The Miller family Victoria Potter Family History Project

The story... The story of the Miller family shows migration patterns of farmers in western North Carolina, from Surry County to Watauga County. This story connects to larger patterns of land seeking farmers and Appalachian culture.

Family tree David MillerElizabeth Norris William C. MillerElizabeth Blackburn Levi MillerMary Moretz Alfred Luther MillerMinnie Johnson Earl MillerLucille Wilson Debbie MillerJ.V. Potter Victoria Lucille Potter

Miller men David Miller B. 02/05/1775 M Elizabeth Norris D. 03/28/1845 William C. Miller (Wolf Bill) B. 10/15/1809 M Elizabeth Blackburn D. 02/06/1902 Levi Miller B. 05/06/1849 M. Mary Moretz D. 02/18/1892 Alfred Luther Miller B. 02/27/1883 M. 01/ Minnie Belle Johnson D. 03/26/1966 Earl Miller B. 01/28/27 M. 12/27/55 - Lucille Wilson D. / Earl Miller

Migration from Surry to watauga David Miller and Elizabeth Norris lived in Surry County, NC. Elizabeth had a son, William, which David adopted when they got married. William was said to be a Browder, but took the Miller name when adopted. “Not much is known of Surry County in its early days. Its people, with a few exceptions were small farmers of English, Scotch-Irish, and German descent, and left very few written records” (11). The Surry County Book William C. Miller (Bill) married Elizabeth Blackburn, shortly after, William’s parents (David and Elizabeth) moved up the mountain. Not long after that William and Elizabeth decided to buy land from David and make the journey up the mountain as well. They all settled in the Meat Camp area here in Watauga Co. On the land they raised cattle, tobacco, and other crops. Meat Camp - “This is one of the first places to be settled in Watauga county, William Miller, the Blackburns and James Jackson going there from the Jersey Settlement as early as 1799” (231). A History of Watauga County “The cabin in which the old hunters stored their meat and hides when on hunts in this region stood in a rocky patch just above the bend of Moretz’s Mill Pond, the foundation of the old chimney still showing above ground. It was this camp and the use to which it was put as a sort of primitive packing house that gave the name of Meat Camp to the creek” (232). A History of Watauga County

Map This is a map of Rural Delivery Routes in Watauga County. Circa 1920’s.

Family business My great grandfather, Alfred built a store when he was in his 50’s. My grandpa, Earl was 13 at the time. It was an old country store in Zionville, NC. Max, the oldest son ran the store for a while after Alfred died. Then my grandpa, Earl took it over. Earl changed it from an old country store into a fertilize and feed business. When he gave it up, my uncle David took it over and it still runs today, bigger than ever....

Miller family today Today our family still goes by many traditions of our past generations. We all attend church regularly and try to spend as much time together as possible. My papaw Earl still farms at the age of 85, with the help of the other men in our family. He still has a lot of the inherited land in Zionville, where we all live. One of my uncles even lives in the old home place to this day. The other uncle runs the family business which will be passed down for more generations to come. Earl Miller

Summary The Miller family history connects to a larger pattern of land seeking farmers because they, like many others in that time period were perfectly happy where they were (in this case Surry County) but they were short on land and resources. At this time, many were learning of plenty of land and resources up the mountain so the Miller family along with some neighbors that were like family took the journey and found exactly what they were looking for. Plenty of good land and useable resources. They then made a living by farming tobacco and many other crops. At this time tobacco was a big seller and brought good money for the time period. They also raised cattle and other farm animals. The Miller family knew how to live off the land and make the best of what they had. That’s what made them stronger as a family. They had to rely on each other to make it through. The Miller family also shows us how Appalachian culture was back in the day. Having big families, so that they could all help on the farm and in the fields. Living off the land, growing their own food and using the resources they had. Those were the days when everything was simple and family time was very important.

Primary sources Ancestry, "ancestry.com." Accessed February 17, search.ancestrylibrary.com.wncln.wncln.org/cgi- bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=angs- g&gsfn=Luther&gsln=Miller&mswpn__ftp=Zionville, Watauga, North Carolina, USA&mswpn=21556&mswpn_PInfo=8- |0| |0|2|3245|36|0|3083|21556|0|&uidh=u05&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h= &recoff= &db=NCdeathCerts&indiv=1. search.ancestrylibrary.com.wncln.wncln.org/cgi- bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&msT=1&gss=angs- g&gsfn=Luther&gsln=Miller&mswpn__ftp=Zionville Miller, Earl. Interview by Victoria Potter. Personal interview. Miller Home, April 10, Moretz, Ray. "Miller." William C. Miller 1 (1998): 1-3. Stafford, Aleta. Find A Grave, "findagrave.com." Last modified June 22, Accessed March 2,

secondary sources American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (Surry County, N.C.) The Surry County book: recollections of the life, history & culture of old Surry County in northwestern North Carolina. [Elkin, N.C.?]: The Commission. Arthur, John Preston A history of Watauga County, North Carolina: with sketches of prominent families. Johnson City, Tenn: Overmountain Press. “Family, Land, and Community,” excerpt from Beaver, Patricia D. Rural Community in the Appalachian South. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., Genealogical Society of Watauga County Watauga ancestry. Boone, N.C.: Genealogical Society of Watauga County. Post Office Dept.. "Rural Delivery Routes, Watauga County, NC." Digital Collections Home. (accessed May 1, 2012).