Adam Miller (pioneer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Miller
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Adam Miller Monument, Elk Run Cemetery, Elkton, VA
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Adam Miller (also spelled Mueller) was a very important person in the history of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, USA. He is known as the first permanent white settler there, starting in 1727. Adam Miller was born in 1703 in Schriesheim, Germany. When he was a young man and married, he moved to America in 1724. He first settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Moving to Virginia
On a trip through eastern Virginia, Adam Miller heard exciting stories. People talked about a beautiful, green valley to the west. This valley had been explored by Governor Alexander Spotswood's famous group, the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition.
In 1727, Miller and his wife, Barbara, decided to move. They traveled from Pennsylvania to Virginia. They chose a piece of land on the south fork of the Shenandoah River. This spot was near where Rockingham County and Page County are today.
Official Recognition
The year Miller arrived in the Valley, 1727, was officially confirmed later. In 1742, Virginia Governor William Gooch made a special announcement. It was a "naturalization proclamation," which meant he officially recognized Miller as a resident. The proclamation stated that Adam Miller had "Settled and Inhabited for fifteen years past on Shenandoa in this colony."
The proclamation also mentioned where Miller was born. It said he was "born at Shesoin in Germany." However, the correct spelling, "Schriesheim," was written and signed by Adam Miller himself on the back of the original document.
Family Life
Records from the Shenandoah area show that Adam Miller and his wife, Barbara, had at least three children:
- Catarina Elizabetha (born December 20, 1734)
- Adam Jr. (born July 16, 1736)
- Anna Christina (born October 18, 1738)
When they grew up, Catarina (also called Catherine) and Anna married brothers. Catarina married John Baer, and Anna married Jacob Baer.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1741, Adam Miller bought a large piece of land. It was about 820 acres (3.3 square kilometers) near Elkton, Virginia. This land included a special spring with a mineral called lithia. Miller lived on this property for the rest of his life.
He later sold 280 acres (1.1 square kilometers) of this land to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer. The spring on Miller’s land is still known today as Bear Lithia Spring.
In 1758, Miller took part in the French and Indian War. He served in a military group led by Lt. Christian Bingaman. Adam Miller passed away in 1783. His estate, which included his property and belongings, was settled in Rockingham County, Virginia.
