Source Text:

Name: Samuel Miller Jr.
Birth Date: 6 Apr 1805
Birth Location:
Death Date: 20 Apr 1891 (aged 86)
Death Location:
Burial: Memphis Cemetery
City: Jefferson Township
County: Scotland County
State: Missouri
Country: USA
Memorial ID: 82060402

Samuel Miller, the sixth son of Samuel and Margaret [née Lackey] Miller, was born the 6th day of April 1805 in Rockbridge County, Virginia on the homestead of his grandfather, Henry Miller. A native of Londonderry, Ireland, Henry Miller had purchased 400 acres of land from the Greenlee Grant made by the English Crown, in 1770; located about 2½ miles east of Natural Bridge and 3 miles west of the James River.
Samuel's formal education was limited and taught at home the basics: reading, writing, math and geography. But one thing he learned from his mother was the love of music; which he studied and became known for his singing talents.
When Samuel was eight, The Wilson Family bought the neighboring farm and their daughter Janetta, would become his friend, schoolmate and later his wife. They married on September 4th 1834 and had the following known ten children:James Lackey (died in infancy)John F. (1835-1899)Isabella Patterson (1837-1864)James Wilson (1838-1929)Rebecca Ellen {m. Patterson} (1841-1934)William Henry (1843-1893)Thomas Lackey (1845-1846)Samuel Pressley (1846-1932)Margaret Elizabeth {m. Neese} (1849- 1931)Calvin Chalmers (1851-1935)
Samuel and Janetta raised their children in the old homestead, caring for his aged parents. They were members of the Presbyterian church his grandfather had helped organize. But like many men of that age; Samuel wanted to move west; where lands were opening up and becoming a good investment. Around 1852, Samuel started buying land warrants out west and after his parents died, sold the family homestead in Rockbridge and in 1856, move his family to Memphis in Scotland County, Missouri.
Moving to Missouri, a border state, between slave & free states; Samuel was also following his beliefs as an abolitionist; once refusing a slave given to him in his father-in-law's will. Here in Scotland County, Samuel had purchased 65 acres; where he built a comfortable house and farmed the rich prairie soil.
Samuel Miller departed this life on April 20th 1891 in the 86th year of his age. He was laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Janetta; who had preceded him thirteen years earlier.∼Samuel Miller is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Lackey) Miller, and was born in Rockbridge County, Va., April 6, 1805. The father was born in North Ireland, and came with his parents to Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary War. He had two brothers in this war. After some time the father moved from Lancaster, Penn., to Highbridge neighborhood, Rockbridge Co., Va. (named from the celebrated natural bridge), where he remained until death. He was a weaver in his youthful days, but in late years was a farmer. He died about 1845. He moved with his father to Virginia and became owner of his father's plantation. This our subject afterward purchased from the other heirs, and remained upon it, and took care of his parents in their old age. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, and her ancestors came from North Ireland, near Londonderry, to Pennsylvania. She died in Rockbridge County, Va., about 1850; both father and mother were members of the Associate Reformed Church, and died in their eighty-seventh year. Our subject received a very liberal education in Rockbridge County, and has been a student all his life. In 1834 he married Miss Janetta Wilson, who was born in Augusta County, Va., October 23, 1810, and died in Scotland County, Mo., August 27, 1878. She was the daughter of James and Deborah (Patterson) Wilson. The Pattersons were a noted family in Virginia, living at Patter- son Ford on South Shenandoah River, Augusta County. Mrs. Miller was a member of the Presbyterian Church from early childhood, and by her marriage became the mother of ten children, five sons and two daughters, who are living on and enjoying the benefits of those lands. Our subject is now at this date (October 22, 1887), eighty-two years, six months and seventeen days old. In 1852 he came to Missouri and entered 1,000 acres of Government land, and in 1856 he brought his family to Scotland County, Mo., and has since been a resident of that county, having sold his property in Virginia. While on his way from Virginia he and his family remained one winter in Indiana, and while there was elected to teach school, but his eldest son, John F., taught the school in his place. While in Virginia our subject was elected, appointed and commissioned, in 1851, on account of his merits and standing in society, by the court of Rockbridge County, to have charge of the school fund of the poor for a territory of twelve miles square, and served without pay. [See old constitution of Virginia.] He also served, while in that State, as elder in his church (Old School Presbyterian) twenty-two years, and has filled the same position since his residence in Scotland County, thirty-one years. He has always been a great lover of music, and while in Virginia taught the same for three years. He owes his success to industry and judicious management."History of Lewis, Clark, Knox and Scotland Counties Missouri", V.2 Biographical Appendix. Goodspeed Publishing, 1887, p. 1184, 1185(Contributor: Pam Witherow)

Family Members
Parents
Samuel Miller 1760–1846
Margaret Lackey Miller 1767–1854
Spouse
Janetta Wilson Miller 1810–1878
Siblings
Rebecca Lackey Miller Whiteman 1785–1877
Thomas Lackey Miller 1790–1796
Agnes "Nancy" Miller McKnight 1792–1875
Henry Miller 1793–1861
Elizabeth Lackey Miller Miller 1796–1858
John Boggs Miller 1798–1836
Eleanor Nellie Miller Shafer 1799–1838
Elihu Miller 1803–1814
Margaret Lackey Miller Miller 1809–1890
James Lackey Miller 1809–1812
Isabella Gilmore Miller Lackey 1814–1886
Children
John F. Miller 1835–1899
Isabella P. Miller 1837–1864
James Wilson Miller 1838–1929
Rebecca Ellen Miller Patterson 1841–1934
William Henry Miller 1843–1926
Samuel Presley Miller 1848–1932
Margaret Elizabeth "Lizzie" Miller Neese 1849–1931
Calvin Chalmers Miller 1851–1935