H26.751

Photograph, obsequies of Joaquin Miller. Scattering the ashes on the pyre, "The Hights," Oakland, Calif. d Public Library, 1961 Cincinnatus Heine Miller , known more popularly as Joaquin Miller was born on November 10, 1841 in Hendricks County, Indiana. At age fourteen he ran away from home and lived in mining camps and with Indians for three years. At age eighteen he entered Columbia College and developed a literary background. Almost immediately he won fame as a writer. In 1885 he moved to California and settled in the hills of Oakland, calling his place "The Hights". Here he pursued his literary interests. Joaquin Miller died on February 17, 1913. The Heights (G. Weininger, 5/2002): Poet Joaquin Miller had purchased much of this land, which he called "The Hights," in 1886 as a retreat and later added to it. Though it was originally rocky and barren, with few redwoods, he planted many more trees and built cabins for visitors, as well. He had wanted the property to belong to "the people" as a playground; in 1917 his wishes were fulfilled when Oakland purchased it for $33,000, with life tenure for his wife and daughter. The city changed the spelling to "The Heights."
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