Special Collections: Letter from the Draper Manuscripts, 20C41. Transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Diana Lehman, dlehman@ix.netcom.com ********************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb *********************************************************************** W.W. Miller to Lyman C. Draper, July 29, 1883 Draper Manuscripts, 20C41 Transcribed from microfilm copy of the original document from the Draper Manuscripts Collection of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, WI. Spelling and punctuation are as they appear in the original text. Transcriber’s notes in {} * * * * * {Draper’s note at top of page} Dr. W.W. Miller. See letter addressed to H.C. Miller & appended to one of his letters. Henry Miller’s marriage & list of children. Lee’s Summit July 29 1883 Mr. Lyman C Draper. Dear Sir, I received your letter several days ago but have not had an earlier opportunity to answer. I comply very cheerfully with your request to give you all the information I can, though I fear it will be more meagre than you expect – for I was but a boy when my father died. Daniel Boone and my grandfather* were cousins, and were about the same age, and lived in the same neighborhood somewhere in Pa, and at the age of fifteen (my great-grandfather being dead) they started out together hunting and trapping. This they continued until young men, Boone remaining in the woods hunting whilst my grandfather carried the peltry to market.** When twenty one they each received their portion coming from their father’s estates which they invested in milk cows+ and drove them to North Carolina. They made several successful trips of this kind, and both returned to Pa and married. My grandmothers maiden name was Hannah Winters -- but I do not know who Boone married. My grandfather was employed by a Mr. Bird to manage the Iron Works in Pa which he did for several years. During this time Mr Bird went to Virginia and discovered the ore bank and water power on Mossy Creek, Augusta County and located a large tract of land. Then he and my grandfather formed a partnership and built what is called Miller’s Iron Works. When my grandfather left Pa Boone moved to North Carolina. The intimacy existing between them continued until the death of my grandfather -- Boone making various trips to Virginia and even after he removed to Ky he visited my grandfather several times. Boone’s eldest son James was killed by the Indians as they were moving from North Carolina to Ky and my uncle James Boone Miller was called for him. My recollection is that Boone was related to the Millers & not the Winters. I had in my possession a rifle which Boone gave my grandfather, but unfortunately it fell into the hands of the Union soldiers during the late war. I think my grandfather had only one child born in Pa and that was Samuel Miller,± all the others were born in Augusta Co Va and the order of their birth is as follows, Samuel, Nancy, Rachel, James, Hannah, William (who was my father), Martha and Harry who died unmarried when about twenty three years of age. I think my grandmother§ was born in New Jersey and married in Pa. She died in Augusta Co Va and was about seventy years of age, though I do not know the date either of her birth or death. My grandfather was born in Pa but do not know when nor where and died in Augusta Co Va. I fear I have not aided you much in your work, and would gladly do more were it in my power. I received the volume of Wisconsin Historical Collections you sent me which I find very interesting and thank you very much for your kindness. Very Truly Yours, W.W. Miller {Draper’s notes follow; transcriber has substituted consistent footnote notations for those used in Draper’s text} *Henry Miller **McGill’s Kentucky says they hunted near the Shallow Ford of Yadkin. +McGill speaks of Miller dealing in stock & this laid the foundation of his fortune. As after this, he worked many years for Col. Bird in Pa, his accumulation could not have been large. As for Boone, he was not of a saving nature—spending for guns or equipage as fast as he acquired money. Salisbury was probably their market for furs & peltry. But whatever money Miller acquired that went into the cow speculation, must have been of his hunting savings as he did not come of age (born in 1735) till after he re__ to Penna, the Indian War of 1755 putting a stop to their hunting operation. ±Calling Samuel the eldest, & Nancy the next (taking the birth of the latter as given by Dr. Clarke’s letter—then we make this table: 1763{crossed out} Samuel born – if John Miller’s father in 1768 1765, Oct. Nancy (record) Rachal “ 1776, Oct. James B. (record) 1786 Hannah, d. 1851 1779, William d. 1865 1784, Martha (record) 1788, Henry (record) Probably married abt. 1764 when Henry Miller was 27 -- & his wife 15. As Samuel was born in Penna & Nancy, I judge Henry Miller settled in Augusta Co Va in 1764 or early in 1765 just after the close of the Indian War of 1763-’64.•• Miller must have retd to Pa when the war broke out in 1755 & worked for Col. Bird in iron works. ••This inference proved in error. J. Marshal McCue’s letter Sept. 5, ’83 showing that Mark Bird & Henry Miller did not start their Mossy Creek Iron Works till 1774 -- & hence all Miller’s children of prior birth must have been born in Berks Co Pa. John Miller, grandson of Henry & son of Samuel Miller (born 1768) says his father was 8 years old when his father moved to Va, but moving in 1774 would make Samuel but 6 when his father settled in Va if he moved his family when he began the Iron works. LCD §If born in 1749 died 1823 as per Jno McCue letter. Aged 83