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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adaline "Addie" Dickman Miller (July 26, 1859 — 1936) was an American college professor, a founder of the town of Ruskin, Florida, and the co-founder and vice-president of the town's Ruskin College. She patented a design for a dish washer and she was president of two different temperance organizations in Oregon.
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Adaline "Addie" Dickman was born in West Union, Iowa, to John Dickman and Lydia Jane (Newton) Dickman.[1] She was raised on a farm in a nearby town.[2] Although she had only intermittent schooling, she became a teacher at the age of 15.[2] She went on to study at Western College (now Leander Clark College), focusing on Latin and the sciences and continuing to teach during her vacations.[2] She graduated with a B.S. in 1881.[3]
On leaving Western College, she took a position as chair of history and literature at Avalon College in Avalon, Missouri, later also teaching German.[2] At the end of her first year, she married George McAnelly Miller, a former Chicago prosecuting attorney[4] and professor of ancient languages at Avalon College.[2]
In 1883, Addie and George moved to Oregon, where both took positions at Philomath College in the town of Philomath.[2] Addie taught German and superintended the young women's department, while George was the college president.[2] In 1886, when George ran for Congress, Addie took over as acting college president.[2]
For a time in the late 1880s, the couple lived in Portland, Oregon, where Addie gave up teaching for writing and working in the temperance movement.[2] She served as president of the Oregon Temperance Alliance and for two years as president of the Portland Woman's Christian Temperance Union.[2]
For a few years, Addie edited the women's section of West Shore, a Portland periodical.[2] She also published a series of "Letters to Our Girls" in eastern magazines.[2] In 1890, she invented and patented a dishwashing machine.[5]
In 1907, the Millers and their four children moved to what is now Ruskin, Florida, where on August 7, 1908, Addie set up a post office; this date is taken to be the town's official founding day.[4][6] There in 1910 the Millers founded Ruskin College, an outgrowth of the British Ruskin Hall Movement, which foregrounded socialist principles of the dignity of labor.[7] Addie was vice-president of Ruskin College and George was president.[6] By 1913 their school had 160 students. In 1919, the college burned down, although the Millers' house was spared and is now on the National Register of Historic Places; it currently houses the Ruskin Woman's Club.[6]
Addie died in 1936, surviving George by 17 years.
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