Miller (My Paternal Side)

You will probably see this picture in a few of my family lines for it is a five generation portrait. A lot of information in one picture. Sarah (Pemberton) Miller, my 3rd great grandmother, Adelbert Cason Miller, my 2nd great grandfather, Anna Maude (Miller) Goodman, my great grand mother, Marie (Goodman) Garrison, my grandmother, and Edythe Lorraine Garrison,  my aunt.

What I have on our Miller Line starts with John Miller (1770 - 1840 IL) who married Elizabeth "Betsy" Antle my 5th great grandparents on September 10, 1792 in Lincoln Kentucky (Index to Kentucky marriages, 1802-1850) and from that union they had George (1797 KY - 1857 IL), my 4th great grandfather, and Henry (1802 KY - 1858 IL).  John is believed to be a son of George Miller and Elizabeth Braxton (still checking this out).  John's brothers were: Jacob (1785 - 1852), Christopher (1777 - 1816), Moses (1777 - ?), (1780 - ?), Adam (1784 - 1849), Aaron (1786 - 1858), David (1789 - ?), Mathias (1793 - ?), and  Solomon (1796 - 1857).  Solomon Miller subdivided the land into the town of Salisbury.  Salisbury was also know as Sackett for a short time.

George Miller Known as "Greasy George Miller" to those in Menard County (according to the story in "Pioneers of Menard and Mason County").  These were the original settlers.  They were kind people and would divide their corncake with a friend.  They were fond of the shooting match and the "muster" which was held once a year;  and at house-raising or any gatherings the Wolverines were always on hand.  They would come to Petersburg in good humor, but after filling up on whisky were ready for a racket among themselves, though preferably with outsiders.  "George, you have torn my shirt," said little John Wiseman to Greasy George Miller.  "Yes," said George, "and I can tear your hide, too!" A ring would form at once and twenty men would pound each other till one would cry "enough," and that would settle the matter of the torn shirt.  (Note: the Wolverines are the people that live in Rock Creek area of Menard County that area was called "Wolf County" (see map at the end of this page).

George Miller (1797 - 1857) married Mary "Polly" Free (1800 - 1863), my 4th great grandparents, in Adair County, Kentucky on th 25th of November 1819 and from that union they had seven children: Wiliam Real (1819 - ?), Catherine Miller (1822 - 1860), Elizabeth,(1826 - ?), Alfred (1827 - 1903), my 3rd great grandfather, Lemuel (1829 - ?), robert (1831 - ?), and James (1832).

Alfred Miller (1827 IL - 1903 IL) married Sarah Pemberton (1834  - 1919 IL), my 3rd great grandparents, on June 2nd, 1850 in Menard County, Illinois and from that union they had seven children: Mary Caroline (1853 - 1930), Robert A (1855 - 1924), Adelbert Cason (1859 - 1933), my 2nd great grandfather, Eliza Ann (1860 - 1925), Emma Jane (1863 - 1887), Arthur (1869 - 1924), Edward S (1870 - 1947).

Alfred and Sarah lived in the Rock Creek area until the late 1890's when they moved into Petersburg.

Miller Family PhotoAdelbert Cason Miller (1859 - 1933) married Harriette Josephine Davis (1863 IL - 1928 IL), my 2nd great grandparents, and from that union they had 10 children: Anna Maude (1880 - 1928), my great grandmother, Jessica Lee (1882 - 1909), Mary Catherine "Katie" (1884 - 1950), Bessie Edna (1885 - 1973), Emma Jane Florence (1887 - 1975), Mabel Fern (1892 - 1954), Mildred Mae (1892 - 1978), Essie Virginia aka "Virginia Pemberton" (1893 - 1978), Alfred Harry (1901 - 1971), Milton Reeser (1905 - 1905).  This Miller family is shown in the photo on the left.  Anna Maude Miller is the second from the right.

In the story "Rabbit Row", by John Wesley Garrison Jr, we learn that Adelbert "Delbert" Miller was attacked by  mugger in Springfield but apparently the genes for the Millers of Wolf County carried through because Grandpa Miller gave him a whooping and sent him on his way.

Now this gene was not just carried down only to the Millers but my Grandma Marie (Goodman) Garrison must have past it down to Uncle Bill Garrison because the same thing happend to him while in Champaign, Illinois for a doctors appointment. He was attacked by a couple teenage thugs who probably were scared straight after Uncle Bill was finished with them! Then Uncle Bill's son had to teach a thug a lesson as well just a couple years ago when a thief stole his wife's purse! That episode ended up in the State Journal Register. So, I think that gene still carries on within our family lines.

Virginia Pemberton

Essie "Virginia Pemberton" Miller went on to become an opera singer performing with the Chicago City Opera.  In the late 1960's and early 70's Essie lived next door to Marion Lorne, Aunt Clara on the TV show Bewitched.

Anna Maude Miller (1880 - 1928) married William Marion Goodman (1875 - 1914), my great grandparents, and through that union they had seven children: Mary Mae Marie (1897 - 1976), my grandmother, Jesse Marion (1899 - 1967), Mabel Maude (1901 - 1943), Homer Tice (1904 - 1904), Hermit William Goodman (1905 - 1923), Wilma Dell (1913 - 1917), John Gordon (1914 - 1917).

Mary Mae Marie Goodman (1897 - 1976) married John Wesley Garrison Sr (1893 - 1963), my grandparents, on August 18th, 1914 and from that union they had five children: Edythe Lorraine (1916 - 2002), William Edward (1919 - 1993), Mary Catherine (1921 - 1921), Lois Bernice (1922 - 2005), John Welsley Jr (1933 - 2007) my father.

Wolf County Area of Menard County, Illinois

Wolf County area of Menard County, Illinois area where a lot of my paternal ancestors lived.  Click the double arrows near the top of the map to see Details about the map or the Legend (Choose a Tab).  Click on a parcel of land to see who owned it and how they relate.