Biography of J. Hugh Miller J. HUGH MILLER. One of the important factors in busi- ness and tanking affairs of Beckley is J. Hugh Miller, cashier of the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company. He has been prominently interested at Beckley and elsewhere in a number of enterprises which have benefited by his good judgment and energetic management, and his participation in civic affairs has served to add impetus to worthy move- ments established for the general welfare. Mr. Miller was born on a farm in Rappahannock County, Virginia, August 2, 1864, a son of James N. and Catherine (Payne) Miller. James N. Miller was born in 1838, in Rap- pahannock County, Virginia, and as a young man adopted farming as his vocation. During the war between the states he enlisted in Colonel Mosby's command in the Confederate service, and fought with that famous organization through- out the four-year struggle. He returned then to his farm, where he died at the age of seventy three years, after a useful, honorable and successful career. He was a democrat in polities, and his religious faith was that of the Baptist Church, to which also belonged his wife, who was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, and died at the age of seventy- three years, one year after the death of her husband. They had three sons and seven daughters, the sons being: J. Hugh; Frank, who died at Cheyenne, Wyoming, as a rail- road employe; and W. R., who was traveling freight agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad at the time of his death. J. Hugh Miller grew to manhood on the home farm and attended the rural schools and the graded schools of Wood- ville, Virginia. Later he spent six months at Westminster College, Maryland, and in 1885 came to Hinton, West Vir- ginia, as clerk and station agent for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, which was then little more than a streak of rusty rails, while Hinton was only a small village. After remaining with the railroad for thirteen years Mr. Miller came to Beckley to become cashier of the old Bank of Ral- eigh. Five years later he went to Thurmond, as cashier of the Bank of Thurmond, which during the time he was there became the National Bank of Thurmond of which he re- mained the cashier. In 1921 he returned to Beckley and became one of the organizers of the Raleigh Banking and Trust Company, of which he has since been cashier. This has already become one of the leading financial institutions of Raleigh County and stands high in public confidence and favor. In 1902 Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Jane Anderson, born in Iowa, a daughter of Archie Ander- son, a mine foreman who met his death in a mine explo- sion. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: John R. and Mary E., who are attending Beckley High School; J. Hugh, Jr., who is attending the graded school; and Cora Ann. Mr. Miller is a Baptist in religious faith and his wife, a Methodist. He is well known in Masonry, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Beckley, the Chapter at Thurmond and the Shrine at Charleston, and also holds membership in the Loyal Order of Moose, the Knights of Pythias, the Kiwanis Club, the Beckley Chamber of Com- merce and the Young Men's Club. A democrat in his po- litical views, he has taken an active interest in the success of his party and in civic affairs, and while residing at Thurmond served as mayor of that city. Source: The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 118-119 Submitted by Valerie F. Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB 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. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************