Greenbrier County, West Virginia Biography of THE MILLER FAMILY. This biography was submitted by Sandy Spradling, E-mail address: This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm History of Greenbrier County J. R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 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 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, 1809; 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 di-rector 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.