Samuel Miller: A Genealogy (1974-2011)

© 2011 by Joe Miller. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 10/17/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-9429-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-9428-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-9430-9 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011915056

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Aknowledgments

Author

Samuel Miller

Thomas Miller

Toombstone Of Andrew Jackson Miller

James Weston Miller

Nancy Jane Miller

Hulda Miller

William Lacy Miller

Fannie Josephine Miller

Andrew Jackson Miller, Jr.

Mary Magdalene Miller

Penny Lottie Miller

Ephraim Turner

Elizabeth Turner

Stephen Ellis Turner

Gipson G. Turner

Samantha Manthy (Martha) Miller

Mary Miller

John C. Hickory John Gillis

Norman Gillis

Thomas Miller

Pennina Jane Miller

Martha A. Miller

Joel Miller

Samuel David Miller

REFERENCES

Aknowledgments

The information presented in this book is based primarily on my personal research. Over the years, I have exchanged information and leads with many relatives that were interested in my extended family history. They have been most helpful in sharing what they know about these families. For this I am grateful without their help I couldn’t have completed this book.

Several people deserve special thanks. I waited too late to get help from my Aunts or Uncles much less My Mom or Dad but my sisters and their children have helped me and I do appreciate that.

Thanks to the following relatives for their input and help.

My cousins Jewell Miller Godfrey, Ida Miller Baker, Ruthie Miller Lewis, Nadine Martin Bragg and many more, I can’t name them all, from the Miller Family.

Eleanor Hart Carter, Jayn Hart Almond, Pauline Hart, My cousin Catherine Fussell Wells, Bobbie Fussell Tomberlin, Pauline Fussell Taylor, Dorothy Fussell Register, Christine Dale Brown and her daughters and Brother Curtis Dale helped me so much on the Fussell, Dale and Steverson’s families

My cousin Linda O’Neil Kline, Geraldine Gerri Taylor Sexton, Virginia Carver Pilcher, Margarita Rowell Carver, Sadie Rowell Taylor and Mildred Rowell, helped with the Rowell Family.

I had help from the Turner Side of the family Mrs. Mildred Turner Harrell she furnished me with the different Turners in the family and the list goes on, Mrs. Nelia Turner Hires, there is still a lots of the Turner information that as of this moment I have not been able to collect but will keep looking.

My cousin Pam Gillis Boan was a great help with the Gillis Family and the families that branch off from there such as Millers, Hutchison’s, Herndon’s. At any time if I needed help thru email or phone calls they came thru with the answer

The staff of the Georgia Department of Archives and history has been very helpful and I do thank them. All of the following County Libraries in Georgia, Mitchell, Colquitt, Ben Hill, Irwin, Telfair, Wilcox, Montgomery, Laurens, Coffee, Treutlin and Tift, they have been so gracious to help me in anyway they could directing me to the available material.

I want to personally thank Miss Irene Godwin of the Odom Library of Moultrie, Georgia for her endless help with my research always guiding me along the way.

Also I want to thank the staff at the LDS Library in Columbia, South Carolina for all their help and directions. These and others, too many to name have my sincere thanks.

At the outset let me say that I am sorry, I have found that saying the word sorry was hard for me even in my marriage until late in life but that word alone can make a lots of things right or helps. Sorry for the mistakes in this genealogy, but that is how you find things by others making mistakes. For the typographical errors that put people out of place and events. Names misspelled that irritate most everyone. There are many family members that has given me information on their families, I do hope that there are not to many mistakes.

Thanks for helping out where you could and sorry for not listing all the new born, that I knew nothing about, this only the start and you can finish in future generations.

JOE E. MILLER

Author

In doing this family research I have found that The Miller Generation extends out for many-a—mile. When I wrote to the Akridge Cemetery I found we have relatives that still live close to my grandfather’s old home place. Their property joined in the back and was separated by a creek.

When I visited a relative Mildred Turner Harrell, who lives in the Moultrie area now, she told me that we were also related to the Gregory’s in Moultrie. After I returned home in South Carolina I wanted to verify this and called Mr. Medford Gregory and he told me to contact Dr. Barbara Gregory in Moultrie, Georgia, since she had material that Mr. Jack E. Ladson had done for Mr. John E. Gregory on the Gregory Family. Mr. Jack E. Ladson lives in Vidalia and has the Ladson Genealogy Library there. Through the research he had done for Mr. John Gregory I was able to determine who my great grandfather was and my great, great, grandparents. This information indicates that my great, great grandfather was Samuel Miller and he was born between 1794-1800. He died in 1831 and he and his wife had five children. Thomas (Gopher back), Joseph, Samantha, Rebecca and Mary.

Samuel and Pheraby Pate were Thomas’s parents. Thomas’s first wife was Nancy Vick; they had six children four sons and two daughters. Thomas’s 2nd wife was Sara Ann Bush and they had three children, one daughter and two sons. This will be listed on the Family Sheets.

Samuel Miller

Born Abt. 1794-1800 where unknown married November 04, 1819 in Montgomery County, Georgia to Pheraby Pate (Frobe, Fredy) Samuel died before July 04, 1831, in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. Pheraby was born Abt. 1800-1805 where unknown—she married Norman Gillis, of Montgomery County, August 17, 1831 and she died After 1880 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon Georgia.

Samuel Miller and Pheraby Pate were the paternal great, great-grandparents to Joe E Miller (the author). Thomas Miller, who married Nancy Vick were the Greatgrandparents. Very little information is known about Samuel Miller. The earliest records found of Samuel Miller are his Marriage License to Pheraby Pate November 4, 1819. This Marriage License list Pheraby’s name as Fredy Pate. In the 1820 and 1830 census Samuel appears as head of household. The census for 1830 indicates that this couple had five children, all ten years of age or younger. Samuel Miller appears in the tax digest of Montgomery County, Georgia in 1822. The birth place and parents of Samuel Miller are not known at this time. It looks as if Samuel lived, married and died in Montgomery County, Georgia. He was in the age range of 31-37 when he died.

On July 4, 1831, it was ordered that letters of administration be granted to Joseph Miller and Pheraby Miller on the Estate of Samuel Miller late of this County deceased on the complying with the law. John Miller and Mathias Adams, securities approved by the Court. On the same July 4, 1831 it was ordered that Robert L. Troup, Stafford Davis, John Miller, Wylie Adams, Arthur Davis, John Davis and Norman Gillis he and they are here by appointed appraisers to apprise the real and personal Estate of Samuel Miller late of Montgomery County, deceased.

On August 16, 1831 Montgomery County, Georgia it was ordered the list of the sale of the Estate of Samuel Miller deceased to wit. From this list it shows the personal property and who bought it and the price of each item, there were a total of forty five items to be sold on that day. Then on August 18, 1831 it was ordered inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Samuel Miller deceased. After looking at the inventory and appraisement Samuel had quite a large Estate, there were seven hundred acres of farm land and plantation, with one hundred and fifty heat of cattle and fifty or more hogs. There are several court orders from 1831 to 1851; there is one in 1837 where a complaint was made to the court by Norman Gillis that Joseph Miller the administrator was mismanaging the Estate. On September 4, 1837 the court ordered that the sales of the Estate be recorded and the amount of sales of the other property. Joseph Miller and Pheraby Miller were released as administrators of the Estate September 3, 1838

After Samuel Miller died Pheraby soon married Norman Gillis son of Angus Gillis of Montgomery County, Georgia. Their marriage took place August 17, 1831. General index to proceedings of Estate of Montgomery County, Georgia dated May 2, 1836 ordered that Norman Gillis be appointed guardian of the minor Children of Samuel Miller and from these records I can only find three children listed as minors, they are (Manthy) Samantha, Mary and Rebecca, Norman Gillis remained guardian of these children until July 7, 1851. The Norman Gillis and Pheraby Gillis family appears in the census of Montgomery County, Georgia at least through 1860. Their children include: Elizabeth Ann, Andrew, Norman, Emily, Nancy and Charlton. Norman Gillis became a very large landowner.

Pheraby Pate was the daughter of John and Mary (Polly) Abston Pate, who participated in the Land Lottery of 1805 as a citizen of Montgomery County. Pheraby’s date of birth cannot be determined precisely. Her indicated age varies from one Census to another. It seems quite certain, however, that she was born between 1800 and 1805. In any event, she lived to a ripe old age. She appears on page 88 in the Census of 1880 for Montgomery County as head of household. In this Census, she is a widow, 80 years old, living with her daughter, Nancy Gillis and Nancy’s children are: Carlton, Andrew, Christina and Kelly.

The children of Pheraby Pate Miller and Norman Gillis are interred at the end of the Miller listings they have a very large family and it gives me pleasure to add the extended family members. I have learned lots about the early lives of this and the other families that are listed.

Children of Samuel Miller and Pheraby Pate

Thomas Miller born abt. 1820 he married (1) Nancy Vick, September 04, 1837 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, he died between 1910 and 1920, in Laurens County, Dublin, Georgia, and is buried At Silverleaf Baptist Church Cemetery. On Highway 86 South of Dublin, Georgia. Thomas Married (2) Sarah Ann Bush born September 1863, and were married November 17, 1879 in Laurens County, Dublin, Georgia

Joseph Miller born abt. 1822 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. Very little is known about Joseph, He and Pheraby was one of the appointed to over see the Estate of Samuel Miller.

Rebecca Miller born about 1825 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, married to Wesley McLendon on August 07, 1853, in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, she died date unknown—in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. Wesley there is no date of birth or date of death, or where.

Samantha Manthy Miller, born November 09, 1830 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and married Henry Herndon on August 05,1848 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon. Georgia, and died April 11, 1914 in Montgomery County, Georgia. Henry was born July 26, 1821 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia and died August 22, 1885, in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia.

Mary Miller born abt. 1831 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died February 15, 1904 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. She Married Archibald Gillis, February 24, 1848 In Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, he was born February 24, 1822, in North Carolina and died September 30, 1892, in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia.

Thomas Miller

Born abt 1820 in Montgomery County, Georgia, married Nancy Vick September 04, 1837 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, he died between 1910 and 1920 in Laurens County, Georgia, Nancy, was born in South Carolina, about 1810 and died July 13, 1880 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia.

STATE OF GEORGIA

By His Excellency Joseph E. Brown Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of this State, and of the Militia thereof.

TO ALL WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME-GREETING.

KNOW YE, That in pursuance of an Act for opening the Land Office and by the Power in me Vested, I HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these Present in the name and behalf of the said State, DO GIVE AND GRANT unto Thomas Miller his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of Land containing Ninety Seven (97) acres and on the same day as stated above, Thomas Miller was GIVEN AND GRANTED, Fifteen (15) Acres all in Montgomery County, Georgia.

Signed by His Excellency the Governor, Joseph E. Brown, this 10th day of December 1860.

From going over the records in Montgomery County, Georgia, I am sure that the first piece of property that Thomas Miller bought was from Simon Vick, this is Nancy Vick’s father.

From September 4, 1837 to December 1860 Thomas and Nancy Miller had acquired a very large Farm and Plantation with over sixteen hundred acres of land along the Pendleton Creek and the Tiger Creek, all in Montgomery County, Georgia.

INFORMATION FROM A VISIT WITH SELMA AND VERDIE ON 18 MAY 1991

I visited two of my cousins to ask them some questions about my great grandfather and their, grandfather, and about some of the other family members. Selma and Verdie’s grandfather and grandmother were Thomas and Sarah Ann Bush Miller. There is much confusion about how many times Thomas has been married, but I can only verify two marriages. The first marriage of Thomas was to Nancy Vick and they are my great grandparents.

Verdie and Selma said that their mother Ida always wanted to meet some of the other families of Thomas. They located some in Soperton Georgia., but were not sure how they were related. They were Hutchinson’s.

Verdie said that she thought Thomas was a tall man since one of her brothers was very tall, and folk around there said he looked a lot like Tom Miller. But after she looked at the picture she said he is not very tall. People around there knew him as Tom Miller and called him (gopher back) Miller, she does not know how he picked up that name and I told her that it may have been that he ate so many gophers.

Ida died at the age of 53. She married Elijah Glover and both are buried at the Union Church Cemetery. She was a diabetic and had a bad heart. Sarah, her grandmother had sisters, one of them married a Pope, and the other one never married. Verdie thinks there were more children but she is not sure, for they moved away from that area.

Verdie could not understand why Thomas’s first set of children got rid of all the land he gave them. Thomas sold the old home place to his second daughter Martha Ann Miller Hutchinson. Verdie said she could remember her mother Ida talking about Martha Ann and Andrew Jackson (my grandfather). She remembers her mother talking about going to church at Sadies and Harmony, so they must have lived close by since they had to go in a mule and wagon. She is not sure how old Thomas was when he died. From all indications he lived to be 104 when he died but no proof. The 1910 Census shows that Thomas is 98 years old, and he is not listed on the 1920 census so from the census it shows he had died before the 1920 census came out.

Verdie said back before Tom got sick they would let sheep run loose and some dog’s had been killing Tom’s, sheep, a dog died and the owner thought Tom had poisoned it. So someone threw the dead dog into Tom’s well. And he drank some water without knowing, this, It wasn’t long after that when he started having convulsion’s, and later he was riding his horse (he always rode a little red horse) and was crossing a branch at the ford and he fell off the horse and would have drowned but his head hit a root and it kept his head out of the water. He didn’t live long after that. If he had not drank the

I have a picture that my Mother gave to my Brother Charlie and after he died his wife Lois gave the picture to me, and I took it with me to see if they knew who it was, as soon as I showed it to Verdie she said that is old Tom Miller, and she had a picture just like the one I had. And she also had one with Tom and a Dr. George Washington Jenkins they fought together in the Civil War. And the story goes that they walked from Atlanta to Savannah together after the war. So now I am sure that my great grandfather was Tom Miller.

Recently a cousin of mine, Steve Miller and his dad George L Miller were able to get a Confederate head stone from the government to place on Tom Miller’s grave.

Verdie said her grandmother Sarah would spin wool and knit sox and sell them so she could buy more land she only gave 25 cents an acre. She had a spinning wheel and Selma said they let it stand outside until it rotted, not realizing it was valuable.

Tom and Sarah’s old home place is a log cabin and it is still standing and pretty, good shape. It is rooms and the floors are still in good condition, you can see the dirt thought the wide cracks in the floor, boards. The roof is a split type shingle Verdie said Tom and the boys split the shingles and put them on the house. Verdie showed me a pillar under the front porch that was one of the original, and it was from a fat lightered tree. The pine tree were chipper on the sides to make it smooth and the sap would drain out in tin cups to make turpentine later the tree would die and turn into lightered, this pillow is still in good condition to be over 100 years old.

They wanted me to see their parents, Ida and Elijah Glover’s old home place, it is still standing and boards had been scrubbed smooth over the years with the old corn shuck scrub brooms.

Thomas Miller and Sarah Ann Bush Miller are buried at Silver Leaf Primitive Baptist Church on Highway 86 East, outside of Dublin, Georgia. This was part of Thomas Miller’s estate and was donated by them to build a church and school.

CHILDREN OF THOMAS MILLER AND NANCY VICK

Pennina Jane Miller born June 23, 1839 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia and died May 06, 1888 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. She married Lewis Hutcheson May 06, 1855 he was born June 28, 1824 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died February 15, 1899 and is buried in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia.

Martha Ann Miller born December 04,1840 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died date unknown—in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia. She married Stephen H. Hutcheson, 1860 he was born abt. 1834 and died December 12, 1927, he was born and died in Montgomery County, Mt Vernon, Georgia, and died there also.

Joel Miller born 1842 In Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia and died date unknown—and where unknown—He Married Amanda Melvina Hutcheson, August 01, 1861. She was born in 1840 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died 1931, in Emanuel County, Georgia

Simon L. Miller born 1844 In, Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died date unknown.

Samuel David Miller born September 20, 1845 in Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia, and died date unknown—in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia. He married Elizabeth Mytilda Turner,

October 22, 1868, she was born June 26, 1846, in Wilcox County, Abbeville, Georgia and died 1918 in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia.

Andrew Jackson Miller (The Author’s grandfather) born November 05, 1848 In Montgomery County, Mt. Vernon, Georgia and died October 05, 1906 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia. He married Rutha Jane Turner February 23, 1868. She was born November 14, 1849, and died February 03, 1934 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia. Both are buried in Akridge Cemetery Camilla, Georgia, Camilla and Moultrie High 37, West.

Toombstone Of Andrew Jackson Miller

Andrew Jackson Miller was the son of Thomas Miller and Nancy Vick. Andrew was born in Montgomery County, Georgia and lived there until 1868. Andrew Jackson Miller and Rutha Jane Turner were married in Wilcox County, Georgia; after they married they moved to Mitchell County, Georgia. After Andrew and Rutha moved to Mitchell County it looks as if the Turner Family moved there too, also one of Andrew’s Brother’s Samuel David Miller, moved to Mitchell County. The Millers owned property on one side of the Highway 37 West near Sale City, Georgia, and the Turner’s owned property on the other side.

Andrew Jackson Miller and Rutha Jane Turner are the Parents of James Weston Miller, (my father). There is very little known about Andrew Jackson Miller, except he worked hard and raised a large family. After they bought some land they started chipping the pine trees for the sap to sell and later this was made into turpentine, from the money they received from the sap they would buy more land. When Andrew died he had an estate of over three hundred acres of land along with the personal property was worth about $1000.00. He died without a will so, W. L. (William Lacy) Miller, the oldest son applied for a temporary letter of administration, on October 9,1906. Before the letter was authorized W. L. Miller had to give bond and security in the sum of two thousand dollars and taking the usual oath.

Signed J.G. Wood Ordinary

On November 5, 1906 a permanent letter of administration is granted to say W.L. Miller, upon his giving his bond and security in the sum of sixteen thousand and taking the usual oath of office.

Signed J.G. Wood Ordinary

It is also noted that when W.L. Miller appeared in the Ordinary’s office and applied for the letter of administration, that one of Andrew’s, brothers Samuel David Miller signed with W.L, Miller, on October 9, 1906 and again on November 5, 1906.

On October 9, 1906 it was approved by J.G. Wood and on November 5, 1906 it was approved by J.G.Wood and witness to signature of J.E. Eubanks and H.B. Tucker, J.P.

When Andrew died he left four minor children, they were James Weston Miller, Mary Magdaline Miller, Penny Lottie Miller and Alvin McNichael. Jane and H.H. Jones as Guardian of Mary Miller, J.W. Miller as Guardian of Penny Miller and J.L. Green as Guardian of Alvin McNichael. Alvin McNichael was the son of Fannie Miller and Newman McNichael, Fannie died very young and left Newman with a small child to raise and he brought the child over to our grandmother and gave Alvin to her and told her to raise him for he could not, and he left. Grandmother did not know that Newman had been bitten by a rattlesnake and he died very soon. Grandmother had his name changed to Miller. Alvin went by the name A. C. Miller.

Children of Andrew Jackson Miller and Rutha Jane Turner

1.        Nancy Jane Miller, born November 18, 1868 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia. She married to Samuel Hart, October 21, 1886 In Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. She died May 08, 1947 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, both are buried in the Akridge Cemetery, in Mitchell County, Georgia.

2.        Stephen Ellis Miller, born April 04, 1870 Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia. There is no record showing he was ever married, and he died In Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, no date of death.

3.        Hulda Miller, born March 19, 1872 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, and married January 07 1894 to George W. Ragan, in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, She died March 30, 1962 in Colquitt County, Norman Park, Georgia.

4.        Martha Miller, born December 24, 1875 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia there is no record of marriage; she died In Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia. There is no date of death.

5.         William Lacey Miller, born September 07, 1878 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia and married Minnie Eula Moore August 04, 1897 In Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. He died June 30, 1959 in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia. He is buried at the Murphy Cemetery.

6.        Fannie Josephine Miller, born October 17, 1883 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, and married October 08, 1899 to Newman B. McMichael in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia., She died in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia.

7.        Andrew Jackson Miller born November 29, 1885 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, married February 07, 1907 to Aurelia Hancock in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia, he died October 14, 1939 in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia.

8.        James Weston Miller Born October 11, 1887 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia married September 12, 1908 to Ida Varnadore, married December 22, 1912 to Annie Janie Fussell in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. He died February 22, 1950 in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia.

9.        Mary Magdaline Miller born November 01, 1889 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, married November 29, 1908 to James Henry Martin in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia, she died September 15, 1963 in Mitchell County, Sale city, Georgia.

10.         Penny Lottie Miller born February 24, 1892 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, she married April 18, 1907 to Frank Miller in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. She died July 05 1959 in Duval County, Jacksonville, Florida.

11.         Alvin C. (McNichael) Miller born August 20, 1900 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, he married December 24, 1921 to Mickey Alligood in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. He died May 1968 in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia.

RUTHA JANE TURNER MILLER OBITUARY

03 February 1934

LANEY NEWS

Mrs. D.W. Miller, a well beloved woman of our community, died Saturday night at 10:15 P.M. She had just passed her 85th birthday. Then end was not unexpected as her condition had been critical since she was stricken about ten weeks ago.

Mrs. Miller had many friends and during her illness scores called at her home to express their regrets and to voice the hope that she would pull through. But it was not to be and death came quietly Saturday night. Mrs. Miller, was a member of the oldest family in this section. She was born in 1849 in Wilcox County, She lived there until she married and moved to Mitchell County, in 1867and had resided here for 67 years.

Mrs. Miller commanded the respect and esteem of all those who knew her. And now that she has come to the close of the program, her friends are grief stricken and extend to the sorrowing members of her family their tenders sympathy.

Besides her husband she is survived by three sons and four daughters: Lacy Miller, of Murphy; Jack Miller, of Norman Park, and Weston Miller of Hartsville; Mrs. Pennie Miller, of Murphy; Mrs. J.H. Martin, Mrs. Hulda Ragan, both of Sale City, and Mrs. Sam Hart, of near Moultrie.

Funeral Services were held at the Akridge Cemetery about 5 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The rites were conducted by Rev. Sutton, pastor of the Methodist Church at Sale City. Mrs. Miller was a member of the Arno Baptist Church. She attended church regular as long as she was able.

From the second marriage of Rutha Jane Turner Miller there were no children born to her and Dave Miller.

I remember visiting my Grandmother Rutha Jane Miller, on the old home place there were several old buildings on the farm. When the children would get married my Grandparents would give them land to start their home on. Some kept their land and bought more. Others sold and bought in other area. One moved to Colquitt County. But most of them stayed in Mitchell County until after the death of their mother. Before my grandmother’s death we would visit and play in this big building that had an auction arena. It had a complete circle on the upper floor with small rooms on the outer circle and under the floor were rooms and stalls where probably animals were kept before the auction. My grandfather Andrew Jackson Miller had a buggy shop with everything that a blacksmith would need. He made most of his tools that he used on the farm. He made wagon wheels and buggy wheels. He made a set of buggy wheels with rubber tires on them.

Andrew Jackson Miller died on October 05, 1906 and my grandmother married Dave Miller. He was an expert toolmaker. And also made buggy shaves and wheels.

One of my brothers and I loved to play in this shop. When the family was gone to church on Sunday we would stay at home and play with all the tools and pump the bellows to see the ashes fly in the air. When my dad came home from church we were in big trouble for messing up the shop, but most of the time our grandmother would not let our Dad punish us. After dinner was over my cousin, my brother and I would go out to the big barn and ride a bicycle that did not have tires on it but we rode it anyway. We always had a good time visiting my grandmother since we could do about anything we wanted to for she would not let our Dad punish us. I can remember Dave Miller always chewed tobacco and he always had a mouth full or as we called it a cud and would spit on the ground but when Grandmother would call us to dinner Dave would take his cud of tobacco out of his mouth a lay it on the wash shelf next the wash pan and Weston and I would throw it out and after the meal was over he would tell our dad that we had thrown his tobacco out in the yard and it was dirty. But grandmother would tell him he could get some more tobacco not to worry about it.

Wedding

James Weston Miller

Born October 11, 1887 in Mitchell County, Sale City, Georgia, married September 12, 1908, to (1) Ida Varnadore and married December 22, 1912 to (2) Annie Janie Fussell, in Mitchell County, Camilla, Georgia. He died February 22, 1950, in Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia. Ida was born May 03, 1892, in Worth County, Sylvester, Georgia, Annie Janie was born April 27, 1897, in Coffee County, Broxton, Georgia. James Weston and Annie Janie are both buried in Westview Cemetery, Colquitt County, Moultrie, Georgia.

James Weston Miller was the son of Andrew Jackson Miller and Rutha Jane Turner. His father Andrew Jackson Miller was born in Montgomery County to Thomas Miller and Nancy Vick.

James Weston Miller lived on a farm in Mitchell County, Georgia, in the community of Laney. His father and mother owned land on one side of highway 37 West and his grandmother, Mahulda Turner owned land on the other side of the highway.

James Weston Miller and Annie Janie Fussell were married December 22, 1912 in Mitchell County, Georgia. They lived in Mitchell County, Georgia until after 1925. The first seven children were born in Mitchell County, and the other seven were born in Colquitt and Ben Hill County, Georgia. James Weston was a farmer and he believed in hard work, he said that it would never kill you but we kids really didn’t believe him. He always had plenty for us to do if we were not working in the field, we would be doing other work. Such as cleaning out fencerows even if it was a rail or wire fence, he didn’t believe in letting grass grow along the fence. We would have to shell peanuts, corn and peas during the winter to be ready for planting the next year.

We moved about every year to a different farm. Very seldom did we stay in one place over two years.

My dad talked about when he was growing up in Mitchell Co, Ga. After they had chipped the pine trees for the sap. Then after a few years the trees would die and turn to fat lighter. He always loves to make his mother’s geese fly. He would chase them until they would fly and he would just stand there and laugh. One day he had chased them until they were close to some of these trees that were still standing in the field. And one of the ganders flew into one of the trees and killed himself. His mother saw what happened and went to whip him and he decided he was too old to get a whipping and he ran from his mother. This was the wrong thing to do and she said That’s all right Corn bread crust would bring you back.(And old saying) He stayed gone until after dark and when supper was over he slipped into the house. His mother had gone to bed and he thought she was asleep. He knew not to go into the kitchen to get something to eat for he might wake her up. He went to bed and to sleep. My grandmother came into his room and took a bed sheet and pulled up both sides