HISTORY
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Part I by Ellen West of the Grand Prairie Historical Society In 1985-86, a gaunt, sad looking log house on Crockett township land owned by the late Hattie Boone Black was resurrected in DeWitt as an office building for the owner's fertilizer company west of town. When GPHS BULLETIN (Grand Prairie Historical Society) editors first decided to look into this bit of Arkansas County history, this writer asked Miss Black for permission to write about the house. Permission was granted, but for the origin of the house Miss Black advised that better information could be obtained from Ethyl Oates Miller, granddaughter of Charles James and Emma Jansen Miller. This couple had reared their family in the original log home before, during and after the Civil War. Miss Miller, a retired teacher now residing in E-Z Living retirement home in DeWitt, described the original structure as being two-storied with an open hall, or "dog trot", dividing two sections on the left and right of the entrance. Her father, Louis Jansen Miller, fourth child of Charles and Emma, was born in this house April 5, 1861, ten days after the Civil War began. In an earlier account of Jansen and Miller connections, Dorothy Core outlined the life of Rev. Louis O. Jansen as he served in clergy of Protestant Episcopal, Methodist Episcopal and Disciples of Christ churches: "The Arkansas connection of Louis O. Jansen began with the marriage of his daughter, Emma, on 3 December 1851 to Charles J. Miller in Hardeman County, Tennessee, where [Rev. Jansen] had been called by the congregation at Bolivar in 1849." Evidently Emma and Charles fell in love, and Charles left to establish a plantation in Crockett township, Arkansas County, before returning to claim his bride. (See note 1.) It woudl be nice to imagine that Charles built the log house of this article's interest between 1849 and 1851 for his "intended", but only information from the federal census records fills in this part of the story. The Arkansas County census of 1850 lists Charles J. Miller, a 24-year-old farmer, as sole occupant of a house in Crockett township with real estate valued at $2,000 and ten slaves. The census of 1860 lists him as a planter with 10 slaves, real and personal property valued at almost $30,000, a wife Emma (30) and children Henrietta Sarah (7), Emma Georgina (5) and Frederick (4). Eliza Jansen (19), probably Emma's sister, also resided with them. ..........seem to have had financial reverses as had most farmers in the South, and had moved from the log house to live in LaGrue township, with children Henrietta, Georgina, Frederick and Louis, now 9 years old. Emma is listed as a teacher, an occupation of interest because she had in her home classes of up to thirteen girls, some living in the home, some coming daily to be taught. The mother of Ballard Deane of St. Charles was said to have been one of Emma's students. Daughter Henrietta wrote a relative: "Ma has a very good school." By census 1880 the listing of this Miller family is no longer found in LaGrue township. (Charles had died in 1879.) Living in the log house on the Crockett township farm were Frederick (24), head of household, Georgina (25), Louise J. (19) and Eliza Jansen (42), aunt. (See note 2.) But now turn the calendar back to the war years. Ethyl O. Miller tells two Civil War stories concerning the log home and her grandparents. Charles J. was a Confederate lieutenant, later Captain, of Company E of 18th Regiment of Arkansas Infantry. Once his wife Emma traveled to Memphis where she purchased a new uniform for her husband. She concealed the uniform beneath her skirt and returned home traveling on a Union gun boat, probably landing at Crocketts Bluff. Later during the war, with no man in the house, Emma was often forced to prepare food for passing Union troops. One night she awoke to loud knocking of hungry enemy soldiers, but insisted that she must take time to dress completely before cooking for her unwelcome visitors. The Union officer in command saw Charles J. Miller's Masonic apron. He explained to Emma that she should hang the apron in the open hallway within sight of the road. No Union troops would ever bother her again. She did so and the officer's promise proved that the word of a Masonic brother can be trusted. Ethyl O. Miller, her niece, Kay M. Knight of Ohio, and a cousin, Sammy Harrison of Fort Worth, have gathered copies of Captain Miller's Civil War papers. These documents partially tell the story of this homeowner as he was away at war while his valiant wife carried on in their log home. One paper states that C.J. Miller was commissioned February 24, 1862, a 2nd Jr. Lt. and promoted June 20, 1862, a 2nd Sr. Lt. Two documents were requisitions, both signed by Capt. C.J. Miller, for supplies and clothing for his company while at Port Hudson, Louisiana. The requisitions are approved and signed by another well-known Arkansas countian, R.H. Crockett, Col. Commanding, 18th Regiment of Arkansas Volunteers. In 1884 Capt. Miller and his men had moved closer to home because two documents concern his capture by Union troops. They verify that he was a captain taken prisoner near St. Charles, Arkansas, August 1, 1864 and was in custody of Provost Marshall in Memphis, Tennessee. A "Disposition of Prisoner" states: "Sent through lines for exchange September 23, 1964." The other document granted C.J.Miller a parole of five days for a trip home to Crocketts Bluff to end May 25, 1865. No one knows the date and reason for the Miller family's move to LaGrue township. Possibly that farm was part of Miller's large land holdings of pre-war days. Perhaps the location was more accessible to Emma's students. In any case, on 14th day of June 1879, Charles J. Miller made his will: "I Charles J. Miller.......being ill in body but sound of mind and memory do hereby declare....." Each child -- Henrietta Sarah, wife of Robt. Hynds of Texas; Emma Georgina Miler; Frederick William Miller; Louis Jansen Miller -- to receive the sum of one dollar each. "To my beloved wife I give and bequeath my home place consisting of 160 acres in County of Arkansas and State of Arkansas....." Charles died later in 1879. No land description was included in the will. We might assume "the home place" was the site of the log home. Eventually this farm and log home became the property of the L.A. Black family. Now the log home has a new life -- a beautifully reassembled tribute to nineteenth century rural life in Arkansas County. Part II by Jerry King, DeWitt Fertilizer Company The years had not been kind to the Old Log House. Time and weather had taken its toll.
The restoration of the Miller log house began in the summer of 1985. Although we had no expertise in restoration, I had read how similar log cabins were moved and rebuilt. As the house was dismantled, we would identify and catalog each piece. Old livestock ear tags were used to number each log. The logs were loaded on a low-boy trailer and moved to DeWitt. When we began to rebuild the house, it seemed obvious that we would not have enough useable material, nor would it suit our purpose to build a two-story structure. We would need to leave three tiers out of the original height. We were delighted to find logs that solved our problems. Any one who has been to a modern lumber yard to look for a straight 2x4 can imagine our surprise when we found three straight, useable logs -- fifty-six feet, six inches long! The fact that these cypress logs were hewn with a broad axe represented an amazing feat of pioneer pride and engineering. The modern improvements to the house were next. We added the roof, placed a bay window on the west end, and built a fireplace on the east end. We enclosed the "dog trot" with French doors to provide an impressive entry. Electricity, heating and air and indoor plumbing welcomed the house into modern times. Our effort has been rewarded. The restored Miller Log House stands as a testament to the historical awareness of the late Miss Hattie B. Black. It serves as the office for the business she established, now one of the largest fertilizer companies in our state. The revitalized log house is a proud reminder of our Arkansas County heritage. As in 19th century Crocketts Bluff, the structure serves as a landmark to all those who enter DeWitt from the west. Adding to the history of the house, DeWitt Fertilizer Company represented the State of Arkansas when it received the prestigious 1993 DuPont Environmental Respect Award. Built in the 19th century, restored in the 20th century and proudly poised to enter the 21st century, the Miller Log House has made the best of a second chance.
NOTES:
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©2006
DeWitt Fertilizer Company, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
In 1985 DeWitt
Fertilizer Company needed a new office (see photo of start-up office at right).
While studying options, we began
talking about the old log house on the farm near Crockett's Bluff. As
shown by the on-site pictures, the house was near collapse. Could we
dismantle the structure, move it to DeWitt, and have enough useable material to
build the needed facility? We asked Miss Black, and she gave us permission
to try.