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, James Henry (1856-1929) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 527-529 COL. JAMES HENRY MILLER, a member of the law firm of Miller & Read, of Hinton, Summers County, West Virginia, was born December 29, 1856, on Lick Creek, at Green Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, Virginia, now West Virginia. He is a son of William Erskine and Sarah Barbara (McNeer) Miller, both of whom were born in Virginia. The Miller family originated in Ireland and its first representative in this country was Mr. Miller's great-great- grandfather, who immigrated to America from Ireland. Our subject's great-grandfather, Patrick Miller, was born on the voyage between Ireland and America. James Henry Miller's ancestors settled on the present site of Staunton, Virginia. John Miller, son Patrick Miller, was born in Bath County, Virginia, and settled in Greenbrier County shortly after the Revolutionary War. He married Jane Hodge of Bath County and they reared a family of 11 children, none of whom survive. William Erskine Miller, son of John Miller, and father of the subject of these lines, was born in that part of Greenbrier County that is now included in Summers County, and spent his whole life there, dying in 1900, aged 74 years. He married Sarah Barbara McNeer, who was born in Monroe County, being a daughter of Richard McNeer, of Scotch descent. Her death took place in 1896 at the age of 68 years. James Henry Miller is the third member of a family of four children born to his parents, namely: Mary B., of Hinton, West Virginia; C. L., of Foss, Summers County; James Henry; and A. E., who is general manager of the New River Grocery Company (wholesale) at Hinton. Mr. Miller was educated in the public schools and graduated at the Concord Normal School in 1880, following which he taught school in the free schools of his county for some 30 months. He entered upon the reading of the law with Hon. W. W. Adams, of Hinton, and took a course at the University of Virginia. In 1881 he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of the law in partnership with Hon. Ellert Fowler, and later, after Mr. Fowler's death, with his preceptor, Hon. W. W. Adams. Upon the death of the latter, he formed a partnership with Thomas N. Read, the present style of the firm being Miller & Read. On February 1, 1882, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Jane T. Miller, of Gauley Bridge, Fayette County. West Virginia, and four children have been born to this union: Grace Chapman, Jean, Daisy and James H., Jr. Mr. Miller has been prominently identified with the public school system, and in 1881 entered upon one term's service as county superintendent. In 1884 he was made regent of the State Normal schools, and served through two appointments. In 1881 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Summers County and served through four terms, — 16 years. He also served several years as fish commissioner. He has been very prominent in the Democratic party, was nominated for State Auditor on the Democratic ticket in 1900, was chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee in the campaign of 1900 and is the present chairman and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago in 1896, which nominated W. J. Bryan. For a space of 14 years he served as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of the Third Congressional District of West Virginia. In 1892 he was chosen as the Democratic candidate for Congress from the Third Congressional District, and in the election following reduced the normal Republican majority about 3,000 votes. Mr. Miller is a Mason of high degree, and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men and Ancient Order of Ignited Workmen. He has long been identified with the National Guards of West Virginia and was the organizer of the Hinton Light Infantry Guards, of which he served as captain until August 15, 1889, when he was made lieutenant-colonel. This honorable rank he resigned on account of press of private business. He is held in high esteem in Hinton and is regarded as one of the ablest lawyers in his section of the State. ------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Summers County, WV #3777 FULL-NAME: James H. Miller BIRTH-DATE: December 29, 1856 BIRTH-PLACE: Va. DEATH-DATE: February 9, 1929 (at age 72y-1m-10d) DEATH-PLACE: Bellepoint, Greenbrier District, Summers County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Married (Jane Miller) OCCUPATION: Lawyer FATHER: William E. Miller (born in Va.) MOTHER: Sarah Barbara McNeer (born in Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Pulmonary Edema / Chronic Brights Disease INFORMANT: Mrs. J. H. Miller (of Bellepoint) BURIAL: Miller Mausoleum ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Summers County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/summers/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------