Clelland "Clell" Miller - Kearney, Missouri. - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Clell Miller was only 14-when he joined a band of Civil War Guerrillas led by Bloody Bill Anderson. He spent the final year of the Civil War as a prisoner in a St. Louis Prison. Following the war he returned to the family farm in Clay County, Missouri, but life was hard for the former confederates and in 1870 he joined the famed James-Younger Gang. For the next 6-years Clell Miller rode with the gang as they robbed banks, trains and stores throughout the Midwest. Miller was with the gang on September 7, 1876 when they attempted to rob the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. When the bank clerk refused to open the banks vault, he was shot and killed. This alerted the town’s residents and a shootout occurred. During the shootout a town resident along with two member of the gang including Clell Miller were killed. Later in the day, the body of Clell Miller was put on public display and photographed. Miller was then buried in the town cemetery. Several weeks later Miller’s father traveled to Northfield and claim his son’s body. Clell Miller’s body was returned to his native Clay County, Missouri and buried in the Muddy Fork Cemetery near Kearney.

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Description: Clelland D. Miller was born on January 9, 1850, however the dates on the grave stones indicate his birth date is December 15, 1849. He was born in Kearney Missouri and at the age of 14, joined a band of Civil War Guerrillas that were led by William T. “Bloody Bill” Anderson. He was captured during a small battle on October 26, 1864 and because of his age was sent to prison in St. Louis for the rest of the war. He was released in April 1865 and in 1870 joined up with a band of outlaw lead by Jesse James and Cole Younger. For the next 6-years Miller accompanied the James – Younger Game as they robbed banks, trains and stores throughout Missouri, Minnesota and the Midwest. On September 7, 1876 the gang road into the town of Northfield, Minnesota with the intent of robbing the First National Bank. The gang rode into town wearing long trail dusters to conceal their weapons. Inside the bank they shed their dusters and demand money from the vault. When bank clerk Joseph Heywood refused to open the vault he was shot and kill. The shot from inside the bank alerted the town people who took up arms against the robbers. In the shootout that followed Clell Miller along with fellow gang member William Stiles were killed. Nicholas Gustavson who was a resident of the town was also killed. The rest of the James-Younger Gang managed to escaped and eventually split up to avoid capture. Clell Miller’s body was photographed and then buried in the Northfield Cemetery. His body was later claimed by his father and return to Clay County, Missouri where he was buried in the Muddy Fork Cemetery near his birthplace in Kearney. Date of birth: 01/09/1850 Date of death: 09/07/1876 Area of notoriety: Crime Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily: Dawn to Dusk Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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