James Francis Miller was born August 1, 1832, in Tennessee, moved to Texas with his father in 1845 and settled in Hopkinsville, Gonzales County, Texas. He began practicing law in Gonzales about 1857. In February, 1860, he married Almira Matthews, born August 14, 1839. She died on August 15, 1862, during the birth of their only child. The baby, James Matthew Miller, died one year later. In 1861 James joined the Confederacy as a member of Terry’s Rangers and remained with this famous company until it was captured in 1865. After the war, he returned to Gonzales and resumed his law practice.
Miller married Julia Amanda Turner Batchelor May 6, 1867, and they had one son, Francis T. Miller, born in 1874, who died at the age of eight.
Julia, born May 24, 1838, in Galveston, Texas, was the daughter of Amasa and Julia Morse Turner. Julia Amanda was the first white girl born on Galveston Island. She was educated at Alma Male and Female Institute in Hallettsville, Texas, Baylor Institute in Independence, Texas, and Wilcox Institute in Camden, Alabama. Her father, Amasa, was a prominent figure in early Texas history. He joined the Texas army at Gonzales and was commissioned by General Sam Houston to raise a company of regulars in New Orleans. He raised two companies, joined the Texas army at the Colorado River during Sam Houston’s retreat from Gonzales and was commissioned captain of a company that he commanded during the battle of San Jacinto.
Julia Amanda Turner’s first husband, Benjamin F. Batchelor, whom she married in 1859, was an attorney. After their marriage, she and Benjamin moved to Gonzales where he set up his law practice. They had one child, Florence Cordelia Batchelor, born in 1861. After war broke out, Benjamin joined Terry’s Rangers and was killed in 1864. Their daughter married Thomas Franklin Harwood of Gonzales in 1884.
In 1868 Miller joined with W.B. Sayers to form the Miller and Sayers banking establishment. That same year, he purchased the lots where he would later build his home. He organized the Gonzales Presbyterian Sunday School in 1876, served as the first president of the Texas Livestock Association and was the first president of the Texas Banker’s Association. Miller was elected as district representative to the 48th congress in 1883 and was re-elected to the 49th Congress. He declined to run for a third term.
Although Miller purchased the lots in 1868, he did not begin his Greek Revival style home, named “Walnut Ridge”, until the late 1800’s. Noted architect, J. Riely Gordon, designed this magnificent home and construction was completed in 1901.
Unfortunately Miller did not live long enough to really enjoy his home. He died July 3, 1902. Julia died April 15, 1912. They are buried in the Gonzales Masonic Cemetery.
