Ellis was engaged in lumbering and farming.
From Isabelle S. Miller's scrapbook, (his daughter), with no date or newspaper title, reported:
"ELLIS LECAMPION MILLER---
Ellis LeCampion Miller, 78, died Sunday at his home near Decatur after a brief illness. He was a prominent farmer of that neighborhood. He was born at Washington, Virginia, USA., a son of Middleton Miller and Anna Hubbs Miller.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson Miller; four daughter, Mrs. Harry D. Fox, Miss Anna Miller of Aqua, Mrs. Thomas D. Camp of Richmond, and Miss Isabella Miller of Lexington; two sons Stuart T. Miller, Washington, D.C., USA and Ellis LeCampion, Jr. of Aqua.
Funeral Services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. Robert Ray, pastor of the Old Stone Presbyterian church at Timber Ridge, an internment was in the Timber Ridge Cemetery." [Same report in the Lexington Gazette, Friday, April 19, 1940 - except paragraphs changed around.]
Ellis LeCampion Miller was born in Washington, Virginia, USA, 21 May 1861, probably at the "Maples". He was the second son of Middleton and Anna Louisa Adelaide (Hubbs) Miller. In the 1800's a formal education was received quite differently than now in the 2100 century. When Ellis was growing up he went to school with John, George and Willis Browning, who were his distant cousins.
Mr. John A. Browning, father of the three Browning boys, hired a teacher, Mr. Lewis Field Hite, M. A. of the University of Virginia. Other boys from the neighborhood were included in this group. They were Thomas Haywood, Lewis William and Edward Green.
Josephine (Miller) Camp, daughter of Ellis LeCampion has commented that "Father" went to a boarding school in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. She also recalls her father talking about studying the dictionary. Isabella Miller, another daughter of Ellis also remembers that her father studied business in the New York, USA. school. It was probably to finish high school and for business preparatory..
Middleton Miller, father of Ellis, owned land/farms in several adjoining counties. It is believed that Ellis, his son, helped his father oversee the farms. E. L. Miller, son of Ellis says his father managed the farm of his sister "Fannie" (Miller) Menefee, after the sudden death, in July 1883, of her husband, Robert. Robert's death was very soon after their marriage.
The Browning and Miller families were connected in 1882 when a grandson of Henry Miller I, Benjamin Franklin Miller, married Sarah Eusebia Neville Browning, daughter of John Dabney Browning. John Dabney Browning was a descendant of Captain John Browning who was born in England circa 1588. Captain Browning sailed for America in 1622, on arriving they settled in Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA.
It is believed that Ellis LeCampion Miller moved to Rockbridge County between 1900 and 1901. Research from the Rockbridge Bathe Local of 10 May 1900: "Ellis (H Unknown) Miller of Elkton, Virginia, USA has a force of hands in Poplar Hollow, near here getting out tanbark."
His great-great-grandfather Henry Miller I, came to Virginia from Pennsylvania, USA in 1771-1972. Henry I was a tanner by trade. It is believed he removed to Virginia for better and more timber for tanbark. The H in his name is a typo., also the family has always understood that Ellis came from Page, County. Elkton, Virginia, USA, is in Greene County. When Ellis moved he brought all of the equipment needed to start the timber business as well as several men who had worked in the business presumably for him elsewhere. These men were Boyd Batman (stepfather of Pete Sterrett who married Josephine Fox, a cousin of Harry D. Fox.) Joseph Samuel Sours, married Ida Belle Lilley in 1903, (the Sours were the grandparents of Dorothy Fox, wife of Roy Craig, nephew of Harry D. Fox.) Lemuel Jackson Bywaters married Mae Chaplin, in 1906. David Everett Howell married Cora Chaplin. Mae and Cora were twins. Mr. Stonefifer married Betty Bywaters, son of Lemuel Bywaters. You can see how Decatur grew in population. Ellis Miller operated sawmills in Rockbridge Baths and on Walker and Kerrs Creeks. Ellis shipped his timber and lumber from the Depot of the Baltimore and Ohio, USA Railroad, in Decatur, Virginia, USA.
Ellis discontinued the lumber business in the late 1920's because the economy was suffering as the nation sank into the Great Depression. The B.& O. Rail Road was also having trouble prior to the stock market crash of 1929.
In trying to establish a date for the Miller's move to Decatur a deed was found in Deed Book 118, page 167, that on October 24, 1914, Charles Landrum and Florence Landrum, his wife and Charles S. Landrum Exor. of H. M. Landrum sold to Ellis L. Miller unknown number of acres for $3,783.00 for timber operation. This tract was in Decatur, Virginia, USA. The deed is very long but it refers to the tract a "Big Spring". The deed reads: Whereas on April 24, 1909 the said Miller purchased the real estate from Landrum: Landrum died before all was completed so it took until 1914 to get it straight with the heirs who lived in Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA. E. L. Miller, Jr., says his father Ellis Miller had a partner, Mr. Pullman and that they owned 3 to 400 acres of virgin white oak which they harvested and later cleared a lot of land. Stuart Miller son of Ellis, remembers that there was a sawmill on the Decatur farm. Later farming was the primary activity on the Decatur farm.
Ellis LeCampion Miller and Rebecca Sterrett Thompson were married January 1, 1908. There is a picture of them on their wedding trip to Washington, D. C. Ellis built their home in Decatur, Virginia, USA in 1915, (it in now owned by Mrs. Mary Virginia Hartless.) E. L. Miller, Jr., may have lived in the Thompson House (now owned by Russell Smedley), while their home on the farm was being finished. Ellis and Rebecca Sterrett had six children.
The family attended the Decatur Chapel, which was supplied, with Minister and Elder, by the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. Ellis, Sr., was Baptist but attended the Chapel.
Ellis, Sr., died at the Decatur home April 14, 1940. Rebecca Sterrett died March 29, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. For several years she had made her home with daughter Isabella. They are both buried at the A. R. P. Church Cemetery at Timber Ridge, Virginia, USA.
There are some recollections to record for those who might be interested, especially grandchildren. Grandfather Miller was to me a "gentleman farmer". He was always dressed in a tweed jacket with matching trousers and a hat. On visits to the farm we would see him leave the yard with a long walking stick. He would be on his way to the fields to check the progress of the men working for him.
Grandfather Miller would walk to Decatur Post Office. Often granddaughter Betty Jo Fox would walk with him. She remembers he would tell her to put her ear to the rail and listen. If a train was approaching you would be able to hear it.
When Grandfather returned from his walk or from the Post Office he would do some paper work at his heavy oak kneehole desk. I now have that desk which I use for sewing or as a computer table. It has four drawers on left and a file drawer. I do not use the pigeon hole section.
Grandfather Miller enjoyed a nap after his work. It was very difficult for we children to be quiet for this time. Summertime he would sit in the cool of the front porch, which was shaded by large wisteria vines. Summer was the time I spent the most time on the farm. We loved to play in the creek. It was fun to build a little dam to make the water deeper. Grandfather always knew we'd built a dam even though he was some distance up the creek. He would always remind us to remove the dam before coming home.
There were times when we did not have a cow or she didn't have milk. On Sunday morning, Grandfather Miller, would walk to our house and bring a gallon of milk. At that time our Chapel service was in the afternoon. We would have lunch/dinner before church. There was always a fresh cake which was cut. Grandfather loved the cake but did not like the icing, so he would divide his icing with the four of us. After lunch Dad and the four of us would drive Grandfather home.
Grandmother Miller always had a large and good vegetable garden. I tried to help with the weeding and carry the vegetables to the house for her. Churning butter was another job on the farm we helped with. Then there was always the job of carrying water from the big spring. That job always reminded me of the story of Jack and Jill. We would pick berries to make jams and jellies. There were other fruits to help with. The iron wheel rim in the front yard was always full of Nasturtiums which I loved to pick, it seemed the more I picked the more there were the next day.
There were always chores to do when we visited, from turning the grinder to crack corn for the animals, to gathering the eggs carry water, fill the wood box in the kitchen, dust to stairs and go to the meadow to get the cows. Sometimes we rode the horse.
I have a vague memory of visits of cousins from "Little Washington" and talk about Sperryville, Rappahannock, Culpepper and all of the relatives there.
From Isabelle S. Miller's scrapbook, (his daughter), with no date or newspaper title, reported:
"ELLIS LECAMPION MILLER---
Ellis LeCampion Miller, 78, died Sunday at his home near Decatur after a brief illness. He was a prominent farmer of that neighborhood. He was born at Washington, Virginia, USA., a son of Middleton Miller and Anna Hubbs Miller.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson Miller; four daughter, Mrs. Harry D. Fox, Miss Anna Miller of Aqua, Mrs. Thomas D. Camp of Richmond, and Miss Isabella Miller of Lexington; two sons Stuart T. Miller, Washington, D.C., USA and Ellis LeCampion, Jr. of Aqua.
Funeral Services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. Robert Ray, pastor of the Old Stone Presbyterian church at Timber Ridge, an internment was in the Timber Ridge Cemetery." [Same report in the Lexington Gazette, Friday, April 19, 1940 - except paragraphs changed around.]
Ellis LeCampion Miller was born in Washington, Virginia, USA, 21 May 1861, probably at the "Maples". He was the second son of Middleton and Anna Louisa Adelaide (Hubbs) Miller. In the 1800's a formal education was received quite differently than now in the 2100 century. When Ellis was growing up he went to school with John, George and Willis Browning, who were his distant cousins.
Mr. John A. Browning, father of the three Browning boys, hired a teacher, Mr. Lewis Field Hite, M. A. of the University of Virginia. Other boys from the neighborhood were included in this group. They were Thomas Haywood, Lewis William and Edward Green.
Josephine (Miller) Camp, daughter of Ellis LeCampion has commented that "Father" went to a boarding school in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. She also recalls her father talking about studying the dictionary. Isabella Miller, another daughter of Ellis also remembers that her father studied business in the New York, USA. school. It was probably to finish high school and for business preparatory..
Middleton Miller, father of Ellis, owned land/farms in several adjoining counties. It is believed that Ellis, his son, helped his father oversee the farms. E. L. Miller, son of Ellis says his father managed the farm of his sister "Fannie" (Miller) Menefee, after the sudden death, in July 1883, of her husband, Robert. Robert's death was very soon after their marriage.
The Browning and Miller families were connected in 1882 when a grandson of Henry Miller I, Benjamin Franklin Miller, married Sarah Eusebia Neville Browning, daughter of John Dabney Browning. John Dabney Browning was a descendant of Captain John Browning who was born in England circa 1588. Captain Browning sailed for America in 1622, on arriving they settled in Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA.
It is believed that Ellis LeCampion Miller moved to Rockbridge County between 1900 and 1901. Research from the Rockbridge Bathe Local of 10 May 1900: "Ellis (H Unknown) Miller of Elkton, Virginia, USA has a force of hands in Poplar Hollow, near here getting out tanbark."
His great-great-grandfather Henry Miller I, came to Virginia from Pennsylvania, USA in 1771-1972. Henry I was a tanner by trade. It is believed he removed to Virginia for better and more timber for tanbark. The H in his name is a typo., also the family has always understood that Ellis came from Page, County. Elkton, Virginia, USA, is in Greene County. When Ellis moved he brought all of the equipment needed to start the timber business as well as several men who had worked in the business presumably for him elsewhere. These men were Boyd Batman (stepfather of Pete Sterrett who married Josephine Fox, a cousin of Harry D. Fox.) Joseph Samuel Sours, married Ida Belle Lilley in 1903, (the Sours were the grandparents of Dorothy Fox, wife of Roy Craig, nephew of Harry D. Fox.) Lemuel Jackson Bywaters married Mae Chaplin, in 1906. David Everett Howell married Cora Chaplin. Mae and Cora were twins. Mr. Stonefifer married Betty Bywaters, son of Lemuel Bywaters. You can see how Decatur grew in population. Ellis Miller operated sawmills in Rockbridge Baths and on Walker and Kerrs Creeks. Ellis shipped his timber and lumber from the Depot of the Baltimore and Ohio, USA Railroad, in Decatur, Virginia, USA.
Ellis discontinued the lumber business in the late 1920's because the economy was suffering as the nation sank into the Great Depression. The B.& O. Rail Road was also having trouble prior to the stock market crash of 1929.
In trying to establish a date for the Miller's move to Decatur a deed was found in Deed Book 118, page 167, that on October 24, 1914, Charles Landrum and Florence Landrum, his wife and Charles S. Landrum Exor. of H. M. Landrum sold to Ellis L. Miller unknown number of acres for $3,783.00 for timber operation. This tract was in Decatur, Virginia, USA. The deed is very long but it refers to the tract a "Big Spring". The deed reads: Whereas on April 24, 1909 the said Miller purchased the real estate from Landrum: Landrum died before all was completed so it took until 1914 to get it straight with the heirs who lived in Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA. E. L. Miller, Jr., says his father Ellis Miller had a partner, Mr. Pullman and that they owned 3 to 400 acres of virgin white oak which they harvested and later cleared a lot of land. Stuart Miller son of Ellis, remembers that there was a sawmill on the Decatur farm. Later farming was the primary activity on the Decatur farm.
Ellis LeCampion Miller and Rebecca Sterrett Thompson were married January 1, 1908. There is a picture of them on their wedding trip to Washington, D. C. Ellis built their home in Decatur, Virginia, USA in 1915, (it in now owned by Mrs. Mary Virginia Hartless.) E. L. Miller, Jr., may have lived in the Thompson House (now owned by Russell Smedley), while their home on the farm was being finished. Ellis and Rebecca Sterrett had six children.
The family attended the Decatur Chapel, which was supplied, with Minister and Elder, by the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. Ellis, Sr., was Baptist but attended the Chapel.
Ellis, Sr., died at the Decatur home April 14, 1940. Rebecca Sterrett died March 29, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. For several years she had made her home with daughter Isabella. They are both buried at the A. R. P. Church Cemetery at Timber Ridge, Virginia, USA.
There are some recollections to record for those who might be interested, especially grandchildren. Grandfather Miller was to me a "gentleman farmer". He was always dressed in a tweed jacket with matching trousers and a hat. On visits to the farm we would see him leave the yard with a long walking stick. He would be on his way to the fields to check the progress of the men working for him.
Grandfather Miller would walk to Decatur Post Office. Often granddaughter Betty Jo Fox would walk with him. She remembers he would tell her to put her ear to the rail and listen. If a train was approaching you would be able to hear it.
When Grandfather returned from his walk or from the Post Office he would do some paper work at his heavy oak kneehole desk. I now have that desk which I use for sewing or as a computer table. It has four drawers on left and a file drawer. I do not use the pigeon hole section.
Grandfather Miller enjoyed a nap after his work. It was very difficult for we children to be quiet for this time. Summertime he would sit in the cool of the front porch, which was shaded by large wisteria vines. Summer was the time I spent the most time on the farm. We loved to play in the creek. It was fun to build a little dam to make the water deeper. Grandfather always knew we'd built a dam even though he was some distance up the creek. He would always remind us to remove the dam before coming home.
There were times when we did not have a cow or she didn't have milk. On Sunday morning, Grandfather Miller, would walk to our house and bring a gallon of milk. At that time our Chapel service was in the afternoon. We would have lunch/dinner before church. There was always a fresh cake which was cut. Grandfather loved the cake but did not like the icing, so he would divide his icing with the four of us. After lunch Dad and the four of us would drive Grandfather home.
Grandmother Miller always had a large and good vegetable garden. I tried to help with the weeding and carry the vegetables to the house for her. Churning butter was another job on the farm we helped with. Then there was always the job of carrying water from the big spring. That job always reminded me of the story of Jack and Jill. We would pick berries to make jams and jellies. There were other fruits to help with. The iron wheel rim in the front yard was always full of Nasturtiums which I loved to pick, it seemed the more I picked the more there were the next day.
There were always chores to do when we visited, from turning the grinder to crack corn for the animals, to gathering the eggs carry water, fill the wood box in the kitchen, dust to stairs and go to the meadow to get the cows. Sometimes we rode the horse.
I have a vague memory of visits of cousins from "Little Washington" and talk about Sperryville, Rappahannock, Culpepper and all of the relatives there.
Ellis was engaged in lumbering and farming.
From Isabelle S. Miller's scrapbook, (his daughter), with no date or newspaper title, reported:
"ELLIS LECAMPION MILLER---
Ellis LeCampion Miller, 78, died Sunday at his home near Decatur after a brief illness. He was a prominent farmer of that neighborhood. He was born at Washington, Virginia, USA., a son of Middleton Miller and Anna Hubbs Miller.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson Miller; four daughter, Mrs. Harry D. Fox, Miss Anna Miller of Aqua, Mrs. Thomas D. Camp of Richmond, and Miss Isabella Miller of Lexington; two sons Stuart T. Miller, Washington, D.C., USA and Ellis LeCampion, Jr. of Aqua.
Funeral Services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. Robert Ray, pastor of the Old Stone Presbyterian church at Timber Ridge, an internment was in the Timber Ridge Cemetery." [Same report in the Lexington Gazette, Friday, April 19, 1940 - except paragraphs changed around.]
Ellis LeCampion Miller was born in Washington, Virginia, USA, 21 May 1861, probably at the "Maples". He was the second son of Middleton and Anna Louisa Adelaide (Hubbs) Miller. In the 1800's a formal education was received quite differently than now in the 2100 century. When Ellis was growing up he went to school with John, George and Willis Browning, who were his distant cousins.
Mr. John A. Browning, father of the three Browning boys, hired a teacher, Mr. Lewis Field Hite, M. A. of the University of Virginia. Other boys from the neighborhood were included in this group. They were Thomas Haywood, Lewis William and Edward Green.
Josephine (Miller) Camp, daughter of Ellis LeCampion has commented that "Father" went to a boarding school in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. She also recalls her father talking about studying the dictionary. Isabella Miller, another daughter of Ellis also remembers that her father studied business in the New York, USA. school. It was probably to finish high school and for business preparatory..
Middleton Miller, father of Ellis, owned land/farms in several adjoining counties. It is believed that Ellis, his son, helped his father oversee the farms. E. L. Miller, son of Ellis says his father managed the farm of his sister "Fannie" (Miller) Menefee, after the sudden death, in July 1883, of her husband, Robert. Robert's death was very soon after their marriage.
The Browning and Miller families were connected in 1882 when a grandson of Henry Miller I, Benjamin Franklin Miller, married Sarah Eusebia Neville Browning, daughter of John Dabney Browning. John Dabney Browning was a descendant of Captain John Browning who was born in England circa 1588. Captain Browning sailed for America in 1622, on arriving they settled in Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA.
It is believed that Ellis LeCampion Miller moved to Rockbridge County between 1900 and 1901. Research from the Rockbridge Bathe Local of 10 May 1900: "Ellis (H Unknown) Miller of Elkton, Virginia, USA has a force of hands in Poplar Hollow, near here getting out tanbark."
His great-great-grandfather Henry Miller I, came to Virginia from Pennsylvania, USA in 1771-1972. Henry I was a tanner by trade. It is believed he removed to Virginia for better and more timber for tanbark. The H in his name is a typo., also the family has always understood that Ellis came from Page, County. Elkton, Virginia, USA, is in Greene County. When Ellis moved he brought all of the equipment needed to start the timber business as well as several men who had worked in the business presumably for him elsewhere. These men were Boyd Batman (stepfather of Pete Sterrett who married Josephine Fox, a cousin of Harry D. Fox.) Joseph Samuel Sours, married Ida Belle Lilley in 1903, (the Sours were the grandparents of Dorothy Fox, wife of Roy Craig, nephew of Harry D. Fox.) Lemuel Jackson Bywaters married Mae Chaplin, in 1906. David Everett Howell married Cora Chaplin. Mae and Cora were twins. Mr. Stonefifer married Betty Bywaters, son of Lemuel Bywaters. You can see how Decatur grew in population. Ellis Miller operated sawmills in Rockbridge Baths and on Walker and Kerrs Creeks. Ellis shipped his timber and lumber from the Depot of the Baltimore and Ohio, USA Railroad, in Decatur, Virginia, USA.
Ellis discontinued the lumber business in the late 1920's because the economy was suffering as the nation sank into the Great Depression. The B.& O. Rail Road was also having trouble prior to the stock market crash of 1929.
In trying to establish a date for the Miller's move to Decatur a deed was found in Deed Book 118, page 167, that on October 24, 1914, Charles Landrum and Florence Landrum, his wife and Charles S. Landrum Exor. of H. M. Landrum sold to Ellis L. Miller unknown number of acres for $3,783.00 for timber operation. This tract was in Decatur, Virginia, USA. The deed is very long but it refers to the tract a "Big Spring". The deed reads: Whereas on April 24, 1909 the said Miller purchased the real estate from Landrum: Landrum died before all was completed so it took until 1914 to get it straight with the heirs who lived in Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA. E. L. Miller, Jr., says his father Ellis Miller had a partner, Mr. Pullman and that they owned 3 to 400 acres of virgin white oak which they harvested and later cleared a lot of land. Stuart Miller son of Ellis, remembers that there was a sawmill on the Decatur farm. Later farming was the primary activity on the Decatur farm.
Ellis LeCampion Miller and Rebecca Sterrett Thompson were married January 1, 1908. There is a picture of them on their wedding trip to Washington, D. C. Ellis built their home in Decatur, Virginia, USA in 1915, (it in now owned by Mrs. Mary Virginia Hartless.) E. L. Miller, Jr., may have lived in the Thompson House (now owned by Russell Smedley), while their home on the farm was being finished. Ellis and Rebecca Sterrett had six children.
The family attended the Decatur Chapel, which was supplied, with Minister and Elder, by the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. Ellis, Sr., was Baptist but attended the Chapel.
Ellis, Sr., died at the Decatur home April 14, 1940. Rebecca Sterrett died March 29, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. For several years she had made her home with daughter Isabella. They are both buried at the A. R. P. Church Cemetery at Timber Ridge, Virginia, USA.
There are some recollections to record for those who might be interested, especially grandchildren. Grandfather Miller was to me a "gentleman farmer". He was always dressed in a tweed jacket with matching trousers and a hat. On visits to the farm we would see him leave the yard with a long walking stick. He would be on his way to the fields to check the progress of the men working for him.
Grandfather Miller would walk to Decatur Post Office. Often granddaughter Betty Jo Fox would walk with him. She remembers he would tell her to put her ear to the rail and listen. If a train was approaching you would be able to hear it.
When Grandfather returned from his walk or from the Post Office he would do some paper work at his heavy oak kneehole desk. I now have that desk which I use for sewing or as a computer table. It has four drawers on left and a file drawer. I do not use the pigeon hole section.
Grandfather Miller enjoyed a nap after his work. It was very difficult for we children to be quiet for this time. Summertime he would sit in the cool of the front porch, which was shaded by large wisteria vines. Summer was the time I spent the most time on the farm. We loved to play in the creek. It was fun to build a little dam to make the water deeper. Grandfather always knew we'd built a dam even though he was some distance up the creek. He would always remind us to remove the dam before coming home.
There were times when we did not have a cow or she didn't have milk. On Sunday morning, Grandfather Miller, would walk to our house and bring a gallon of milk. At that time our Chapel service was in the afternoon. We would have lunch/dinner before church. There was always a fresh cake which was cut. Grandfather loved the cake but did not like the icing, so he would divide his icing with the four of us. After lunch Dad and the four of us would drive Grandfather home.
Grandmother Miller always had a large and good vegetable garden. I tried to help with the weeding and carry the vegetables to the house for her. Churning butter was another job on the farm we helped with. Then there was always the job of carrying water from the big spring. That job always reminded me of the story of Jack and Jill. We would pick berries to make jams and jellies. There were other fruits to help with. The iron wheel rim in the front yard was always full of Nasturtiums which I loved to pick, it seemed the more I picked the more there were the next day.
There were always chores to do when we visited, from turning the grinder to crack corn for the animals, to gathering the eggs carry water, fill the wood box in the kitchen, dust to stairs and go to the meadow to get the cows. Sometimes we rode the horse.
I have a vague memory of visits of cousins from "Little Washington" and talk about Sperryville, Rappahannock, Culpepper and all of the relatives there.
From Isabelle S. Miller's scrapbook, (his daughter), with no date or newspaper title, reported:
"ELLIS LECAMPION MILLER---
Ellis LeCampion Miller, 78, died Sunday at his home near Decatur after a brief illness. He was a prominent farmer of that neighborhood. He was born at Washington, Virginia, USA., a son of Middleton Miller and Anna Hubbs Miller.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Thompson Miller; four daughter, Mrs. Harry D. Fox, Miss Anna Miller of Aqua, Mrs. Thomas D. Camp of Richmond, and Miss Isabella Miller of Lexington; two sons Stuart T. Miller, Washington, D.C., USA and Ellis LeCampion, Jr. of Aqua.
Funeral Services were conducted at the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. Robert Ray, pastor of the Old Stone Presbyterian church at Timber Ridge, an internment was in the Timber Ridge Cemetery." [Same report in the Lexington Gazette, Friday, April 19, 1940 - except paragraphs changed around.]
Ellis LeCampion Miller was born in Washington, Virginia, USA, 21 May 1861, probably at the "Maples". He was the second son of Middleton and Anna Louisa Adelaide (Hubbs) Miller. In the 1800's a formal education was received quite differently than now in the 2100 century. When Ellis was growing up he went to school with John, George and Willis Browning, who were his distant cousins.
Mr. John A. Browning, father of the three Browning boys, hired a teacher, Mr. Lewis Field Hite, M. A. of the University of Virginia. Other boys from the neighborhood were included in this group. They were Thomas Haywood, Lewis William and Edward Green.
Josephine (Miller) Camp, daughter of Ellis LeCampion has commented that "Father" went to a boarding school in Poughkeepsie, New York, USA. She also recalls her father talking about studying the dictionary. Isabella Miller, another daughter of Ellis also remembers that her father studied business in the New York, USA. school. It was probably to finish high school and for business preparatory..
Middleton Miller, father of Ellis, owned land/farms in several adjoining counties. It is believed that Ellis, his son, helped his father oversee the farms. E. L. Miller, son of Ellis says his father managed the farm of his sister "Fannie" (Miller) Menefee, after the sudden death, in July 1883, of her husband, Robert. Robert's death was very soon after their marriage.
The Browning and Miller families were connected in 1882 when a grandson of Henry Miller I, Benjamin Franklin Miller, married Sarah Eusebia Neville Browning, daughter of John Dabney Browning. John Dabney Browning was a descendant of Captain John Browning who was born in England circa 1588. Captain Browning sailed for America in 1622, on arriving they settled in Elizabeth City, Virginia, USA.
It is believed that Ellis LeCampion Miller moved to Rockbridge County between 1900 and 1901. Research from the Rockbridge Bathe Local of 10 May 1900: "Ellis (H Unknown) Miller of Elkton, Virginia, USA has a force of hands in Poplar Hollow, near here getting out tanbark."
His great-great-grandfather Henry Miller I, came to Virginia from Pennsylvania, USA in 1771-1972. Henry I was a tanner by trade. It is believed he removed to Virginia for better and more timber for tanbark. The H in his name is a typo., also the family has always understood that Ellis came from Page, County. Elkton, Virginia, USA, is in Greene County. When Ellis moved he brought all of the equipment needed to start the timber business as well as several men who had worked in the business presumably for him elsewhere. These men were Boyd Batman (stepfather of Pete Sterrett who married Josephine Fox, a cousin of Harry D. Fox.) Joseph Samuel Sours, married Ida Belle Lilley in 1903, (the Sours were the grandparents of Dorothy Fox, wife of Roy Craig, nephew of Harry D. Fox.) Lemuel Jackson Bywaters married Mae Chaplin, in 1906. David Everett Howell married Cora Chaplin. Mae and Cora were twins. Mr. Stonefifer married Betty Bywaters, son of Lemuel Bywaters. You can see how Decatur grew in population. Ellis Miller operated sawmills in Rockbridge Baths and on Walker and Kerrs Creeks. Ellis shipped his timber and lumber from the Depot of the Baltimore and Ohio, USA Railroad, in Decatur, Virginia, USA.
Ellis discontinued the lumber business in the late 1920's because the economy was suffering as the nation sank into the Great Depression. The B.& O. Rail Road was also having trouble prior to the stock market crash of 1929.
In trying to establish a date for the Miller's move to Decatur a deed was found in Deed Book 118, page 167, that on October 24, 1914, Charles Landrum and Florence Landrum, his wife and Charles S. Landrum Exor. of H. M. Landrum sold to Ellis L. Miller unknown number of acres for $3,783.00 for timber operation. This tract was in Decatur, Virginia, USA. The deed is very long but it refers to the tract a "Big Spring". The deed reads: Whereas on April 24, 1909 the said Miller purchased the real estate from Landrum: Landrum died before all was completed so it took until 1914 to get it straight with the heirs who lived in Charlottesville, Charlottesville City, Virginia, USA. E. L. Miller, Jr., says his father Ellis Miller had a partner, Mr. Pullman and that they owned 3 to 400 acres of virgin white oak which they harvested and later cleared a lot of land. Stuart Miller son of Ellis, remembers that there was a sawmill on the Decatur farm. Later farming was the primary activity on the Decatur farm.
Ellis LeCampion Miller and Rebecca Sterrett Thompson were married January 1, 1908. There is a picture of them on their wedding trip to Washington, D. C. Ellis built their home in Decatur, Virginia, USA in 1915, (it in now owned by Mrs. Mary Virginia Hartless.) E. L. Miller, Jr., may have lived in the Thompson House (now owned by Russell Smedley), while their home on the farm was being finished. Ellis and Rebecca Sterrett had six children.
The family attended the Decatur Chapel, which was supplied, with Minister and Elder, by the Timber Ridge Presbyterian Church. Ellis, Sr., was Baptist but attended the Chapel.
Ellis, Sr., died at the Decatur home April 14, 1940. Rebecca Sterrett died March 29, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia, USA. For several years she had made her home with daughter Isabella. They are both buried at the A. R. P. Church Cemetery at Timber Ridge, Virginia, USA.
There are some recollections to record for those who might be interested, especially grandchildren. Grandfather Miller was to me a "gentleman farmer". He was always dressed in a tweed jacket with matching trousers and a hat. On visits to the farm we would see him leave the yard with a long walking stick. He would be on his way to the fields to check the progress of the men working for him.
Grandfather Miller would walk to Decatur Post Office. Often granddaughter Betty Jo Fox would walk with him. She remembers he would tell her to put her ear to the rail and listen. If a train was approaching you would be able to hear it.
When Grandfather returned from his walk or from the Post Office he would do some paper work at his heavy oak kneehole desk. I now have that desk which I use for sewing or as a computer table. It has four drawers on left and a file drawer. I do not use the pigeon hole section.
Grandfather Miller enjoyed a nap after his work. It was very difficult for we children to be quiet for this time. Summertime he would sit in the cool of the front porch, which was shaded by large wisteria vines. Summer was the time I spent the most time on the farm. We loved to play in the creek. It was fun to build a little dam to make the water deeper. Grandfather always knew we'd built a dam even though he was some distance up the creek. He would always remind us to remove the dam before coming home.
There were times when we did not have a cow or she didn't have milk. On Sunday morning, Grandfather Miller, would walk to our house and bring a gallon of milk. At that time our Chapel service was in the afternoon. We would have lunch/dinner before church. There was always a fresh cake which was cut. Grandfather loved the cake but did not like the icing, so he would divide his icing with the four of us. After lunch Dad and the four of us would drive Grandfather home.
Grandmother Miller always had a large and good vegetable garden. I tried to help with the weeding and carry the vegetables to the house for her. Churning butter was another job on the farm we helped with. Then there was always the job of carrying water from the big spring. That job always reminded me of the story of Jack and Jill. We would pick berries to make jams and jellies. There were other fruits to help with. The iron wheel rim in the front yard was always full of Nasturtiums which I loved to pick, it seemed the more I picked the more there were the next day.
There were always chores to do when we visited, from turning the grinder to crack corn for the animals, to gathering the eggs carry water, fill the wood box in the kitchen, dust to stairs and go to the meadow to get the cows. Sometimes we rode the horse.
I have a vague memory of visits of cousins from "Little Washington" and talk about Sperryville, Rappahannock, Culpepper and all of the relatives there.
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