James Miller, Sr

James Miller, Sr.

(per Julian D. Miller's "The James Miller Family History" published April, 1986)

James Miller, Sr. of this genealogical study came from Scotland and married Margaret McConnell who had come from Ireland. As a bold, hardy young man, James, Sr., purchased a tract of unsettled land, sight unseen, in western Pennsylvania. The land, located in Mahoning Township, had been given to George Nace on April 5^th, 1787 in consideration for his service as a United States soldier in the Revolutionary War. Nace then sold the property to John Irwin and his wife, Nancy. Since neither Nace nor the Irwins made no attempt to settle on the land, the Irwins then sold 130 acres to James Miller, Sr., for $800.00 on August 6, 1789. {Note from M. Spanoudakis: Further research is being conducted with regard to property transfer. See deed.}.

James, Sr., left his family and started his journey on horseback leading two packhorses. He brought with him a surveyor's map, tools, and some seedling fruit trees and seed corn. The only inhabitants in the area for miles were a tribe of Seneca Native Americans, called the Kusk-kusk-kees, living a large village near the town of Edinburg, approximately two miles from where James, Sr., settled.

After locating his tract of land James, Sr. cleared enough land to build an improvised shelter of hand hewn logs with a hole in the roof for smoke to escape and a blanket for a door. He also had a lean-to for his horses. The cabin was built near a spring of cold water, which was discovered in a depression in the ground. To enlarge the spring, James dug a hole some ten feet deep to locate the source. In doing so he discovered a small stream of running water through a crevice in the limestone. The spring was not only the water source but also served as a place to cool and store food. James, Sr. continued to clear his land and was soon able to plant a small orchard and a field of corn and hay.

The first record of a white man to visit this area was that of Christian Fredrick Post in 1758 on August 12^th. A Moravian missionary Post had hoped to make peace with the Indians and establish a colony. He was not successful and was lucky to return to Pittsburgh alive. His report states that he found a village of ninety houses and two hundred able warriors in the area, which has been interpreted as the Kusk-kusk-kee village. Several years later, a Moravian village was established about five miles from the original visit.

Early in the1800s, James Miller, Sr., returned for his family. James Miller, Jr., the youngest of the Miller's six children, was approximately a year old at this time.

James Miller, Sr. died in July of 1828 in Hillsville, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He is buried on the Miller Farm property with his son Alexander, and another, yet unidentified, person. His will was probated in July 1828.

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