Name: Major John MILLER
_________________________________________
Birth: September 21, 1752 Sherman Valley, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Death: September 5, 1815 Millersburg, Bourbon County, Kentucky Age: 62
Father: Robert MILLER (~1722-1790)
Mother: Jean or Elizabeth ? SMITH

Misc. Notes
John Miller’s Station [1]

John, William and Robert Miller were three brothers who, along with other settlers, came to Kentucky in 1778 from Sherman's Valley near Carlisle, Pennsylvania (Kentuckian-Citizen 1944). John Miller had apparently made his first trip as early as 1775 to claim land possibly along with William McClintock, William Steele, one of the Houstons and others. The 1778 party included the Millers, McClintock, Steele, Robert Pollock, William McClellan, David Marshall, Henry Thompson, John Patton and others, totalling eighteen men with their families. A surveyor named Johnson laid off their claims and land was cleared and corn planted. Indian depredations drove them back to the settlements (with the loss of Robert Miller's life) but some apparently returned in 1779 and built a blockhouse (Kentuckian-Citizen 1944). Mastin (1965) reported that the Millers did not take possession until 1785-86. A Miller descendant stated that each of the brothers built a cabin (Chontrelle Layson 1983: personal communication). The reported locations of these structures are indicated on Figure IV-20. A check of the Miller land grants revealed that both John and William obtained patents but Robert did not. Presumably, Robert's death prevented him from entering his claim. However, the early occurrence of Robert's death immediately upon their arrival in 1779 (Mastin 1965) suggests that his "cabin" may have been no more than an improvement or crude log pen, possibly dating from 1775 if he accompanied John. John-s tract formed a rectangle with the settlement to the northwest and the preemption to the southeast. Hinkston Creek formed his westerly boundary for the length of his settlement and preemption, then made a right-angle curve to the east and slightly north at his southwestern preemption boundary. Since John later provided land for the town of Millersburg out of his grant, the placement of the creek at his westerly and southerly lines appears justified. This placement also includes his reported station location just within his preemption but very near his settlement line. Miller adjoined for a short distance with William Steele to the northwest. According to John Miller's survey calls, he was to adjoin William Miller along Hinkston Creek although the calls did not specifically state that they shared any corners along the boundary. However, John's southwest preemption corner specified "a sugartree hoopwood and spanish oak on the bank of the creek near a large buffaloe crossing", while William Miller's southeast corner specified "three lin [linn] trees on the bank of highstone [Hinkston] fork near a large buffaloe road", suggesting that these corners were close to one another. A check of other potentially shared corners did not indicate a match. The only other clues come from William McClellan's settlement which shared a corner with William Miller. In order for McClellan's attached preemption to not interfere with John Miller's southerly preemption line, the plats were connected as shown in Figure IV-20. However, the survey calls and plat of William Miller were not in complete agreement and the connected claims could not be made to join conformably by following the directions of the entries.

Another contradiction is notable in the reported locations of William and Robert Miller's cabins. Family history attributed a small single pen cabin discovered within a more recent structure (designated Bb-193 in the Kentucky Heritage Council inventory) to William Miller (so indicated on Figure IV-20). Its original location (it now stands on an adjacent lot) falls within the preemption claim of William Steele who adjoined a portion of John Miller's northerly settlement line. However, the preciseness of their adjoining boundaries again was elusive in the records and two possibilities are approximated in the map. The main difficulty lies in that John Miller's line begins in Steele's line and passes one of his corners. Reference to Steele's plat indicates that he intended to claim land on both sides of Hinkston Creek and that the creek was to run through the length of his preemption, exiting on his westerly line after making a large bend. Given the orientation and stream details of Steele's plat and John Miller's calls, either of the possible connections are problematical. However, both contain the cabin attributed to William Miller. This location is marked with a square denoting the house and the name W. M. Layson on the 1877 Beers and Co. map of Bourbon County. The Laysons and Millers intermarried and, in fact, the descendants (Laysons) still own both the John Miller Station and the log cabin attributed to William. A comprehensive deed search would undoubtedly account for the intricacies of ownership but such a task was beyond the scope of this research effort.

The location of Robert Miller's cabin is placed as shown in Figure IV-20 and based on local oral history. However, sparse evidence suggests that this location more likely applies to William McClellan's cabin. The reported site (now occupied by a brick dwelling) is on the settlement tract of William McClellan. A William McClellan (or McClelland) was interviewed by John Dabney Shane (Draper mss. 11CC181184). He was probably the son of the McClellan (or McClelland) who acquired the land and accompanied the Millers to Kentucky. According to his recollections, his family came to Kentucky in the fall of 1787. He mentions in passing that "McClelland's Station" was "not far from Millersburg in Bourbon [County]" (Draper mss. 11CC183). The McClellans may have taken over Robert's cabin after he was killed.

Systematic shovel probing was carried out on the site (designated 15Bb83) attributed to John Miller. The site is located on a lower bench of a ridge next to Miller's Run (now called Layson-s Branch). A shallow depression within an area of moderately dark brown cultural midden containing late eighteenth to early nineteenth century and possibly later artifacts is notable on the ridge bench. Later artifacts and moderate quantities of soft-fired brick suggest that the house was subsequently modified to include a brick chimney. The depression measures approximately 9 m in diameter and is about 1.5 m northeast of a brick concentration suggested to be chimney rubble. A well is located about 7.5 m southeast of the edge of the depression. The associated spring was once walled in and flowed due east of the site in the small tributary valley below. Perhaps 25 m downstream from the spring is a stacked and mortared stone retaining wall which may have once supported some type of outbuilding.

Two transects running north-south and east-west were laid out across the structural depression. The site was in pasture at the time of survey but has been used for tobacco in the past. Probes were placed at ten-foot intervals. Table IV-3 indicates artifacts collected or observed from each 'shovel probe and those collected from the surface. Of particular interest are the fragments of chinking which indicate log construction, the lead-glazed red paste earthenware, the possible creamware sherd, the extremely thin windowpane glass and the presence of probable "flow blue" and shell edged decorated pearlware dating from at least 1790-1820. Limestone and brick fragments were also observed in all the shovel probes. Depending on which date is most acceptable for John's permanent settlement, the chinking probably is associated with the earliest construction phase. Later modifications probably account for the windowpanes and brick chimney. The limestone encountered in the probes consistently conformed to small, flat pieces commonly used in the chinking process. Large stone foundation stones were lacking but likely would have been removed to facilitate cultivation. The artifact inventory from the site includes the same lead-glazed red paste earthenware found at John Grant's Station as well as possible creamware (dating from 1759 on) and pearlware (dating from 1790 on). The shelledged decoration on the rim was also an early innovation although it continued into the nineteenth century. Another interesting artifact is an iron key which is of a type fitting the seventeenth or eighteenth century plate stock-lock (Noel Hume 1978:244-245).

A possible reconstruction of the history of the John Miller Station site is as follows. The original building was a log house, probably double pen in size and plan, built for defensibility. The defensive nature of the structure may not have exceeded the inclusion of rifle portholes and, possibly, blockhouse features such as an overhanging second story and a door that could be barred. The depression may have served as a shallow root cellar beneath the house.

Subsequent to the pioneer era when protection from Indians ceased to be necessary, the house was gradually improved. The early chimney may have only been stick-and-daub; if so, it would have required replacement with more durable, less hazardous materials. Miller's son built a small Federal-style brick house (designated Bb-195 in the Kentucky Heritage Council inventory) about 400 m to the west sometime in the late eighteenth-early nineteenth century. Bricks are thought to have been manufactured at a homemade kiln in the small valley between the two structures (located by Chontrelle Layson during bulldozing operations). Brick from John's site is very similar to that of the later house, suggesting that improvements to the log house may have coincided with the construction of his son's house. John Miller died in 1815, possibly while still occupying the log house.

In light of the relatively high density and good preservation of the documented deposits, this site may be considered potentially eligible.
------
Source: The Kentuckian-Citizen, Paris, Ky., 1943-1944. This article was published in the June 22th and June 29th, 1943, editions.

Major John Miller, founder of Millersburg, Bourbon Co., Ky, and his brother William were the leaders of the "Miller, Company," several years younger than William was born Sept. 21, 1752 in Sherman Valley near Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., to which place at least one of the parents had emigrated from Northern Ireland, probably during the 1740 decade.

John located on the site of Millersburg, Ky., in 1778, where he built the first brick house in the State. He erected the 'Irish Fort' at the third settlement in the State… (History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties, Missouri, St. Louis, 1887, p. 800).

The Millers made four trips to Kentucky. For the first of them we have evidence from one of the most important sources on the early history of Kentucky, the famous work of Lewis Collins (Historical Sketches of Kentucky, Covington. Ky., 1876, 2 vols., being a revision of the 1847 edition): "A company of fifteen men (in after years frequently called Hinkson Company)…in March and April, 1775, came down the Ohio and up the Licking river, in canoes, in search of lands to improve. They landed at the mouth of Willow creek, on the east side of Main Licking, four miles above the forks (where Falmouth now is)… They proceeded on up the Licking to near the Lower Blue Licks ... thence took the buffalo trace to the neighborhood between Paris and Cynthiana where they 'improved' lands…Miller's Company.--A few days later in the spring of 1775, Wm. Miller, John Miller, Richard Clark, Wm. Flinn, Joseph Houston or Huston, Paddy Logan, Wm. McClintock, Wm. Nesbitt, Alex. Pollock, John Shear, Wm. Steel, Henry Thompson, and two thers (would Robert Miller, the brother, be one of these two?)--14 in all--came in canoes down the Ohio and up the Licking to the Lower Blue Licks, where they were joined by Hinkson's Company above named.

Each party sent out explorers, who examined the country, and reported to the two companies at Blue Licks. They all traveled together the main buffalo trace towards what is now Lexington, until they reached a trace turning west, since called Hinkston's (Collins spells this name both Hinkson and Hinkston) trace, which the Hinkson party followed--while the other party encamped on Miller's run, at the crossing of the lower Limestone or Ruddle’s road, thence went around the country, selected 14 spots for improvement, and divided them by lot. Wm. Steele’s place was on the north side of Hinkston, below the buffalo trace; he improved it by cutting down timber and planting potatoes. They all returned up the Ohio to Pennsylvania in the fall (Collins, Vol. II, pp. 325-326)."

Second trip: During the spring of 1776, the Millers, as on the first trip, came down the Ohio in canoes; but this time they landed at Limestone, the present Maysville, and traveled over the "Old Buffalo Trace" to the lands selected the previous year (I shall refer to this journey later and quote the authority). Of this party, only these names are known: John and William Miller, perhaps their brother Robert, Wm. Steele, Alexander Pollock, William Nesbit, and William McClelland. According to their land certificates, to be quoted later, the first five men mentioned, and no doubt William McClelland also, planted a crop of corn in 1776.

Third and fourth trips: "The first settlers in Millersburg Precinct, came from Pennsylvania. In 1778, eighteen men, all heads of families, set out from Sherman’s Valley, near Carlisle, in Pennsylvania, for Kentucky. They journeyed on foot through the wilderness, and so far as is known arrived at their destination without encountering any serious adventure. The names of these men could not all be obtained, but among them were Robert Pollock, William McClellan, William Steele, David Marshall, Henry Thompson, William McClintock, John, William, and Robert Miller, and John Patton.

A preemption grant of 400 acres had been furnished to each of them from the Governor of Virginia as an inducement for them to settle in Kentucky. Upon their arrival they proceeded, with their surveyor, a man named Johnson, to lay out and survey their respective claims. Four of this colony located their land within the present limits of Millersburg Precinct, vix., John and William Miller, William McClellan and William Steele. They located their 400 acres, and then proceeded to take up 1,000 acres each, at twenty shillings per hundred acres, upon which they built their cabins and planted a little corn, a precaution that was necessary to enable them to hold their preemptions.

McClellan built his cabin about one and a fourth miles south of the village of Millersburg…Steele settled near Steele’s Ford, on the Hinkston, but the exact spot is not known…John Miller preempted the land upon which Millersburg stands, but settled about a mile north of the town…William Miller built a cabin about a mile south of Millersburg…Each of the Millers built block-houses, where the families collected for protection against the Indians in times of alarms, which for the first few years were numerous and frequent.

After securing lands, erecting cabins and planting a crop of corn, they, in the latter part of the year, returned to Pennsylvania for their families and supplies. In the following year 1779 (fourth trip), they came back to Kentucky, making the trip by land to Pittsburg, and thence down the Ohio on flat-boats.

During the voyage they were compelled to keep in the middle of the stream, through fear of the Indians who infested the banks, and were ever ready to attack a small party of whites. Once, in attempting to land, Robert Miller was shot by the Indians, who secured his body. Mr. Miller had upon his person a silver watch, and wore silver knee-buckles and shoe buckles, which were then fashionable. Some years afterwards a man came to Millersburg wearing these relics of the unfortunate victim, which he had bought from the savages. They were recognized and purchased by John Miller, a brother of the murdered man. Owing to the hostility of the Indians along the Ohio, the party did not land at Limestone (Maysville), as they had intended, but proceeded to the mouth of the Beargrass, nowLouisville, where there was a fort and settlement.

The unsettled condition of the country arising from the Revolutionary War, then in progress, and the depredations of the Indians, incited to murder and bloodshed by British emissaries, their intended settlement was delayed, and it was not until about 1785-86 that the members of the little colony took possession of their lands . . . William Steele was shot and severely wounded by the Indians while making his original survey, and he carried the ball to his grave (William Perrin, History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, Chicago, 1882, pp. 121-122). To this narrative of Perrin, comprising the years 1778-1785, additional details can be added.

At Carlisle, on Aug. 19, 1779, John Miller married Ann McClintock—b. July 5, 1755—a daughter of Joseph McClintock, who died near Carlisle in 1799. Immediately after the marriage, John and his wife; William Miller and his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Purdy, with at least two small children, Jane two years old and Rachel one; Robert Miller, who seems to have been unmarried; William Steele, Alexander Pollock, and William Nesbit, undoubtedly with families; and perhaps others; all these left Sherman Valley, making 201 miles journey by wagon over the mountains of Pittsburg, where they embarked, according to the custom of the flat-boats.

Here the year before, George Rogers Clarke had settled several families on Corn Island, opposite Beargrass, and in 1799 (1779??) built Fort Beargrass on the mainland. If we may trust a statement from Perrin—"They returned, however, the following year 1799 (1779??), and erected a blockhouse where Millersburg now stands, p. 37"—the Millers, almost immediately after their arrival at Beargrass, left their families under the protection of the fort and went to build a blockhouse; no doubt with the expectation of moving to their lands the following spring. On Feb. 24, 1780, John and William Miller appeared before the land Commissions at Harrodsburg to file their claims.

On Aug. 28, 1780, at Beargrass, occurred the birth of John Miller’s first child, Robert Eakin Miller, the first Miller to be born on Kentucky soil. Concerning him, Perrin writes, "Robert Miller, born 1780, is said to be the first male child born in the state, p. 513."

John and William Miller—with Alexander Steele, Alexander Pollock and William Nesbit—appeared, "At a Court continued and held by the Commissioners of the Kentucky District for adjusting Titles to unpatented Lands at Harrodsburgh this 24th day of Feb’y 1789 (Certificate Book etc p. 237)." Did the Millers come from buildinf their blockhouse or from Beargrass? Other men from the same vicinity in Fayette County (Bourbon was taken from Fayette in 1785) appeared before the Commissioners on the same day. In fact a very strange coincidence happened "this 24th day of Feb’y." Among the thirty-five men appearing before the Commissioners was also another William Steele. He and his brother, Andrew, had claims toward Lexington (see Collins, Vol. II, pp. 173, 241, and index).

So far as the names of the men connected with the Miller migration are known, certificates for only five of them were recorded: John and William Miller, William Steele, Alexander Pollock, and William Nisbit (later spelled Nesbit). Robert Miller, of course, was killed before he could record his claim, but concerning this claim it has been said, Robert Miller’s was near the big spring in Isaac Chanslor’s farm (Geo. W. Bryan, Snap Shots of Millersburg, Ky., Cincinnati and Millersburg, 1901, p. 7)"

The certificate for John Miller is typical of all: "John Miller by Jno. Martin this day claimed a settlement a preemption to a tract of land in the district of Kentucky on Acc't of raising a Crop of Corn in the Country in the year 1776 lying on the North side of the Middle fork of Licking Creek to Include his improvement adjoining the Lands of Alexander Polock Satisfactory proof being made to the Court they are of Opinion that the S'd Miller has a right to a settlement of 400 Acres of Land to include the above Location and the preempt of 1000 Acres of Land adjoining and that a Cert issue accordingly ('Certificate Book etc.', p, 242-243)."

All five men, according to the certificates, raised corn in 1776. The lands of the others: William Miller, "lying on the Waters of the Middle -fork of Licking on a large Buffaloe road"; William Steele, "lying on the North side of Middle fork of Licking Creek between a large Buffalos road and the creek"; Alexander Pollock, "lying on the North side of the Middle fork of Licking Creek adjoining the lands of Jno. Miller"; and William Nisbit, "lying on the north side of Middle Fork of Licking Creek between a buffaloe Road and the s’d Creek adjoining the Lower side of Wm. Steele’s land" (Certificate Book, etc., pp. 242-243).

The year 1783 saw the beginning of actual family settlements about Millserburg. The original surveys, made in 1778 by the surveyor Johnson (Perrin, p. 122), were evidently deemed unsatisfactory, for after the Miller claims had been filed, the lands were re-surveyed: that of John Miller, Jan. 6, 1783 (Jillson, p. 88); William Miller, next day, Jan. 7, 1783 (Jillson, p. 88); William Steele, the following day, Jan. 8 (Jillson, p. 117); and William McClelland Dec. 6 and 26, 1783 (Jillson, p. 97). The lands of Alexander Polock and Richard Clarke were surveyed later: the former, June 20, 1784 (Jillson, p. 109); the latter, Nov. 1, 1792 (Jillson, p. 159). All these lands were Virginia Grants, excepting Richard Clarke’s whose was an Old Kentucky Grant. After William McClelland’s death, his son Elisha was made one of the defendants in a land suit, the records of which are of importance; giving us not only some information about William McClelland, but also showing that other families had started to settle in Millersburg in 1783.

This suit—Wigginton and Others vs William Adair and Others, filed Aug. 29, 1815; final decree, May Court, 1824, Bourbon Co., Ky., Bob 587—involved many of the early families. Among the defendants, Orators represent that William McClelland obtained certificates for settlement and preemption and patent for land, included in entry and survey of orators and legal title now vested in Elisha McClellenad, also made defendant to Bill. That William Miller (who did not die until Dec. 16, 1824) obtained certificate for settlement and obtained Patent for part of land included in orators Patent, also made defendants to Bill (Bourbon Circuit County Records—Suits in Abstract, by Julia Ardery [Mrs. W. B.], in Ky. Hist. Reg., Vol. 37, 1939, p. 256). Among the many deponents were: "May 27, 1823—At Timberlake’s Tavern, Paris, Kentucky . . . Deposition of Robert McClelland states that he came to this country Dec., 1783 with his father, William McClelland, and landed at Limestone, then to Washington in Mason County, where they stayed about six weeks, then to William Miller’s old improvements and stayed until last of Feb. 1784, then to where Elisha McClelland ‘now lives’ and stayed a few days in cabin formerly built by his father but because of an alarm of Indians went to Lexington where they raised a crop of corn, and in Oct. family returned to place where his father settled and he has lived there ever since (Bourbon Circuit Court Records, p. 262). William McClelland’s cabin may have been built in 1778 or at an earlier date, for ‘William McClelland, who was a native probably of Virginia, and came to Kentucky in 1776, landing at Limestone, now Maysville, soon after coming down the ‘Old Buffaloe Trace’ to Irish Station (Perrin, p. 513)."

For the next few years there is no information about the Millers. According to Perrin, "Collins says that in 1789, the only station between Maysville, then known as Limestone, and Lexington, was the Lower Blue Licks . . . Irish Station was another settlement, some five or six miles from Blue Licks, and was settled a few years later (p. 329)."

What Collins does say is something different, "In 1789, the only station between Limestone (Maysville) and Lexington, sixty-four miles, was at the Lower Blue Licks . . . Irish Station was about 5 or 6 miles south of the Lower Blue Licks, on the road to Lexington, and John Miller’s (which he had previously said was founded in 1784) about 6 miles further on (Vol. II, p. 654)." However, we are able to check this date. Joel Watkins, who made the journey between Limestone and Lexington in 1789 says, "I stopt at the Blue Lick . . . after leaving the sd. Lick we had Twelve Miles to Travel before we came to any Settlements ("Miller’s Station") ("Joel Watkin’s Diary of 1789," edited by Virginia Smith Herald, Ky. Hist. Reg., vol. 34, 1936, p. 225)."

In 1794, Needham Parry, traveling from Maysville to Lexington, stayed the night of June 5 about three miles south of Blue Lick and next day, "This morning we went about 4 or 5 miles and then the road began to get better, till we came to a fine stream of water called Hinkston Creek, which is likewise a prong of the south fork of Licking R. Just at the ford of this creek, there is a dam; and one side there is a grist mill and a saw mill, and there on the other side right opposite, there is a grist mill and fulling mill; all of which are supplied out of the same head, one dam answering the whole. The land here being excellent, and Timbered with Walnut, Honey Locust, Buckeye, and cherry. The next stream we crossed, was a creek called Stoner ("Journal of Needham Parry—1794," Ky. Hist. Reg., vol. [illegible] 1936, p. 382)

This is the earliest reference I have found about the mills. They could not have been constructed after 1793, and probably not before 1789. The date of their origin is not given by Perrin, "Among the first manufacturing industries were those of mills. The first establishment of this kind was erected by the Millers. John Miller put up a saw and grist mill so long ago that no one now remembers the date of its erection. It was built of logs…in the southern part of Millersburg on Hinkston Creek. As early as 1808, flour was being shipped from this mill to New Orleans, and for years it was a considerable institution in the neighborhood, and was patronized by the people far and near…A mill was also built by William Miller, just acrossed the creek from that, put up by his brother, and of the same character and capacity, with the exception that a fulling attachment was added, which was probably the first of the kind in the country (p. 122)."

Our next notice of the Millers comes from Daniel Boone, whose last days in Kentucky were spent in Bourbon County. In 1706 the Wilderness Road, which Boone had originally laid out in 1775, from North Carolina into Southern Kentucky, was for the first time made fit for wagons. The announcement of this projected improvement was the occasion for the following letter, written in 1796 to Gov. Selby of Kentucky: "Sir, after my best respts to your Excelancy and family, I wish to Inform you that I have sum intention of undertaking this New Rode that is to be cut through the Wilderness and I think my Self entitled to the offer of the Bisness as I first marked out the Rode, in March 1775 and never rec'd anything for my trouble and sepose (I suppose) I am no Statesman I am a woodnman Sir if you think with Me I would thank you to wright me a line by the post the first oportunety and he Will Lodge it at Mr. John Milers on Hinkston Fork (italics mine) as I wish to know Where and When it is to be Laat (let) So that I may atend at the time I am Deer Sir your very omble sarvent Daniel Boone (Collins, Vol. II, p. 242)." Boone did not get "the ofer of the bisness" and shortly after moved to Missouri.

It would be of interest, did space permit, to write about the many Bourbon County families in which the Millers married—McClelland, West, Baker, Hall, McClintock, Talbot, Young, Dodd, Wallace, Mountjoy, Purnell, Forsythe, Nesbit, Nunn, Taylor, Varnon, Shoemake, Trigg, Bryan, Baskett, and others—both in Kentucky and later in Missouri, but something must be written about the relationship among the pioneers. Migrations in pioneers times were invariably a family affair. Eighteen families, merely neighbors, did not make a long and dangerous journey to settle in a wilderness had not some of them been related to each other. John Miller married Ann McClintock; Henry Thompson, Sr., married Mary McClintock (Perrins, p. 518), undoubtedly related to Ann, as also to William McClintock, the pioneer; and William McClelland married Martha Miller, certainly related to the Millers. Though (illegible) William McClelland probably came from Virginia, this has never been the tradition among the McClellands of Missouri, "William McClelland of Pennsylvania married Martha Miller, by whom he had Jane (md. Robert Eakin Miller), Martha (md. Joseph McKim), Robert (md. Elizabeth Amos), William, Elisha and James (History of Callaway County, Missouri, St. Louis, 1884, p. 150)"

The following material is added by Miss Elizabeth Miller and is taken from "Millers of Millersburg" by Harry Middleton Hyatt, a descendant of John Miller, founder of Millersburg. Only a partial list of the descendants of John Miller through the fourth generation are given here. Complete list and additional information can be found in the book referred to above.

John Miller b. 1752-d. 1815—m. Ann McClintock 1779

Children of John Miller and Ann McClintock Miller:
Robert Eakin b. 1780—m. Jane McClelland 1814
John b. 1783—m. Cassandra West 1808
Elizabeth b. 1785—m. James Baker
Jean m. (1) Alvin West (2) John Swan Hughes
Joseph b. 1788—m. Polly McKee 1809, no children
William b. 1789—m. Margaret McClintock
James b. 1791—m. Nancy Walton Baker
Alexander b. 1795—m. (1) Martha McClure m. (2) Ann Pelham
Ann—m. William Talbott

Children of William Miller and Margaret McClintock Miller:
Frances Ann b. 1819—m. William Nunn 1839
Margaret H. b. 1821—m. Zed M. Layson
Jane A. b. 1823—m. Samuel Jones 1844
John Clark b. 1826—m. Jane E. McClelland 1847
Elizabeth b. 1830—never married

Children of Alexander S. Miller and Martha McClure Miller
John E. b. 1818, never married
William Mc. B. 1820—m. Susan J. Collier 1846
James McClure b. 1823—m. Rachel Hitt 1843
Mary McClure b. 1825, never married
Robert Andrew b. 1827—m. Adella Malone Raymond
Joseph Andrew b. 1831—m. Sally M. Best 1871, no children
Anne E. b. 1832—never married
America Jane b. 1834 d. 1837
America Jane (named for sister who died) b. 1840—m. Alexander Butler 1859
Martha M. b. 1842—m. William H. Savage

Children of Margaret H. Miller and Zed M. Layson:
William Miller m. Maggie Orr—Jan. 25, 1870
John Clark m. Laura Vimont—March 1871

Children of William McClure Miller and Susan J. Collier:
Charles Alexander b. 1857—m. Lutie Piper, June 5(?), 1878
James Collier b. 1854—m. Elizabeth Barbara Howe Jan. 27, 1874

Children of James McClure Miller and Rachel Hitt:
Mary McClure b. 1844
John Alexander b. 1847—m. Mollie Hall 1875
William McClelland b. 1849—m. (1) Martha Clay Hutchcraft 1883 m. (2) Eliza Ann Hart 1906
Henry Bascom b. 1852
Martha A. b._____--m. Robert P. Milam 1875
Carlton Hitt b. 1857—m. Josie Blount 1893
Callie McClure b. 1860
Raymond b. 1862
Robert Lee b. 1866—m. Lula Ward 1899

Children of Robert Andrew Miller and Adella Malone Raymond Miller:
Catherine b. 1864—never married
Martha H. b. 1867—m. Andrew J. Lamb 1893
Clarence b. 1868
Robert W. b. 1869

Children of America Jane Miller and Alexander Butler:
William Earnest b. 1861
James A. b. 1860—m. Alice Hook
Martha H. b. 1863—m. Albert K. Hawes

Children of Martha H. Miller and William H. Savage:
Walter
William
Alexander
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MAJOR JOHN MILLER. [2]-The names and deeds of those who have wrought nobly in the past should not be allowed to perish and it is in the making of Perpetual record concerning such persons that a publication of this order exercises its supreme function. The name of the Miller family is one which is ineffaceably traced on the history of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and which has been identified with the annals of American history since the early colonial epoch. Strong men and true, and gentle and gracious women have represented the name as one generation has followed another upon the stage of life, and loyalty and patriotism have been in distinctive evidence, the while the family escutcheon has ever been a symbol of integrity, honor and usefulness. In Kentucky, where the family was founded more than a century and a half ago, there have been many worthy citizens to upbear the prestige of the name and thus there is peculiar consistency in offering in this publication a review of the family history.

Major John Miller, the founder of Millersburg, Bourbon county, Kentucky, and one of the earliest settlers of this section of the state, was born in Sherman's Valley, near Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 21st of September, 1752, and he is the progenitor of many descendants resident of Bourbon and Nicholas counties at the present time. Major John Miller, in company with his brother, Robert, and several others, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky in 1775, having been induced to take this actiori by the Governor of Virginia, who gave to each of them a pre-emption grant of four hundred acres of land in that section of Kentucky, which was then a part of Fincastle county, Virginia. The long and hazardous journey through the wilderness was made on foot and the sturdy pioneers arrived at their destination without serious difficulty enroute. Major John Miller and his brother, together with William McClelland and William Steele, had the prescience to discern the special advantages and attractions of what is now Millersburg precinct, Bourbon county, and here they secured their respective allotments of land. In addition to his grant of four hundred acres, Major Miller entered an additional tract of one thousand acres, which he secured at the nominal expenditure of twenty shillings per hundred acres. While they were surveying their lands they were continually menaced by the Indians and on one occasion William Steele was wounded by one of the savages. Concerning the conditions and incidents touching the lives of these sterling pioneers the following pertinent record has been written, being from the pen of George W. Bryan, who was one of the representative citizens of Millersburg. But slight change is made in the phraseology in the reproduction of the article.

"To protect their families from attack and siege of the Indians, each of the Millers built upon his lands a log block house or fort, Major Miller's being built near the present boundary line of Bourbon and Nicholas counties, on the land now owned by his greatgrandson, William M. Layson. Robert Miller's was near the big spring on Isaac Chanslor's farm. These block houses were loop-holed and sufficiently large to accommodate the famiilies of the neighboring settlers, who often fled to them for refuge. - After, planting a few acres in corn by simply tickling the rich soil with the hoe, the pioneers returned in the latter part of the year to Pennsylvania for their families. In the following spring they began their return journey, traveling by land to Pittsburg and thence down the Ohio in flat boats, intending to land at Limestone, Maysville, and then to proceed to their settlement, forty miles distant, over the 'Old Buffalo Trace,' which is now the Maysville and Lexington turnpike road. The danger in making the voyage down the river. came not, however, from the water, but from the shore. From tree and bush, from rock and ravine the deadly bullet and the flint-head arrow, dipped in poison, singly and by volleys, kept constantly on the alert the harassed voyageurs, compelling them to keep their boats in the middle of the river, to be out of range. But with all their precautions, Robert Miller fell a victim to their attacks and his body f ell into the river and into the hands of the Indians. Owing to this hostility, the travelers did not land at Maysville as they had intended, but continued their river journey to Beargrass, Louisville, where there was a settlement and fort, and it was not thought safe to settle upon their lands until about 1785-6. But even then, as everyone conversant with the early history of the 'dark and bloody ground' knows, they were often subject to sudden attacks by wandering bands of Indians from beyond the Ohio, who resented the occupation of their hunting grounds by the whites.

"The settlement grew in population and importance, as it was on the highway of immigration into Kentucky from the east. So that in 1798 Major John Miller had surveyed one hundred acres, which was laid off in town lots and incorporated as the town of Millersburg. As the facilities of transportation were meagre and the eastern markets distant, a great many trades and factories were established to supply the necessities of the community. More, in fact, a great many more, before the incorporation than there is now, a century later.

"The flouring mill was built by the Millers on each bank of the Hinkston. Flour, together with jeans, linsey-wool and flax cloths, spinning wheels, furniture, etc., as well as the products of the farm, were hauled in road wagons to Maysville, and shipped by flat-boats down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. The money received was mostly silver, and, as it was before the advent of steam, getting back was another matter. But many a return trip was made on horse-back, with saddle-bags containing the silver, not only to Millersburg, but on to Philadelphia, where merchandise was purchased, hauled by land to Pittsburg, and then by flat-boat to Maysville, where the road wagons received it for final delivery to purchasers."

Soon after coming to Kentucky Major John Miller returned to Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, where was solemnized his marriage to Ann McClintock, who accompanied him on his return to Kentucky. As noted in a preceding paragraph, some time had elapsed before he made final settlement on his land in Bourbon county, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 5th of September, 1815. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, on the 9th of July, 1755, and died at the old homestead in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 19th of December, 1825. Major Miller served with distinction in the war of the Revolution and-was known as an able commander having been major of his regiment. As has already been stated, Major Miller eventually surveyed one hundred acres of his land and platted the same into town lots, thus becoming the founder of Millersburg, which was named in his honor. He was a man of fine intellectual and physical powers and wielded large and beneficent influence in connection with the material and social development of Bourbon county, where he ever held a secure place in popular conndence and esteem. He became the father of four sons and two daughters and at the present time there are to be found in Bourbon and Nicholas counties many of his descendants, who have likewise played well their part in connection with the work of progress and development, as have also the intermediate generations. Within the pages of this publication will be found special mention of many representatives of this sterling family and the article here entered is given as a supplement to such individual sketches.

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Subject: Re: Miller - Steele
Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 09:51:45 -0800
From: Kathryn Weiss
To: darby@visi.net

Bob
If you check 16CC297 out, please let me know the results. I am a couple of hours from the closest FHC, and live fairly remote. This keyboard & modem are my biggest connection. I just pasted new stuff to what little I'd sent last night.

16CC297 has an interview with J D. Shane: Interview with John Steele, Steele's Run, Kentucky. Four Steele families in Kentucky that were not connected; meeting with Daniel Boone in MO in 1810; Co. Robert Patterson's papers. 1 p.

13CC151-65 is 21 pgs interview with Robt Jones, of KY, mentions stations of John & William Miller.

34CC38 letter to LCD from E.B. Miller of Pierre S.Dak. Has written to his mother for the desired information;visit to relatives in Kentucky;settlement of John Miller and his brother-in-law Samuel Frazier, where Cynthiana now stands. 3 pgs.

Kathryn Weiss
PO box 129
Forbestown, CA 95941
======================================================
2/18/00

1775 June 12
1CC215: Richard Henderson, Boonesborough. Letter to Joseph Martin in the Valley. Asks that salt and other things left with him be delivered to Ralph Williams, David Burney, and William Millar; will send horses by Henderson's brother in a few weeks. 1p

1842
13CC48-51 Shane interview with Mrs. Webb, Ohio. Came out with Closs Thompson & Jane, his wife, from North Carolina in 1790. Incidents of the journey; Wm Samlley living in neighborhood of Xenia; residence of John Ducker; Earhart captured abt 1792; Aaron Miller and General Lytle mentioned.

1788 Dec 5
18CC203 John Gaston: Notice warning the public against a bond given to Abraham Miller. Capt John Wall equally bound with him. 1p

11CC133-35
Shane interview with Elijah Foley, Fayette Co., Came from Frederick Co., VA in 1779; settled at Bowman's Station; heads of Families there in spring 1780. Lieut Abraham Miller, Foley's wife, brother killed. Names of men who were killed at Bowmans station.

Mar 15, 1818
22CC235 James Wier, Lexington. Memo of letter to alexander Miller. Quotation of price on cotton. 1p

11CC253-57 Shane interview with Ben Guthrie, Woodford Co. Came to Ky in 1783; Cave Johnson & Richard Taylor in his company; list of families at Big Crossings Station; Andrew Miller, Edmund Roe, and Dick Searcy's wife killed by Indians. 5 pgs

4CC143-56 Mark Hardin Shelby Co., Ky letter to LCD Life on the Monongahela & Ky. Notes on Gen Wm Hardin, Co. Knox, Christopher Miller, Richard Burk & others 14 pp

1789-96 Oct 4-16
13CC25-33 Ichabod Benton Miller, Ohio Journal. Set out from Elizabethtown Pa for KY via Redstone, traveled with John S. Gano, Major Goforths family, Peter Coles, Edmund Buxton, and Talmon; settlement in Ohio; marriage to Sarah Mercer; birth of David Mercer Miller... 9 pgs

1800 Sept 22 8CC13 John S. Gano, Cincinnati. Letter to Capt Benj Lockwood, SouthWest Point, Tn; Encloses receipt for land tax; Capt E. Miller's resignation. 1p

1889 July 8
34CC41 E B Miller, Pierre, S.Dak Letter to LCD. Recent death of his mother in Co., dau of Richard Caulk of MD, who settled in St. Louis in 1785; her marriage to Hugh Miller in 1832, John Miller and Saml Frazier went to KY with Daniel Boone just after RW 3 pgs

14CC23 Shane memo on FW Miller who came into possession of the Symmes papers 1 p

1855, July 12 Gallagher, W D. Undulata, near Louisville, Letter to LDC. Proposes to visit, will be accompanied by Noble Butler, Ben Casseday, and probably J.A. Miller. 6 pgs

13CC151-65, 176-81 Shane interview with Robert Jones, Kentucky. Landed at Maysville, Ky Mar 31, 1786. Isaac Kellar, Col. Christian, Hezekia Wood; and Lot Masterson killed. Made trip with Alex Faulkner, Jim Freeland, Evan Shelby & Joshua Griffin. .... .... mentions stations of John and William Miller in KY 21 pp

Oct 25 1812
5CC60 John Miller, Lancaster, KY. Recpt to Letcher & McKee for 5 boxes of Clothing for Col Jennings regiment of the Northwestern Army. Boxes to be delivd to Wm. W. Worsley. 1p

1835
11CC191-99, 207 Shane interview with Caleb Williams, Fayette Co., mentions Neill Miller.

Mar 12, 1815 James Wier, Lexington, Letter to Robert Miller. Requesting him to examine damaged yarns in the hands of Adams, Knox, and Nixon at Philadelphia and advise him as to the best disposition to be made of them.

1835 June 1
38CC29-30 Sylvanus Miller, extract from an address delivered by Sylv. Miller, Esq. of New York. 2 pp

March 13, 1783
12CC208 Thomas Miller, entry for 2000 acres of land on a treasury warant, beginning on a creek about two miles below Estills battle ground. 1p

Sept 16, 1817
12CC222-23 Robert Morrow, Survey made in obedience to order of Circuit court of Montgomery Co., Ky in suit of John U. Waring et al, vs. James French et al. shows surveys of Thomas Miller, Jeremiah Moore, Weathers Smith, John Firstoe, Robert Sanders, Enoch Smith, Isaac Davis, Wm. Baranby Sears, and John U. Waring. Also shows Estill's battleground. 2 pgs

May 6, 1887
34CC13 E.P. Benton, Estill Co., KY. Letter to LCD. Knows nothing of Dorton's Creek; origin of name of Miller's Creek; his father-in-law, Valentine Crawford, an early settler on Miller's Creek;

That's it for the Kentucky Calendar. Hope something in here links up for you.

I am researching the line of William Bryan and Mary Boone, their son Samuel Bryan and his wife Mary Hunt, and the STEELE & Griffing lines if you run across anything at all, I'd appreciate it. Most of my folks ended up in Campbell Co. by 1795 or so, and include Gosney & Yelton as well.

Kathryn
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Spouses
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1: Ann McCLINTOCK
Birth: July 9, 1755 Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Death: December 19, 1825 Millersburg, Bourbon County, Kentucky Age: 70
Burial: Millersburg Cemetery, Millersburg, Bourbon County, Kentucky
Father: Joseph McCLINTOCK (1701-ca1799)
Mother: Elizabeth TORRENCE (ca1723-1758)
Marriage: August 19, 1779 Pennsylvania [3]
Children: Robert Eakin (1780-1860)
John (1783-1827)
Elizabeth (1785-1827)
Joseph (1788-1853)
William (1789-1847)
James (1791-)
Alexander (1796-1870)
Ann (1794-1852)
Jean (1785-1843)


Sources
1. Nancy O’Malley, Stockading Up, Kentucky Heritage Council, Frankfort Kentucky, revised edition, 1994, pp. 77, 81-82, 85.
2. E. Polk Johnson, The History of Kentucky and Kentuckians, Vol. III, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1912, pp. 1243-1245.
3. “Marriages by Rev John Linn, Centre Presbyterian Church, Perry (then Cumberland) County PA.”

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Last Modified: August 15, 2002
Created: August 15, 2002