Return to the Land

The ninth child of Lorenzo and Martha was Lorenzo Meek Miller who was born in 1865. He married in Sullivan County, Tennessee to Rebecca Mae Finley . Lorenzo Meek’s farm joined John Harvey Miller ’s farm on Kimberling Creek. Meek’s farm was on the south side and John Harvey’s was on the north side. It was Dr. Lorenzo John Miller ’s farm that had been divided between Meek and John Harvey. There were some questions as to the equity of the land division. The original farm contained approximately 461 acres, which was divided between the two youngest sons: Meek received 315 acres and John Harvey 146 acres. However these brothers appeared to live and farm without any animosity. Meek and Rebecca (Becky Mae) had four sons: Byrd, Robert Montague, Grady, and Dewey. The tenth and last child born to Lorenzo and Martha was John Harvey Miller, my grandfather. He was born on Kimberling on June 1, 1871 and died on April 27, 1946. He married Minnie Catherine Wright in 1892. They lived on Kimberling in Dr. Lorenzo John ’s home and produced eight children: Edgar Lorenzo, David Stafford, Stella Mae, Carl Arlington, Marie Texie, Earl Jordan, Harvey Vaden, and Lenore Bethel. (For details of this family see Part II: The Children of John Harvey and Catherine Minnie Miller). Dr. Lorenzo John Miller died on July 17, 1896 on Kimberling at 68 years of age. At the time of his death his son John Harvey had contracted typhoid fever and was too ill to attend to his father’s funeral. This was the time when a discrepancy in Lorenzo John’s will arose thus leading to an inequity in the property division between his two youngest sons. Aunt Lenore relates the story of her grandfather’s death. Lorenzo John apparently suffered from a sthma and in those days there was little medical treatment available. Though he was a physician he could not control the final episode of his life. On the day he died at his home his daughter-in-law, Minnie Catherine, tended to him to the best of her ability in trying to make him comfortable. Late in the day he asked my grandmother to administer to him a dose of chloroform so he could make the final exit from life with no further suffering. Being the compassionate woman she was she responded by saying, ‘I would do anything for you that I could, but I can not bring myself to the threshold of this unforgivable act.’ She must have agonized seeing him suffer especially with no way that she could help reduce his pain. Lorenzo John had done much for her and her family and now in his last hour all she was able to do was sit by him, hold his hand, and offer prayers. Martha Lois died March 24, 1904 at the age of 75. Martha lived with John Harvey and Minnie until her death. Lorenzo John and Martha Lois were buried on the hill overlooking their beautiful farm. Martha Lois deeded to John Harvey her share of the livestock on the farm and certain household furnishings.

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