Spouse: *****
Child-1: John W.
Biographical Details:
The surname "Miller" arises from a variety of sources; however, the most obvious is derived from the well-known, traditional occupation as a miller of grain.1 Accordingly, it may be supposed that the name originally appeared as an informal appellation of the form: so-and-so "the Miller"; furthermore, in the Middle Ages occupations tended to be passed down from father to son. Therefore, with the passage of time, the article "the" disappeared and Miller eventually became a true surname. Concomitantly, according to the 1990 US Census, Miller was the seventh most common surname within the United States having a frequency of 0.424% in the general population. (By the year 2000 the surname had risen to sixth place.) Consequently, it is to be expected that many unrelated families are associated with this surname.Source Notes and Citations:Ancestors of the Miller family of Casey County, Kentucky, and Gentry County, Missouri, evidently moved westward from Virginia. This is supported by census records as well as family tradition, which indicate that John W. Miller of Casey County had been born in Virginia. Moreover, in 1850 his son, Elijah Johnson Miller, was evidently associated with the family of Willis B. Sampson in Gentry County. It is known that Mrs. Sampson was Mary Jane Miller, a daughter of Henry P. Miller, an early settler of Gentry County and that she had been born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, in 1829.2 Concomitantly, Henry P. Miller was reportedly born in Greenbrier County on November 26, 1803, and died in Gentry County evidently before 1870. Likewise, his wife, originally Miss Margaret George, was also born in Greenbrier County on February 15, 1807, died in Gentry County on August 8, 1887, and was reportedly buried in Williams Cemetery (although there is apparently no marker). Although entirely circumstantial, the association of E. J. Miller with the Sampson family suggests that he and Mrs. Sampson were relatives, perhaps, first cousins or first cousins once removed; however, any precise family relationship remains to be determined. As a matter of history, land patents to three parcels in Gentry County were granted to Henry P. Miller in 1848 and 1850.3 These are located in Section Nineteen of Township Sixty-three of Range Thirty and at present are included entirely within the town limits of Albany. (Subsequently, a plat map of Gentry County published in 1877 indicates that at that time Margaret Miller owned one hundred and sixty-eight acres in Section Nineteen.4) Indeed, The History of Gentry and Worth Counties published in 1882, states that Henry P. Miller was also from Virginia, and opened a farm, adjoining the town site of Albany, where his widow now resides. Concomitantly, the population schedule of the 1810 US Census for Casey County, Kentucky, included the household of Hennery (sic - Henry) Miller; however, this individual was at least forty-five years of age and, therefore, cannot be identified with Henry P. Miller of Gentry County, but, nevertheless, it would seem likely that he was a relative. Within this context, the History of Greenbrier County published in 1917 includes an article that indicates that the Miller family was prominent in the county and identifies the immigrant ancstor as Patrick Miller.5 Geographically, Greenbrier County is located to the west of the Shenandoah Valley and although originally within (and still adjoining) Virginia, it was included in the State of West Virginia when it was admitted to the Union in 1863. Although, this account provides no definitive evidence of a family relationship, such a relationship seems probable.
1. Patrick Hanks (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, periodically updated.
1. "English and Scottish: occupational name for a miller. The standard modern vocabulary word represents the northern Middle English term, an agent derivative of mille 'mill', reinforced by Old Norse mylnari (see Milner). In southern, western, and central England Millward (literally, 'mill keeper') was the usual term."
2. "The American surname has absorbed many cognate surnames from other European languages, for example French: Meunier, Dumoulin, Demoulins, and Moulin; German: Mueller; Dutch: Molenaar; Italian: Molinaro; Spanish: Molinero; Hungarian: Molnár; Slavic: Mlinar, etc.;Southwestern and Swiss German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Müller (see Mueller)."
back to bio.2. Anonymous, The History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri, National Historical Company, St. Joseph, MO, 1882: pgs. 329-30. (Available electronically at cdm16795.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/mocohist/id/42794)
"WILLIS B. SAMPSON, farmer, section 6, post office Albany, was born in Ripley County, Indiana, March 14, 1822. His parents were Caleb and Margaret (Yeater) Sampson, natives of Kentucky. Willis B. Sampson came to Gentry County, Missouri, with his parents in the year 1835, and is now the oldest settler in Athens Township. His education was principally obtained in Indiana, though he attended one term of school in the first school in Gentry County, which is mentioned elsewhere in this history. He has made farming his occupation during life and now owns 164 acres of land. He has always taken great interest in educational matters. Mr. Sampson was married April 29, 1849, to Miss Mary Miller, by whom he has seven children: John H., born May 8, 1850; Margaret, born October 1, 1851; Nancy, born April 12, 1854; Thomas, born February 21, 1856; George W., born January 30, 1859; Mattie, born January 30, 1862, and Ona, born May 21, 1865. Mrs. Sampson was born in Greenbrier County, Virginia, March 3, 1829. She was a daughter of Henry P. and Margaret (George) Miller, both of whom were natives of Tennessee." Other sources affirm that Henry P. Miller was also born in Virginia; however, he and his wife amy have resided for a time in Tennessee.
back to bio.3a. The United States of America; Certificate No. 5724; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Henry P. Miller of Gentry County, Missouri, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Henry P. Miller according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for Lot number one, of the South West quarter of Section nineteen in Township sixty three of Range thirty in the District of Lands subject to sale at Plattsburg, Missouri containing eighty acres according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tracts have been purchased by the said Henry P. Miller; Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, James K. Polk, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy third. By The President: James K. Polk; By J. K. Stephens Asst Sec'y. S. H. Laughlin Recorder of the General Land Office (US Land Patent Certificate No. 5724; MO, Vol. 448, pg. 425, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, issued 1 Aug 1848. (BLM GLO Records, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx, 2016.))
b. The United States of America; Certificate No. 4932; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Henry P. Miller of Gentry County, Missouri, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Henry P. Miller according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for the South West quarter of the North East quarter and the South East quarter or South half of lot number one of the North West quarter of section nineteen in Township sixty three of Range thirty in the District of Lands subject to sale at Plattsburg, Missouri containing eighty acres according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tracts have been purchased by the said Henry P. Miller; Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, James K. Polk, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy third. By The President: James K. Polk; By J. K. Stephens Asst Sec'y. S. H. Laughlin Recorder of the General Land Office (US Land Patent Certificate No. 4932; MO, Vol. 451, pg. 504, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, issued 1 Dec 1848. (BLM GLO Records, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx, 2016.))
c. The United States of America; Certificate No. 7391; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Whereas Henry P. Miller of Gentry County, Missouri, has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States, a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Plattsburg whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Henry P. Miller according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands," for the North half of Lot number One of the North West quarter of Section nineteen in Township Sixty three of Range thirty in the District of Lands subject to sale at Plattsburg, Missouri containing forty acres according to the official plat of the Survey of the said Lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tracts have been purchased by the said Henry P. Miller; Now Know Ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have Given and Granted, and by these presents Do Give and Grant, unto the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs, the said tract above described: To have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, to the said Henry P. Miller and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, Zachary Taylor, President of the United States of America, have caused these Letters to be made Patent, and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the first day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy fourth. By The President: Z. Taylor; By Tho. Ewing, Jr. Sec'y. N. Sargent Recorder of the General Land Office (US Land Patent Certificate No. 7391; MO, Vol. 453, pg. 166, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, issued 1 Jan 1850. (BLM GLO Records, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx, 2016.))
back to bio.4. Edwards Brothers of Missouri, Historical Atlas of Gentry County, Missouri, Philadelphia, PA, 1877.
Margaret Miller: 1) Twp. 63 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 19; E½ of SW¼ - 80 acres. 2) Twp. 63 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 19; SW¼ of NE¼ - 40 acres. 3) Twp. 63 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 19; SE¼ of NW¼ - 40 acres. 4) Twp. 63 N; Rng. 30 W; Sec. 19; strip off S side of NE¼ of NW¼ - 8 acres more or less.
back to bio.5. J. R. Cole, History of Greenbrier County, privately published, Lewisburg, WV, 1917, pgs. 98-100.
"THE MILLER FAMILY, The Miller family is of Scotch-Irish descent and is one of the most numerous and important in the State of West Virginia.
Patrick Miller, the ancestor of the Millers of Greenbrier county, was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were emigrating to America. They settled where the city of Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, was built afterwards. John Miller, the eldest son of Patrick, came to Lick creek, Greenbrier county, bringing three slaves with him, more than a hundred year (sic - years) ago. He married a Miss Jane Hodges, and they two, with the three slaves, Abe, Sarah and Minta, given by his father, set out over the Patterson mountain, finally reaching the forks of Slater creek, Flag Fork and Lick creek, and there he built the house afterwards owned by William Shumate, who purchased it from J. W. Alderson.
John Miller was a carpenter by trade and built what was known in those days as a fine house, double story hewed logs, with a dressed stone chimney.
John H. Miller, born September 3, 1804, and his wife, Nancy (Crist) Miller, born March 11, 1809, were the parents of the Irish Corner district Millers. Their children were: William Henry, born January 1, 1828, died March 29, 1899; Michael Crist, born May 3, 1831, killed by an explosion of a boiler on the steamer 'Eclipse' at Johnsonville, Tenn. He was drafted in the army on November 26, 1864, and died January 27, 1865; David Harvey Miller, born May 12, 1834, and died July 19, 1834.
William Henry Miller, father of the present sheriff of Greenbrier county, was a successful farmer, a staunch Republican. and at one time deputy sheriff of Greenbrier county. He married Sarah A. Hall March 1, 1855. She was born January 9,1837, and died November 5, 1859. He then married Miss Elizabeth Margaret Erwin January 1, 1866; born August 5, 1840. She died November 17, 1908. His children were: John Alexander, born April 22, 1855, and died August 24, 1859, in Laclede county, Missouri; James Michael, December 19, 1856; Nancy Susan, December 13, 1858; died November 5, 1859; Amanda Caroline, July 29, 1869; Robert Allen (now living at St. Joseph, Mo.), October 2, 1862; David Hunter (owner and occupant of the homestead), March 28, 1868; Amy Gertrude, July 27, 1875.
James Michael Miller, sheriff of Greenbrier county, and director in the First National Bank at Ronceverte, remained on the farm until twenty-two years old and then after a retail merchandise business in Organ Cave for nine years, came to Ronceverte and went into business for himself. That was in 1892, since which time he has made a large number of very influential acquaintances throughout Greenbrier county, in the merchandise business, selling agricultural implements, flour and feed. His popularity won him, in the last election for sheriff, a Repubilcan majority of 299 over a vote of 482 belonging to the Republican ticket, and his opponent was one of the most highly esteemed citizens of the county. He served six years on the city council of Ronceverte and two years as recorder, and then as mayor two terms.
James Michael Miller married Miss Della Ann, daughter of Hugh Hogsett, in October, 1893. To this union were born four sons and one daughter, namely: John William, Nannie Viola, Joseph Franklin, James Robert and Jasper Olen Miller, who died at the age of five years, August 13, 1908.
David Hunter Miller, the well known farmer and stock raiser in Irish district, married Miss Eliza Jane McDowell January 3, 1894. To this union were born Mary Christine, January 27, 1896; Julian Hunter, January 8, 1898; Henry Alexander, October 16, 1899; Edward Lee, June 29, 1902.
Mrs. Eliza J. Miller died February 13, 1909. D. H. Miller married his second wife, Miss Mary Susan Carlisle, October 12, 1911, and to this union was born Margaret Ruth, January 2, 1914. Margaret Ruth died January 3, 1914; Mary S. January 9, 1914.
The Miller homestead is delightfully situated and is in a beautiful part of Irish Corner. The land here was once of the huckleberry class, but by fertilization and cultivation in the proper way, it has attained a richness in soil equal to any in the county."
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Additional Citations:
6. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Washington County, Pennsylvania, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 170, (microfilm: roll M33_113; img. 201).7. 1820 US Census Population Schedule for Jefferson County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 217, (microfilm: roll M33_91; img. 225).
8. 1830 US Census Population Schedule for Jefferson County, Ohio, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 140, (microfilm: roll M19_134; img. 206).
9. 1850 US Census Population Schedule for Washington County, Pennsylvania, National Archives, Washington DC: pg. 212A, (microfilm: roll M432_833; img. 423).
10. John C. Leopard and Buel Leopard (Daviess Co.), R. M. McCammon and Mary McCammon Hillman (Gentry Co.), History of Daviess and Gentry Counties, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, KS, 1922: pg. 243. (Reprint available from the Higginson Book Co., 148 Wash. St., P. O. B. 778, Salem, MA, 01970)
11. item-"twenty-five years ago": Albany Ledger; Albany, MO, Thur., Aug. 8, 1912.