Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Archibald Ferguson Miller
Ancestors of Archibald Ferguson Miller
1.Archibald Ferguson Miller1, born May 04, 1820 in East Muir, Lanarkshire, Scottland1; died May 01, 1919 in Minto, Walsh, ND1.He was the son of 2. John Miller and 3. ? Ferguson.He married (1) Elizabeth Buchanan1 1854 in Renfrew, Ontario1.She was born May 1822 in Glasgow, Scottland1, and died November 03, 1904 in Minto, Walsh, ND1.She was the daughter of ? Buchanan and Jane Hart.
Notes for Archibald Ferguson Miller:
Archibald Ferguson Miller left home at the age of 23 to start a new life in America.He left his parents and two brothers in East Muir, Scotland in 1843 and settled in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada.His fiancee, Elizabeth Buchanan, planned to join him after he got settled.By 1850, he was ready to send for Elizabeth, but by then his mother had arrived in Canada and was living with her son, John and family, and she wasn't happy with this prospective daughter-in-law.Elizabeth decided that she wouldn't come as long as she would be living with her in-laws.By 1854, Archibald's mother had died and his father had returned to Scotland clearing the way for Elizabeth.She sailed to Canada with her sister, Isabelle.On the trip, Isabelle fell in love with the ship's captain (Mr. Allen) and went on to Australia with him.Elizabeth and Archibald married in Nov. 1854 and started their family in Renfrew.Elizabeth was 31 years old.In 1878, the family decided to move to the Dakota Territory.At that time they had 4 boys and 3 girls.They homesteaded near Minto, ND. The oldest 4 children also homesteaded there.Archibald was 58 years old at the time of the move.In his remaining years, he acquired many acres of farm land.He and Elizabeth celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before she died at the age of 81.Archibald was called the "Chief of the Clan" in ND.He was honored on his 99th birthday by his friends and family.He died 2 Nov 1919, just 6 mo. short of his 100th birthday.His family continued to farm in the Minto area and some are still there today.John, Jane, Archie, Elizabeth and Guy lived the rest of their lives in Minto.James and Agnes left the area, but held the land they owned there.
According to Archibald's obituary, the family was planning to homestead in Manitoba, Canada.Archibald was en route down the Red Rived, when the ship's captain talked him into homesteading in North Dakota instead.In the fall of 1878, Archibald and one of the older boys established residence in Walsh County, ND.He applied for homestead on the E1/2 of SW 1/4 & E 1/2 NW 1/4 of section 1 in Township 155N of Range 53 W on June 14, 1878.He paid $14 to file for the land. That was for 159 74/100 acres.They built a log house, sided 18' by 26' with floor, door and windows.Also a log stable 18' by 26'.value of the improvement was $250.Range 53W, township 155N is the current Forest River township of Walsh Co.
By 9/1/1891, Archibald purchased 160 more acres in twp 156N, range 53W, section 27.Son James also homesteaded on 156N, 53W, 34.The Patents' database shows that land having been a cash sale to John Miller in 1884.Jane Miller purchased the next piece of land, section 35 in May 1883.Jane's future husband William McKay and Agnes' husband Thomas Moore also owned land in Walsh Co.Archibald became a citizen of the United States on October 30, 1883 in the County of Grand Forks, Dakota Territory.
The Minto Journal
Thursday, Nov. 6, 1919
The Passing of a Patriarch
Archibald Miller, Sr., the Venerable Chief of the Clans
Answers the Final Summons and Goes to His Reward
Archibald Miller is dead.
The grand old "Chief of the Clans" passed away at the home of his son, John Miller in this city, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.The end was not unexpected.For weeks past he had been becoming more feeble day by day.The spark that had continued so tenaciously to burn so long after the allotted time for ordinary manhood had begun to flicker.Life's fuel was being consumed to the dregs, and when seemingly the very last particle of that wonderful vitality, that had fed the lamp of life for almost a hundred years, was licked up, the spark died out, and the spirit of that grand old man passed to the "silly shades."
Thus ends the career of a remarkable man.Archibald Miller Sr. has been a prominent figure in this community for more than a third of a century, having lived among it since the early '80s, and every year during that time was an active and prominent figure, joining in its activities and occupying a high place in the ranks of its citizenship.He was a Scot to the heather born, and Bobby Burns was almost his idol.As "Chief of the Clans" he was recognized.Indeed that title was his right inherent in the minds of the Scots of this community, which he fittingly demonstrated at each successive Burns anniversary where he was always the presiding figure in its celebration.Almost a centenarian was he.On the 4th of June last, the Clans gathered at his home in this city to duly observe his 99th birthday, and at the parting it was the expressed hope and his great desire that they might be privileged to meet again a hear hence to celebrate his passing of the century mark, on life's milepost.Almost did he make the half of the journey - 99 years, 6 months, and 29 days was the record.
Archibald Ferguson Miller was born in East Muir, three miles from Glasgow, Scotland, May 4, 1820.He came to Canada in 1843 and settled near Admasston, Rentfrew (sic) County, Ontario.He came to the Red River Valley with the very early settlers in 1878, looking for a place of settlement and to file on a homestead.His intentions were to go on to Manitoba to make his selection, but on taking passage on the steamer at Fishers Landing bound for Grand Forks, he followed the advice of Captain McCormick, who was in charge of the boat, who advised him not to got to Manitoba but to come to this locality.He took the Captain's advice, came and selected his homestead here and lived here continuously since that time.He was married in Ontario in 1854 to Miss Elizabeth Buchanan, who presided over their new home and who passed away Nov. 3, 1904, thus preceding her husband just fifteen years less one day.The family living consists of four sons and two daughters.
Descendents forming the family tree consists of six children, eighteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, who survive Grandpa Miller, of these thirty-three in number, sixteen are men and boys, and seventeen women and girls.
The funeral was held Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. from Knox Presbyterian church, which the deceased helped to establish and build here, had continually been one of its officers and was an elder at the time of his demise.Rev. J. H. Reinhardt, the pastor, conducted the service, and his sermon was most fitting and impressive, a deserving tribute to a life so well spent and rounded out to its very completion.The remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the city cemetery beside those of the loving and faithful wife and companion who shared with him the ups and downs of vicissitudes of their pioneer life here.Thus the closing act in the record of a life lived out to its very completion and the remembrance of which will continue to live in the minds of a large number of near friends and admirers.
More About Archibald Ferguson Miller:
Burial: November 06, 1919, Minto, Walsh, ND1
More About Elizabeth Buchanan:
Burial: Minto, Walsh, ND1