Adam (Mueller) Miller Homestead.
One mile north of Elkton, Virginia, on Route #12, just west of the highway.
1729.
This is an old log house of an L type, weatherboarded on the outside and ceiled on the inside. This old home is two stories high and has nineteen rooms. Remodeled in the 1850’s or 1860’s. Architecture of the remodeled 1850’s; the new part is on the south side and joins the old at the hallway, being built in between the old part and the old log kitchen which is now used as such, in which may be seen the big fireplace with the old crane still attached.
Adam Miller first came to this valley, late in the year of 1726, and after returning to his home in Williamsburg, in the spring of 1727, he brought his family to this old place and built a cabin. A few months later he built a part of the original home, the kitchen they now use, was part of the original home.
The Miller home was used as a Fort during the Indian raids. The old, oak kitchen door, still bears the signs of the onslaught of the tomahawks and musket balls. It is stated that some very fierce battles took place around here.
Adam Miller lived here until his death in 1783; it was the scene of much conflict between the opposing forces in "Stonewall" Jackson’s" campaign’s in The War Between the States, still showing the imprint of many bullets. There may be other events of historic interest of which I do not know. There are however, items at the home that are of historic value. Here may be seen his original land patent to 350 acres of land lying just east of Elkton, made at Williamsburg, written on sheepskin and signed by Governor Gooch, June 20, 1749; his naturalization paper with one of the two great seals still remaining; in the kitchen a hanging cupboard, said to be two hundred years old or more, and worked out by hand with chisels; another cupboard and a table. In another room some lovely old English China, and a variety of most interesting things to see.
I am told that twelve beds were kept always ready for guests and many are even now so kept, while the dinner table was always fully occupied with a number of guests, showing a full handed, and generous hospitality. This I suppose to be especially after the remolding of the house in 1860 or thereabout.
It seems a little uncertain as to the date of the building of the original house by Adam Miller, some placing it as early as 1726; I have named the date as 1729, as according to Harrison and Wayland this was the year in which he purchased the land from Jacob Stover and about which he, with others, petitioned the Court in 1733.
Adam Miller Mueller Homestead
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Adam Miller
Was born in Germany, probably at Schreisheim, Baden and immigrated to this country when very young, settling in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Tradition states he made a trip to Williamsburg in 1716 and learned of Spotswood’s expedition, and later, following the Governors trail, finally arrived at Massanutten.
He was probably among the number said to have been recruited by Stover from Germana. It is claimed for Adam Miller that he was the first white settler in the Valley, and except for some squatters around what later became Shepherdstown, there were no settlers west of the Great Mountains until Adam Miller and his associates settled at "Massanutten", buying their land off Jacob Stover, the not having legal title until about 1733.
Jacob Stover seems to have been the first to sell land in the Valley, selling it even before having the right or permission to survey, which he finally obtained in 1733.
Adam Miller and his associates had paid cash for their lands, and at the time of their petition to the Court were "Daily expecting Stover to Run Away."
Jacob Stover died prior to 1754 and on February 13, of this year, his son Jacob Stover, Jr. conveyed to William Russell of Culpepper, 4000 acres, the reversion of one of the 5000 acre tracts patented to Jacob Stover, Sr. December 15th, 1733.
According to Wadell, "Miller and his associates if any, locating out of the tract of the tide of immigration which afterwards poured in, remained unknown, or unnoticed, or unnoticed, by the English-speaking people.
Photograph.
Informants: Mrs. W.P. Herring, Elkton, Virginia, Route #12.
J. Houston Harrison, Dr. J.W. Wayland, Mrs. W.S. Southall
Page County, Court Records.
Personal visit to the place.
May 27, 1926 C.C. Morris
Shenandoah, VA