Remembering the Miller Family

He was born in 1843 in Kentucky. In the 1870 and 1880 census he and his brother, James Preston Miller were living in Monroe, Tn, and they were retail merchants. In October, 1877 Moses married Matilda Dewitt, who was also born in Kentucky.

Before 1887 I believe they had moved on down to Livingston when he purchased the entire south side of the square from J.C. Bilbrey. Three tracts totaled about 27 acres. He must have built his first home and store soon after because on April 12, 1888, a fire nearly destroyed the south part of the main street around the south side of the square. This article was in the Dailey American paper special correspondence.

April 19, 1888

Tennessean

The slumbers of the inhabitants of our usually quiet little town were rudely broken about midnight on the night of the 12th by a terrible explosion of some kind. Investigation revealed the fact that the large two story frame storehouse of A.L. Windle, standing on the southeast corner of the square with all of its contents was well nigh burned up and that a powder keg had sounded the alarm. Every man living in town and many living a mile distant in the country were soon at the scene of the fire ready to do anything and everything in their power to save the town from the devouring flames, which now threatened to consume it. The flames spread rapidly east to the Methodist Presbyterian Church with the Masonic Hall above, then to the residence of W.W. Windle, and north along the east side of the public square to W.F. Robert’s saddle shop, then to Phillip Myers furniture store, then to the two story storehouse of W.W. Goodpasture, which was not occupied now except that J.A. Barnes had his law office in the second story.

Here, the wind being favorable, it was resolved. If possible to check the further spread of the fire in this direction and save the large two story storehouse and dwelling house of J.C. Bilbrey. This heroic struggle in what seemed an unequal contest was eventually crowned with success.

In the meantime the fire had spread from the Methodist Presbyterian Church across Main Street to the law office of W.W. Goodpasture, the large two story storehouse and dwelling house of Moses Miller on the south side of the square.

All efforts to save Miller’s home having failed, attention was directed to the goods and household effects, a considerable amount which was saved. Miller’s house was the last that burned.

A.L. Windle had no insurance. His house together with his entire stock of goods was a total loss of $3500.

Miller was insured for $1200 on the house and $1300 on goods. Nine buildings in all were consumed. No insurance except Miller.

The Masons lost all records, everything. I cannot give estimates of Miller’s loss, no little loss to a small town. The telephone was lost in Miller’s home.

The Chattanooga newspaper listed that a bank had been organized in Livingston. W.W. Goodpasture was the President and Moses Miller the cashier.

The Nashville Tennessean reported on May 8, 1888, that Moses Miller, whose storehouse had burned, will this year erect a large brick business house on the site of the one that burned.

On May 18, 1889, he had filed suit to collect his $2400 insurance money from the fire.

In 1896, the brick building we today call the Miller building was erected. Moses also built a house beside the modern brick.

Around 1900, Moses’ health began to decline although he was not even 60 years of age. Believing that a warmer climate would help him recover, he and Matilda along with their five children moved to Wilbarger, Texas.

Article published by the Gospel Advocate April 10, 1902.

On March 2, 1902, at Fort Worth, Texas, brother Moses Miller departed this life. Leaving his family at this place, on February 4, 1902, brother Miller had left for San Antonio, Texas, where he resided until the last of February, when he started for home and died on his way. Sad indeed was it to know that while his wife and children were eagerly watching for the train that would bring him home, the awful news came that he had died. He came to Tolbert, Wilbarger County from LIvingston, Tennessee. During his stay here he proved himself to be an earnest, energetic, and firm Christian. We regret that his stay among us was short, for we had learned to love and admire him. He was a man of good religious principles. He exerted a great influence over me and I am glad the Lord permitted me to know and associate with such a good noble man. He leaves a Christian wife and five children.

~E.B. Page Tolbert, TX

Matilda came back to Livingston. She and the children continued to live in this house facing the courthouse until she passed away in 1932.

One of the daughters was Gertrude, who married William A. Bussell in 1910. He was a grocery man who had lived here since 1938. They had one son, W.M. Alphaes Bussell, who was called Bill, married a beautiful girl from Calfkiller by the name of Elma Lee Bohannon. They worked and had two little girls named Marylee Bussell Marshall and Matilda Bussell Speck. When Bill was only 37 years old he died from a heart attack on a hunting trip in New York November 24, 1950.

His father died November 24, 1949. It took a week to get his body back to Livingston and even though the girls were very young, Matilda told me she remembers a lot about the tragic time.

Another daughter was Mary Price Miller Smith, who was about 3 years old when her father Moses Miller died. Moses’ widow lived until 1932. In 1936, the house was moved in order to build the Livingston Post Office. Mary Price was born in the house and lived there until she died in 1983. Matilda and Marylee spent lots of fun days at this house with Mary Price.

The home was sold to Diane Sadler who loved its history and loved sharing it with friends. She was always happy to have the history told of the Miller home. A treasure for sure...