Thomas C (Tom) Miller

Thomas C “Tom” Miller, born Oct 1861, GA, died 27 Jun 1950, Clermont, Hall CO, GA

T C “Tom” grew up Clermont, Hall CO, GA. The town at the time was know as the Concord Church Community. It was not named Clermont (meaning “clear mountain”) until 1905. It was he who originally recognized the need for a hotel where guests and travelers could stay overnight, especially with the Gainesville & Northwest Railroad making plans to construct a rail line through town.

Miller was a well-to-do merchant and landowner and so had the capital necessary for the erection of a fine two-story brick hotel in 1912. He was active in joint farming operations with his sons in Flagler County in 1922 and then returned sometime later to Georgia.

Tom Miller married about 1882, GA, (FNU) Chapman. Issue;

1. John T Miller, born May 1883, GA, married Flossie (LNU), born about 1898, TN, died Feb 1949, Hamilton CO, FL. In 1920, he was the Dean of Brenau College, a private women’s institution in Gainesville, GA. Issue;

(1) Martha Nell Miller, born Mar 1916, SC, married Ponce De Leon Sandlin Jr, son of Ponce De Leon Sandlin and Cecil Anne Cole, born 08 Oct 1916, FL, died 30 Oct 1990, Jasper, Hamilton CO FL. Issue;

A. Ponce De Leon Sandlin III, born about 1940, Hamilton CO, FL

2. Ida Miller, born 10 Jul 1885, GA, died 21 Nov 1938, Gainesville, Hall CO, GA, married John Frank Rogers, son of James G Rogers and Sarah C (LNU) born 25 May 1880, GA, died 04 Aug 1955, Hall CO, GA. He worked in the wholesale grocery industry. Issue:

(1) Eugenia T Rogers, born about 1906, Hall CO, GA

(2) Thomas Gibbs Rogers, born 31 Oct 1906, Hall CO, GA, died 06 Feb 1997,Orange, Orange CO, TX, married Katherine Graham Bruce, dau of Ernest Lynwood Bruce and Evelyn Graham, born 09 Sep 1905, Orange CO, TX, died 19 Apr 1986, Orange CO, TX

(3) Frances N Rogers, born about 1917, Hall CO, GA

(4) Louise Rogers, born about 1922, Hall CO, GA

3. India Miller, born 05 Jun 1887, GA, died 14 Apr 1986, Jackson, Butts CO, GA, married Ray C Bailey, born about 1888. She was a dressmaker and he was plumber. Issue;

(1) Miller E Bailey born Apr 1915, GA

4. Homer Calvin Miller, born Jul 1889, Clermont, Hall CO, GA, died 29 Oct 1962, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL, buried Concord Baptist Church Cemetery, Clermont, Hall CO, GA, married about 1917, Ora V Head, dau of Alexander H Head and Victoria America (LNU), born 08 Aug 1895, Lulu, Hall CO, GA, died 07 May 1982, Daytona Beach, Volusia CO, FL.

He came to Flagler CO, FL from Clermont, GA in 1922 and began in the dairy business in July 1925 with 40 head of dairy stock.

With the purchase of 44 head of Jersey cows from Thomas Jefferson Cobb on 19 Sep 1929, he became Flagler County's leading dairyman in point of herd size. The Miller dairy then numbered 140 head of excellent grade and registered Jersey and Holstein (8 of these were also purchased from Cobb). The Cobb and Miller farms were in the Bimini section and were separated by a drainage canal. The Miller farm was 280 acres

He sold the dairy farm to Louis Scott Sheffield of Jacksonville in July 1950. The business at that time consisted of 315 dairy cows, three barns, six dwellings, two silos and 248 acres of land.

He was a veteran of World War I, and a member of the American Legion, 40 & 8, Elks Lodge, the Masonic Lodge, and the Concord Baptist Church of Clermont, GA. For many years he served as a member of the Flagler County Draft Board, was president of the Production Credit Association, and was active in the civic, fraternal and church life of Bunnell.

5. Amanda Miller, born Feb 1862, GA, died 07 Aug 1975, Clermont, Hall CO, GA, married Duskin Joseph Johnson, son of Dard R Johnson and Susan E (LNU), born Feb 1883, GA, died 30 Jun 1958, Hall CO, GA. He was an insurance salesman.

(1) Duskin Joseph Johnson Jr, born 04 Oct 1910, Gainesville, Hall CO, GA, died 29 Sep 1978, Gainesville, Hall CO, GA. He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1927 and attended the University of GA as a business major. He was an insurance salesman, managed the Western Auto Store in Gainesville and had a interest in a ice cream company.

6. Lillie Miller, born Oct 1893, Hall CO, GA

Tom Miller married 2nd, about 1896, Hall CO, GA, Malinda C (Cindy) Hayes, born Feb 1863, GA, died 17 Aug 1931, Clermont, Hall CO, GA. Issue;

7. Fred Benson Miller, born 23 Dec 1897, Clermont, Hall CO, GA, died 17 Jan 1975, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 22 Jun 1922, Madison, Morgan CO, GA, Gertrude Malone, dau of William H Malone and Susan Hart, born 24 Sep 1898, GA, died 02 Oct 1985, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL. Both buried Oaklawn Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL.

He moved to Jacksonville from Lake City in1933. He was a member of the Southside Baptist Church and the Bunnell Masonic Lodge No. 200, F & AM. Fred was a veteran of WW I and attended Bailey Military Academy and Mercer University. Issue;

(1) Fred Benson Miller, Jr., born 05 Sep 1923, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL, married 12 May 1965, Jacksonville Beach, Duval CO, FL, Carolyn Cecilia Ulakey, dau of John William Ulakey and Mariam Hendren, born 06 Oct 1934, Benld, Macoupin CO, IN, died 13 Jul 1995, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL.

Fred served as a lieutenant with the Eight Air Force, 486th Bomb Group, 825 Bomb Squadron, in the European Theater during WW II. He was a navigator.

Following the war he received a degree from Columbia University and went to work for the Ford Motor Company at a time when Ford was sponsoring American Legion Baseball. He was detailed to drive Babe Ruth around the state in support of this endeavor. One day they were sitting around the hotel when Babe turned to him and asked, “What’s your kid’s name.” He told the Babe that he didn’t have a kid as he wasn't married. Babe grabbed a baseball anyway and autographed it, “Hello To-Be, from Babe Ruth.” Fred and Carolyn’s firstborn, Trudi, now has the autographed ball in a safe deposit box.

Fred left Ford and returned to Jacksonville to run the 2,100 acre Miller Farm which began producing milk in Duval County in 1933. He was active in the Jaycees and served as president of the Northeast Florida Milk Producers Association.

Fred was an active supporter of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, GA just south of Savannah and the Florida Agriculture Museum in northern Flagler County. Issue;

A. Trudi Cecilia Miller, born 27 Nov 1967, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 21 Jun 1997, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, James Timothy Lockwood, son of James English Lockwood and Linda Carole Mallory, born 26 Sep 1965, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL. Issue;

a. Mallory Cecilla Lockwood, born 03 Jul 1999, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

b. Miller English Lockwood, born 05 Mar 2003, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

B. Paige Ellen Miller, born 17 Dec 1969, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married David Thomas Mann. Issue;

a. Olivia Churchwill Mann, born 20 Apr 2004, Macon, Bibb CO, GA

b. Thomas David Mann, born 12 Apr 2006, Macon, Bibb CO, GA

C. Bynne Marie Miller, born 27 Oct 1971, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 07 Oct 2000, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, Andrew William Hetzel, born 05 Sep 1971. Issue;

a. Carolyn Cecilia Hetzel, born 13 Mar 2004, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

b. Gertrude Leigh Hetzel, born 13 Apr 2005, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

c. Andrew William Hetzel, born 27 Feb 2007, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL

8. Charles Mellford (Chick) Miller, born 18 Feb 1899, GA, died 27 Dec 1984, Flagler CO, FL, married 1927, Clay CO, FL, Emma Marie Moody, dau of Robert Moody and Martha Nancy (Mattie) Barber, born 20 Oct 1911, Bunnell, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, died 12 Feb 1987, Flagler CO, FL, buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL (Div).

Marie also married James E Maddox and James Donald Kane (see Sketch on Robert Moody for additional information on Marie’s family).

The compiler recalls that Chick and Mildred Close Nyland ran the AAA Restaurant on U.S.1 between Bunnell and Dupont on Highway U.S.1, together but can find no evidence that they were ever married. Mildred was the sister of the compiler's Grandfather James Emmett Deen’s 3rd wife, Gladys Naomi Close.

9. Bertie Mae Miller, born 05 Mar 1901, GA, died 24 May 1981, Dayton, Montgomery CO, OH, married Ralph W Ledford, born 27 Oct 1898, died 06 Sep 1973, Dayton, Montgomery CO, OH. Issue;

(1) Caroline Ledford

10. Ralph Gordon Miller, born about 1903, GA

11. Edwin Miller, born about 1905, GA

12. Tommie Miller, born about 1907, GA, died before Jan 1950, married William (Bill) Baker and Horace King

 

Sources: 1900 & 1910 United States Federal Census, Buckhead, Morgan CO, FL; 1900 & 1910 United States Federal Census, Quillans, Hall CO, GA; 1920 United States Federal Census, Athens Ward 2, Clarke CO, GA; 1920 United States Federal Census, Clermont, Hall CO, GA; 1920 United States Federal Census, Lula, Hall CO, GA; 1920 United States Federal Census, Forsyth, Monroe CO, GA; 1930 United States Federal Census, Clermont, Hall CO, GA; 1930 United States Federal Census, Lake City, Columbia CO, FL; 1930 United States Federal Census, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL;

1945 Florida State Census, Precinct 1 Flagler CO, FL; 1945 Florida State Census, Hamilton CO, FL;WW I Civilian Draft Registrations; Florida Marriage Collection, 1927-2001; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; Georgia Deaths, 1918-1998; Ohio Deaths, 1958-2002; Social Security Death Index;

The Flagler Tribune, 06 Jul 1950, 01 Nov 1962, 23 Jan 1975; The Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL, 06 Sep 1998; “Stories of the Glories of Old Clermont Hotel” by Anne Dismukes Amerson, & “A Former Citizen Remembers the 1909 Clermont Tornado” by Sylvia Failey Head as told to Olin Jackson, North Georgia Journal/Autumn 1997; History and People of Hamilton County, Florida, pg 28-46; and

Interview with Fred Benson Miller, Jr and his daughter Trudi Cecilla Lockwood, and Eleanor Marie Moody Logan, Holden House, Bunnell, FL, 17 Apr 2008.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com