Rev. Robert Marcus Miller

Notes:

In "Newton County Nuggets" (Nortex Press, 1986), Dr. Arthur Miller wrote a 3 page history of the Miller family (p. 195-198).

He stated that in 1849, Rev. Robert Marcus Miller and George Miller brought their families to Texas. Rev. Miller, a Baptist Preacher, his wife, Averilla Elizabeth Hare and their son, James Cason, settled in the Spears Chapel settlement, five miles east of Burkeville. They had six more children before Averilla died. Four Hare families, orginally from South Carolina, also camed to Texas. Thomas Cason Hare and his wife Lucretia were probably the parents of Averilla Hare Miller. They are all bured at Tanner Cemetery, about a mile east of Burkeville.

George Miller had married Mary Owens of Florida, and they settled in the Quicksand community about ten miles southeast of Newton. They had three sons: Hamp, Ike and Burl---all of whom had quick tempers and loved a good fight. By contrast, Rev. Marcus's children were docile and easy going.

A neighbor of the Robert Marcus Miller family was Robert Cousins, born in Virginia. He was married to Sarah Jane Jordan, born in Alabama. They had six children before Robert Cousins died.

Another neighbor was Tom Byerly, he had lost his wife Matilda, so Tom and the widowed Sarah Jane Jordan Cousins were married, haviing one son, Caleb (sic) before Tom Byerly died.

Sarah Jane Jordan Cousins Byerly then married the widowed Rev. Robert Marcus Miller, and they proceeded to have six more children to add to their already large family.

Robert married Averilla Elizabeth Hare about 1845. Averilla was born about 1830; died about 1861 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; was buried in Tanner Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James "Jim" Cason Miller was born in Jan 1849 in Miller County, Georgia; died about 1890; was buried in Tanner Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton County, Texas.
2. Mary Jane Miller was born about 1851 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.
3. Stephen Marion Miller was born about 1853 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.
4. Robert Martin Miller was born about 1855 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.
5. Joseph Andrew Miller was born on 14 Apr 1859 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; died on 21 Dec 1943; was buried in Tanner Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton County, Texas.
6. Averilla Elizabeth "Beth" Miller was born on 22 Oct 1860 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.

Robert married Sarah Jane Jordan after 1861. Sarah was born on 17 Jan 1831 in Neshoba County, Mississippi; died on 11 Mar 1907 in San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Little Flock Baptist Church Cemetery, San Augustine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Dr. Arthur Miller, in "Newton County Nuggets" states that Sarah and the Rev. Robert Marcus Miller added six more children to their already large families, the oldest George Washington was born in 1862 and the youngest, Levi, was born in 1872, six months after his father had passed away. This left Sarah Jane, widowed three times, with the responsibility for 19 children in total. Dr. Miller recalls that his grandfather, Robert Martin Miller (born to Rev. Miller and Averilla), recalled that life got pretty tough for the large family. One year there was a severe drought and all the crops were lost. The government shipped corn to all the afflicted communities, and it was distributed among the struggling families. That year they lived on corn pone (bread) and even made a coffee substiute, consisting of corn that had been ground, sieved, and where the shaff had been parched. This, and any wild game or hogs off range kept them from starving.

Dr. Arthur A. Miller writes that before her death, Grandma Sarah had been making her home with her youngest child, Levi at Burkeville.

1. George Washington Miller was born on 14 Dec 1862 in Newton County, Texas; died on 29 Apr 1955 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; was buried in Tanner Cemetery, Burkeville, Newton County, Texas.
2. Henry Clay Miller was born on 3 Oct 1864 in Newton County, Texas; and died.
3. Richard Marcus Miller was born on 22 Sep 1866 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.
4. Abraham Jacob "Jake" Miller was born on 25 Apr 1868 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; died on 20 Apr 1940 in Newton County, Texas.
5. Sarah Susan Miller was born on 8 Jan 1870 in Burkeville, Newton County, Texas; and died.
6. Leviah "Levi" Jefferson Miller was born on 1 Jun 1872 in Newton, Newton County, Texas; and died.