U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Miller, Thomas Condit (1848-1928) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: West Virginia and Its People Author: Thomas Condit Miller and Hu Maxwell New York, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913 Volume II, Pages 150-151 Professor Thomas Condit Miller, son of William Edmund Miller [and Nancy Jaretta Hall], was born in Fairmont, Virginia, now West Virginia, July 19, 1848. He received his early education in private schools. Among his instructors was Dr. William R. White, who afterward was the first state superintendent of free schools of West Virginia. The civil war interrupted the course of his studies. For a year he served in the Home National Guard under United States officers, and when but sixteen years old enlisted in Company E, Seventh Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, April 1, 1865, and served until July 10, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He then resumed his studies, attending the Fairmont Academy and high school, teaching between terms after November, 1867. After the State Normal School was opened at Fairmont he was enrolled as a student and completed the prescribed course under Principal J. G. Blair. Among his other instructors there was Professor J. C. Gilchrist, who graduated from Antioch College when Horace Mann was president. He afterward spent a year in Adrian College, Michigan, but on account of ill health gave up his college course during the junior year. He has since then continued in school work. For a period of twenty-one consecutive years he was principal of the Fairmont high school, after having five years' experience as a teacher in country schools. His devotion to the Fairmont high school, and his success as a teacher brought him attractive offers from various parts of the state, and from other states. In 1893 he finally resigned to accept the position of principal of the preparatory department of the West Virginia University, and he afterward received the appointment of professor of pedagogy in the university, in which position he served with ability and fidelity for eight years. He resigned when elected state superintendent of free schools in 1900 and was re-elected at the end of his term, serving from 1901 to 1909. In the election of 1904 he received more than 25,000 plurality, the largest vote ever received by a candidate in West Virginia except that of President Roosevelt. In politics he is a Republican. Under the first state constitution he was for a time township clerk. Since 1909 Professor Miller has been principal of Shepherd College Normal School, Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is a popular institute lecturer and has probably addressed as many educational gatherings in the state as any other man, and he has also visited and spoken at institutes in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. He is a member of Meade Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic, and was assistant quartermaster-general of the Department of West Virginia for several years. He has held about every position on the state department and in the local post and served on the staff of the commander-inchief a number of times; also as patriotic instructor for West Virginia. It was largely through his influence and efforts that the monuments now standing in honor of the fallen heroes of his state on the battlefield at Gettysburg were erected. In 1866 he joined the Methodist Protestant church, and since then has devoted much time and energy to the denomination, now being a member of the general conference. For twenty years he was superintendent of the Sunday school and he has been president of the State Sunday School Association. He was a member of Lincoln Lodge, Good Templars, and has always been active in the temperance movement. He is a member of the National Education Association and a member of its National Council; of the American Historical Association, and of the National Geographic Society. He married, September 6, 1876, at Fairmont, Drusilla C. Hamilton, born at Fairmont, June, 1847, daughter of Elmus and Louisa S. (Hamilton) Hamilton. She had brothers: James B., William S. and John S. Hamilton, and a sister Paulina B. Pierpont. The Hamilton family is prominent in Fairmont. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller: 1. Archie Hamilton, born November 4, 1877, now engaged in clerical work. 2. Dwight Edmund, born October 5, 1879; engaged in clerical work. 3. Dana Paul, born October 6, 1883, died September 1, 1907. 4. Pauline Barns, born June 14, 1887, married Henry C. Capito, and resides in Charleston, West Virginia. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Additional Information: --------------------------------------------------------------------- VITAL RECORDS Marion County WV Death Certificate #16342 Thomas Condit Miller died 23-Dec-1928 at 80 years of age. Cause: Myocarditis Burial: Woodlawn Cemetery Marion County WV Death Register, 1905 Page 100 Drusilla Miller died 2-Jul-1905 at 59 years of age. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CENSUS 1910 Census, Marion County WV ED:59, Sheet 9B Union District, Fairmont City, Ward 2 Lines 65-69, Dwelling 186, Family 206 612 Madison Street MILLER, Thomas (head) age 61, widow, WV-WV-WV, Principal, State-Normal ", Archie H (son) age 32, WV-WV-WV ", Dwight E (son) age 30, WV-WV-WV, Clerk, Coal Co. ", Pauline B (dau) age 22, WV-WV-WV WASHINGTON, Grace (serv) age 16, WV-WV-WV, Servant 1880 Census, Marion County WV ED:86, Page No. 11 Fairmont Ind. School District Lines 24-27, Dwelling 98, Family 99 MILLER, Thomas C, age 31, Principal Public School, Va-Pa-Va ", Drusilla C (wife) age 32, Va-Va-Va ", Archie H (son) age 2, WV-Va-Va ", Budge (son) age 8/12, born Oct., WV-Va-Va 1870 Census, Marion County WV Fairmont Township, Page No. 4 Dwelling 29, Family 29 MILLER, William, 47, ??? factory, $3000/$150, Delaware ", Nancy J, 46, Keeping house, Virginia ", Thomas C, 21, School Teacher, Virginia ", Charles A, 18, without occupation, Virginia ", Anna B, 15, Attending school, Virginia ", Buena V, 13, Attending school, Virginia ", Richard S, 11, Attending School, Virginia ", Mattie, 6, at home, Virginia ---------------------------------------------------------------------