J. W. MILLER has been a resident of Douglas County, Missouri, since 1856, in which year he removed to this section from his native State of Tennessee. He was born January 1, 1827, a son of Dobson and Mary A. (Burnett) Miller, who came to this section at the same time as their son and settled on a farm in this county, on which both eventually died, the father in 1868 and the mother in 1867.
The Millers are of English and Irish descent, while the Burnetts are of French extraction,and have been residents of America from the very early history of the country, the grandfather Burnett having been a participant in several of the early wars in which this country was involved. His wife was a half-breed Cherokee Indian, and her name in the Indian language was Culisitie.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Tennessee, and in that State he grew up and was married to Arzilla J. Conard, a daughter of William and Susan A. Conard. After coming to Douglas County, Missouri, he located on a farm four miles north of Ava and lived there four years, after which he bought a farm two miles west of Ava and lived on the same eight years. In 1868 he purchased the farm where he now lives, which contains 157 acres, and here he has demonstrated the fact that he is a thrifty and progressive farmer. June 10, 1861, he enlisted in the Missouri Home Guards, for he was somewhat of a cripple and could not enter the regular service, and served from the time of his enlistment until the close of the war, participating in a number of engagements in Missouri and was in the chase after Gen. Price, under Gen. Hollen. He was severely injured by his horse falling on him and was laid up for some time, but upon recovering again entered the Missouri Militia. He was taken prisoner twice, but the first time managed to escape. He was first a Whig, then a Republican in politics, but of late years has been a Greenbacker. He and his worthy wife have reared eleven children: Brunetta, who died in 1878; Amanda, who died in 1872, was the wife of William Upchurch; Adaline, is the wife of John Yondall, of Ava; Mary A., is the wife of James Andrews, of this county; Penelope is the wife of William Huffman, of this county; Margaret is the wife of S. G. House, of this county; Jane; Henry is a clerk in Ava; Dobson, is in the Cherokee Nation, and Moses is at home.