Many years ago my Great Uncle Don Miller sent me a copy of this photograph along with brief family history. Over time he sent information and photos along with the "brick walls" he had hit trying to unearth our family genealogy. Thanks to Uncle Don I was hooked and have spent my spare time over the past two decades taking up the search as well as searching other family lines.The couple in the photograph are my Great,Great Grandparents, Houston Ray Miller, Jr. and Martha Ann Gregory, this was a photograph taken on the day of their marriage at Crawford County, Indiana on November 3, 1861.
As you can imagine, Miller is not an easy family name to research. My research goes back to Houston Ray Miller, Sr. who was very active in politics in Indiana, however finding him before he came to Crawford County, Indiana has been the challenge.
Here are the clues I have regarding Houston Ray Miller, Sr. prior to his move to Indiana in the late 1830's:
- He was born in Overton County, Tennessee in 1809.
- The portion of Overton Co, Tennessee that Houston Miller, Sr. was born became Cumberland Co, Kentucky when when the two states settled the dispute regarding the Walker Line. Here is a link with an explanation of this dispute Echos from the Past by Judy Maupin, Boundary Disputes: http://www.westernkyhistory.org/trigg/maupin/boundary.html
- He married a Nancy or Cynthia (Sinthia) Cummins - she was Houston, Jr.'s mother. I have not found a marriage record in Tennessee or Kentucky. Her name was mentioned in a letter from one of Houston Sr.'s sons to Governer Wm. English.
- According to family history when he left Tennessee he traveled with several families, one with the surname DICUS
- Houston Sr. father's name may be either William, James or David and his spouse may have had the maiden name of Ray or Rae.
As I learn how to blog, I will continue to post photos and try to provide links for research.
Updated: June 2, 2012
4 comments:
Well, I'm related to Houston Sr. but I'm having the same brick wall you are. Houston, Sr. ( or Huston) is my 3d Great grandfather through his son Byram Hart Miller, your Houston Jr's youngest brother. By's daughter married John Wesley Elledge, then RO Elledge SR, then my father R.O. Elledge Jr. then me. Chuck (Charles) Elledge at your service, cousin! This summer I'm planning a trip to the Indiana State Library to find the mss left by Wm. English regarding Huston Sr, supposedly also a photo of Senior. Material was correspondence from John M. Miller, as you know, another son of Sr. Also plan to survey the English and Leavenworth newspapers in their collection (some few date to 1840s). Hope to find more info on his death falling from a horse, too. I find it hard to believe his passing wasn't noted somewhere. Also have a scanned photo of Byram Hart Miller. Also was my belief that Matilda, his 2nd wife was widow of a Cummins and maiden name Hart. That may be incorrect, though, it was related me by an Aunt in French Lick, Ruth Miller Powell - but that was 40 years ago and I recorded my memory of it after her death and 20 years after she told me - plus I was too young to pay attention. (Actually I loved the stories she told and other "old folk" in the family but didn't know enough to take notes, dangit!)
Chuck
Hi Chuck - Yes we are "cousins" - I will write ot you "off blog" regarding exchanging family history. Carole
Nice Blog page.
My Father Donald F. Miller
tried to solve the mystery for
Years. I'm looking too for the
answer. One Brick at a time.
Thanks for all your
Research information.
All the Best!
Rob Miller Indianapolis, In.
I'm a descendant of Joseph Denbo's brother, Robert. His daughter married William Kendall (born 1795) in Harrison county. I don't know if this helps buuuut, William Kendall had an Aunt in Kentucky married a Gregory, and the Gregory's migrated with us to Indiana (southern Orange county area). Btw Casimore Kindle, the clerk, was brother in law to a Denbo. one of your Joseph's neices. Our Gregories came lived in Shelby county Ky, before coming to Ind.
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