The Reckless Doctor and his Redmond Ranch
Dr. C. L. Miller, a wealthy German immigrant who lost his fortune, passes away in Seattle.
Dr. C. L. Miller, one of the most familiar old characters in the city, died yesterday at Providence hospital, from paralysis. Dr. Miller was about 60 years of age and a native of Germany. He came almost direct from his native country to the Coast nearly a score of years ago. He and his brother, who is still in Germany, inherited a large fortune, but he was of rather a reckless nature and ran through his share very rapidly. On coming to Seattle he became more settled and built up a fair practice. At one time he ran a little hospital on Cherry street, just below where the POST-INTELLIGENCER office is now located. About five years ago Dr. Miller had a paralytic stroke, but he had partially recovered when the following year he had another which crippled him. Since then his wealthy brother has been sending him money from Germany to support him, which he spent fixing up his ranch at Redmond. He was brought to this city and placed in Providence hospital by Colonel E. M. Carr.
“He and his brother, who is still in Germany, inherited a large fortune, but he was of rather a reckless nature and ran through his share very rapidly.”
This portrait of a 'familiar old character' captures the transience of the late 19th-century Seattle population, where former fortunes were often lost in the frontier economy. His life cycle—from owning a medical practice on Cherry Street to retiring on a Redmond ranch—mirrors the urban sprawl that transformed the Eastside from rustic outposts into the metropolitan region we know today.
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