WOW ! Your post has been out here for 12 years and I am just now discovering it. Samuel Joseph Douglas Miller was my mother's father's father. He was born in 1861 in Sulphur Springs,Hopkins County, Texas. His mother was Martha Minton Miller/Lancaster and either Martin or Marion Miller was his father ? Martha Minton's father was Jonathan Minton from Davies County, Kentucky and I believe this is where the Millers came from, too. Martha was first married to a man named Lancaster. They had two sons: Columbus called "Lum" and the other called "Lem". After Martha was widowed ( I believe her husband ---SJD's and Jonathan's father was killed in the Civil War???) . Martha farmed out her Miller children (God only knows why or how a mother could do this) and she and her sons Lum and Lem moved first to Erath County and then to Motley County. Martha is buried there. She had another descendant Gary Lancaster who is a CPA at Matador, Motley County. I'm sure your Jonathan is named for his mother's father, Jonathan Minton. I was told Jonathan Minton was living in Weatherford in 1860 and is on the 1860 Parker County Census. SJD and wife Mary Alice Martin Miller's (from Polk County, Arkansas nbear Mena) youngest son Herman Miller's widow still lives at Granbury. She is listed under LaVerne Miller. She has a daughter Kristi, a daughter Kay, and two sons Johnny and Herman, Jr.. LaVerne is near 80 but has an excellent mind and memory. SJD and other family members are buried at the Fairview Cemetery outside Granbury in Hood County. You can Google the cemetery name and see the birth and deaths from the stone information. I have recently joined the Hopkins County Genealogical Society hoping to get information. I'm sure there were other children who were raised by relatives in Sulphur Springs or perhaps neighbors or even strangers whose descendant's may still be there ? I was told by my maternal grandfather Arthur James Miller (Born 1893 in Parker County) (Herman's older brother) that SJD was an orphan. Herman Sr. believed SJD's father was from Germany but I believe he was from Kentucky. I hope this helps some and that after all these years this finds you well. I guess we are "cousins" !
If you have any information, I would greatly appreciate your sharing. There is another descendant who has more info than me. I believe her name is Renee Gardner and when we corresponded about 10 years ago she was living in Sherman, Texas.
I hope to hear from you !
John Gilmartin, 111 S. 4th Crockett, Texas 75835