Page 26 - AreaNewsletters "June 2021" issue

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A couple of years later on November
3, 1919, Philip married his life partner, the love of his life, Jessie Ethel Stewart, who went by Jerry. The couple remained married for 68 years, and Jerry was often beside Philip, helping him with his numerous business adventures.
Mr. Miller was a true entrepreneur. He had his butcher shop in Elizabeth, and with partners opened butcher shops in Kiowa and Castle Rock in 1920. But in 1921, the business partner in Castle Rock wanted out. Mr. Miller went to the bank in Elizabeth for a $2000 loan but was turned down!
In August of 1921, the Millers decided
to sell their Kiowa and Elizabeth butcher operations and move to Castle Rock to live at 310 Elbert Street, and run the butcher shop in Castle Rock. Seven years later the Millers sold the meat market and bought the Castle Rock Feed and Coal business. Then, low and behold, ve years later, the couple took back the Castle Rock Meat Market that was located at 320 Wilcox. Two years later, the couple sold the Castle Rock Fuel and Feed store.
Mr. Miller helped bring Douglas County into the 20th century by bringing electricity to Castle Rock in the 1920’s, a sewer system in the 1930’s, and an insurance company
as well. But there was another, much larger adventure on the horizon.
In 1939, the Millers founded The Bank of Douglas County. Remember the loan they were denied in 1921? That denial deeply a ected both Mr. and Mrs. Miller,
and that experience, “motivated them to develop a philosophy whereby they would always help small business owners, if at all possible.”
Mr. Miller was 44 when he started his career as a banker. He said, “To me, the greatest virtues for being successful are to be honest, hard-working and conservative.” He needed to raise $25,000 to open the State Bank, and of the 27 stockholders, 23 were Douglas County ranchers, farmers, and businessmen.
In 1943, the Millers purchased the 933- acre Briscoe Ranch, two miles south of downtown Castle Rock. They had long had their eye on that particular ranch, but when it came up for sale the couple’s assets were tied up with the bank. A friend, Josef Winkler, said, “Pheel, I’ll see you get the extra money.” and he did. The deal closed on April 21, 1943.
The stories I heard through the years about Phil and Jerry Miller and their philosophy of helping others, is well documented
in the research I’ve done. The Bank of Douglas County was there to help the agricultural business in the county, but the bank actually helped everyone, not just wealthy investors.
When I moved to Castle Rock in 1984, I lived at 308 Gilbert Street, and directly across from my house was the library at 303 Gilbert. After some research I learned that in 1967 the land was purchased from the School Board and the building itself was opened on December 10, 1968. The Millers were very generous when it came to nancially helping the library. Then in
June 2021 • Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters”
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CASTLE ROCK HISTORY