Miller Family of Arkansas--William Anderson Miller ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Cynthia Forde Email: Cynthia.forde@worldnet.att.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WILLIAM ANDERSON MILLER b. February 25, 1842 Rising Fawn, Dade County, GA -- d. June 15, 1915 Boardcamp, Polk County, AR. William Anderson Miller was the son of John Miller who was born in 1803 in Tennessee and his wife, Nancy Mary Wilson b. 1806 in TN. He grew up in the beautiful Rising Fawn, Dade County region of GA. His father was a farmer, and circuit judge. William moved with his parents to Polk County, AR in 1859. William Anderson Miller was married twice: The first marriage was to Minerva Ann Fleming, born May 12, 1846, White County, TN, daughter of Alfred P. and Nancy Hitchcock Fleming. William and Minerva married on September 4, 1864 in Mena, Polk County, AR. William bought some land around Cherry Hill on the Ouchita River where ten children were born to he and Minerva. Joseph A., James M. Etta Tennessee Nancy E. Maud Roland Douglas Anna May Laura C. Frank William Abe Five of these children, Anna, Nancy E., Laura, Bill Abe, and Betty, all passed away at an early age due to fever thought to be brought on by mosquito bites. They are buried in the Miller plot with Coy Miller, in the Cherry Hill cemetery east of Mena, Polk County, Arkansas. William A. Miller's first wife, mother Manerva, is buried there as well. After the death of so many children, John, William's dad sold him some land so they moved away from the river to Board Camp. Born to William Anderson Miller and second wife, Rebecca McDonald Johnston, were Fannie Retha, who married James Looney, and Coy C. Miller who married Ruby King. Rebecca is buried at Greenwood, Arkansas near her third husband, Sam House. Retha had two daughters, Eloise and Helen. She is buried in Tuscon, Arizona. It is believed that Retha had two children with her first husband. He is listed in the 1880 census of Polk County, Arkansas. William, age 38, born in Ga. Father and Mother, born in Tennessee Manerva Fleming Miller, age 34, born in Tennessee, both father and mother born in Tennessee 1. Joe, age 16, born in Arkansas 2. James M. , age 12, born in Arkansas 3. Etta Tennessee, age 11, born in Arkansas 4. Betty, age 8, born in Arkansas 5. Maud, age 6, born in Arkansas 6. Roland douglas, age 4, born in Arkansas 7. Mary, age 3, born in Arkansas 8. Laura, age 2. born in Arkansas 9. Bill Abe, four months, born in Arkansas 1900 Federal Census Polk County, AR - Fulton Township Wilcox, Daniel 36 1864 MO, KY NY Etta 31 1869 AR GA TN Gretchen E. 4/12 1900 AR MO AR Miller, Wm. A. 58, 1842 Divorced - Father-in-law GA SC TN 1910 Federal Census Polk County, AR, Fulton Township page 114, 70- 76 Wilcox, Daniel F. 46, 15/years MO KY NY Etta 40 7/4 AR GA TN Gretchen 10 AR MO AR Annie 8 """""" Arthur 6 """""" Joseph 1 """""" Miller, William A. 68, Widowed father-in-law GA SC TN Coy C. Miller 17 Brother in law AR GA AL WILLIAM ANDERSON MILLER FINALLY RECEIVES HIS CIVIL WAR SERVICE MARKER "One hundred and twenty four years after he was mustered out of the service, and seventy three years afher his death, Confederate Army Veteran William Anderson Miller will finally get his grave marker testifying that he did, indeed, serve in the armed services of the Confederate States of America during the civil war. Anderson's grave at Cherry Hill has been without a marker since his death in 1915 at the age of 73. It all came about through the efforts of his grandson, Aaron Miller, of 17 Meadowbrook Lane in Mena, while he and his wife were researching their family histories. A letter to the National Archives and Record Service in Washington, D. C. brought them William Anderson Miller's service record and the necessary forms to fill out for the grave marker. The record shows that Miller, who was living in Polk County, apparently joined the Eighth Field Artillery of Arkansas on June 1, 1863 at the age of 21. He later served with a company of the Tennessee Light Artillery commanded by a Captain Scott. He was discharged as a sergeant on Sempember 18, 1864 because of physical disablility. Born in 1842 in Georgia, Miller moved to the Cherry Hill area with his family when he was 16. Following his discharge from the Confederate army, he came back to Cherry Hill and lived there and at Board Camp until his death. Miller was not the only member of his family to serve with the confederates. He had four brothers in the service. One of them was captured and later apparently killed while being held prisoner at the Johnson Island prisoner of war camp in Ohio. Aaron Miller has been unable to find out more exact details of his death." (Mena Star, Mena, Arkansas, Volume 90, Number 174., 1988) The Rev. Cynthia Forde, D. Min. 25487 Old Howth Road Hempstead, Texas 77445