competition was too close. The makers of sorghum quit. It was a good thing while it lasted. Miller had succeeded in the sheep industry in the early eighties and had succeeded fairly well and was selling at thirty two cents per pound and when mutton was cheap yet they brought enough with wool to make it pay. 

Adverse legislation brought wool down to eight cents per pound and mutton down along with it. This was too cheap; he sold his wool for eight cents per pound and practically gave his sheep away. D.A. Jones was the only one left who held a small flock to clear up the weeds and I think eventually made a profit. After mishaps, J.R.C. Miller eventually landed in the creamery business. The farmers had built a creamer at twenty dollars a share, had leased it to a creamery company who had operated if for one year at a loss. It was on sale next to Millers property. He wanted it in operation. He saw the creamery co. 

They said they couldn’t make cost let alone a profit. If Miller had anything to offer, say so. He said why don’t you run it on the percentage plan. They said what percent. Miller said he did not know what would be fair, you know. Well what about ten percent, you furnish your own fuel and perform all the work, make you own tests, deliver to the depot. We pay the price and ten percent. Miller did not know whether the price was good or not. He accepted; the first month he lost seven dollars and fifty cents. The second month; two dollars and fifty cents. The third a profit. They were paying twenty five cents per pound for the butter fat taking the whole mile before the summer was over. Miller was receiving two hundred per month. 

The creamery company objected. Miller reminded them that when he was operating at a loss, they did not object. He had worked up a good business; their rate of profit was the same and had no cause to worry. They would pay as agreed, but on a renewal there would have to be a difference. For years the creamery business paid all concerned. Farmers were learning to keep a few cows for milk, a few hogs, a few calves, a good flock of poultry as a sure road to success in the farming industry.

J.R.C. Miller seeing the trains passing his places carrying the mail past conceived the idea of establishing a post office at Denton and circulated a petition to that effect. It was duly signed. He did not know to what office to send. He inquired at the Post Office in Lincoln. On information he directed an envelope, when the postmaster inquired what he was writing the department for; he was told he was sending a petition for a post office at Denton. The postmaster informed Miller, the matter had been placed in his hand. They had already made two attempts and failed. It was no use. Miller said the right to petition should never be abridged and was so guaranteed by the constitution. 

He tore the envelope open and wrote any correspondence had on the subject should be to J.R.C. Miller, care the Postmaster at Crete Neb. In due time the answer came. The Crete Postmaster when informed of the conversation said “You thought you could have a better chance through me. You have. I’ll recommend the post office be established.” It was and has continued open ever since. It is a money order office, has a double route Rural delivery system and a multiple daily mail.

Miller is responsible for the tearing up of the tracks on section 15-9-5 after the location of the post office, the railway co located their passing tracks at Denton and Miller made arrangements to buy grain and locate a lumber yard. He bought and shipped the first car of oats ever shipped out of Denton. He was short of cash and sold to A.H. Drain, who enlarged the business. D.A. Gilbert had built and opened a store and gave Drain considerable opposition. Drain sold to a man by name of Jones who had plenty of money and a family of girls. He made vast improvements. Large elevators were built and operated by various people. A bank was located and operated with numerous cashiers. 

The Clegg's came to town and operated a store. A Doctor Skinner located and held forth until promoted to the school for feeble minded at Beatrice. A Church was built by all the people participating under the auspices of the Methodists. Also a Catholic church. Jim Shane bought out the Cobb boys in the store business. D.A. Jones bought numerous building in and out of the village and moved into the village. He is sleeping in Sunnyside. The Austin's and Meyer's accumulated quite a holding in the community. 

He later moved to California, where he is at rest.
Denton has a high school where twelve grades of school work are taught. to those of the surrounding community. They also have an amusement hall. The village at one time contained two churches and a general merchandise store, and creamery, one bank, one lumber, hardware and coal store, two elevators, two garages, two rural mail carriers, one postmaster, one telephone central, two elevator operators, five school teachers and two preachers, one depot manager, one section foreman with their families, one meat market and one year shipped out ninety cars of live stock. The community furnishes business for all. There are about as many live in the community now as ever, but the business is mostly done elsewhere. They have lost the community spirit.