Freestone County, Texas
Biographies


A Centennial History of Anderson County, Texas
by Pauline Buck Hohes, 
published by The Naylor Company, San Antonio, 1936


pages 71-72

[D. A. Akin was a resident of Freestone County in 1851.]

MRS. JOHN A. MILLER
Sarah Texanna (Akin) Miller is an interesting survivor of an important pioneer
family.  Her father, D. A. Akin, was born in Tennessee in 1825 and farmed till
1851, when he joined a party of six families and came to Texas by the covered
wagon route.  They reached Freestone County after six weeks travel.  Doubtless
the hardships of the journey and the rude conditions encountered upon 
reaching Texas, broke the spirit of Tennesseeans.  After one brief week's
sojourn in the new land, they "made tracks" for home.  All but Akin.  He was
made of "sterner stuff".  He remained in Freestone County one year then removed
to Anderson, where he became a successful saw mill man at Mound Prairie.  He
also engaged in the brokerage business until the war.

In 1862, D. A. Akin joined Capt. Hanks' Company, Col. Burnett's Regiment, and
was made Lieutenant Company D. and served in Trans-Mississippi Department till
1864, when he was discharged on account of ill health.  Returning to Mound
Prairie he engaged in merchantizing till 1880, when he engaged in farming.  He
cultivated 1000 acres, specializing also in stock raising.  He was known as one
of Anderson County's most successful and prosperous citizens.

Mr. Akin was twice married.  His first wife was Mary J. Sewell of Tennessee, by
whom he had four children - Nancy E. (deceased), wife of Thomas Brown; Susan W.
(deceased), wife of E. P. McDonald; Texanna, wife of J. A. Miller; and Mary J.
(deceased).  Mrs. Akin died in 1886.  In 1889. Mr. Akin married Anna Walker, a
relative of his first wife.  They were Methodists.  D. A. Akin was also a
Mason.

Mrs. Miller's husband, John A. Miller, was the son of John B. Miller, who came
to Texas from South Carolina in 1852, locating at Kickapoo.  He died there in
1872.  He was a very successful farmer and merchant.  John A. Miller's mother
was Laura C. Ayres, also a native of South Carolina.  John B. Miller and Laura
Ayres were married in 1848 and had eight children.  John A. Miller was the
third of these.  Bettie, a daughter, married John H. Gaston, a banker of
Dallas.  John A. was one year old when he came to Texas.  He became a merchant
at Kickapoo.  He was also a successful farmer and stock raiser later, coming to
Palestine in 1887.  He married Texanna Akin in 1875.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller were
the parents of seven children.  Mr. and Mrs. Miller were both members of the M.
E. Church, and Mr. Miller was a Royal Arch Mason.

Mrs. John A. Miller was born at Mound Prairie in 1852.  Her education was
acquired at Stovall Academy, the famous cultural center before the war.  Prof.
Renfro, a Presbyterian preacher, was her teacher.  Before enrolling in Stovall
Academy, however, Mrs. Miller had private tutors in her own home.

Mrs. Miller's pleasant home is with her daughter, Clara May (Mrs. Dan La Roe)
in "Old Town".  Mrs. La Roe has two interesting children, Dan, who has a degree
in Oil Production Engineering from A. and M., and Mary, a student in the
University of Texas.