Ida Bradshaw Miller

The Bradshaw Clan

Forest Miller - - Ida Bradshaw Miller
Thomas Denver Edwin Virginia

from left to right. Sarah Frances Haycraft, Hannah Lane Haycraft, Kristen Paige Bruner, Lindsay Ellen Bruner
Nancy Miller Haycraft - Charlie Thomas Miller - Forest and Ida Bradshaw Miller

Merry Christmas to all of my relatives! Here is our picture Christmas card this year.
Regards, Nancy Miller Haycraft

Postcard from the Alexander Hotel where Virginia Miller (now Davis) managed the cafe before she left Grayson County.

A great family photo - Easter, 2008. L to R Hanna Haycraft, Lindsay Bruner, Jeremy Sebastan, Kristen Bruner, Sarah Haycraft, Erick Haycraft and Nancy Miller Haycraft. Jeremy is Kristen's boy friend

My grandma, Virginia Miller Davis has shared several short stories and memories about Grandma Kittie. Below are a few of them.

After many years of wearing glasses, Kittie regained her normal eyesight late in life. Often my grandma would catch her reading without her glasses and remind her to put them on. So Kittie would always pull the frames out of her pocket and put them on and continue reading. She had removed each lens from the frame.

Kittie would usually spend time living at each of her children's homes during the year. The length of time she would stay was dependent on when someone at the particular house would "ruffle her feathers". When ruffled, she would gather up her full length apron and place her possessions into the folds and take off for the next house. Depending on the path she took when leaving, the family would call ahead to the next house and tell them to watch for her.

Almost every time Kittie visited the Millers, she would start clearing her throat and acting like she was getting a cold. When this happened, Forest would open up the wardrobe and take out his stash of "Government Whiskey" and offer her some. She would always accept the offer, and immediately her throat would feel better.

One evening when My grandmother and her brother were staying with Kittie, the saw a mysterious "white spot" moving along the fence row. Edwin bravely picked up a rock and crept up on the spot and quickly dropped the rock on it. Unfortunately, the spot turned out to be a skunk, and Edwin got a pretty rude surprise. When he ran back up to the house, Kittie would not let him in and made him stay outside on the porch while she got a washtub, lye soap, and water for him to bath. To make matters worse for Edwin, Kittie did not have any spare cloths for him and he had to spend the night and go home the next morning in one of her old nightdresses.

Often times, Edwin would sneak into Kitties house and hide under her kitchen table and wait for her to come into the room. When she did, he would reach out and grab her ankle while growling and snarling ..scaring her to death, and then take off running for home before she could catch him.

When the creek was up, Edwin would many times offer to help Kittie cross it. Usually when he would get to the middle, he would start jumping up and down .. and Kittie would start panicking and telling him "I'm going to whip you when we get across." As soon as he would get to the opposite bank, he would drop Kittie and start running.

Kittie & kids - Ida - Ida,Forrest,Thomas,Denver - Miller 50th - Thomas - VirginiaAnn'44 - Virginia1938

Now Thomas' children with 1st wife, Jewell Fentress were: Helen Kathleen (I understand she is now deceased), William David (Billy), Charles Ferdinand (Charlie or now Chuck), Jewell Lavon, and Victoria Jean (Vickie). Denver married Virgie May Spurrier (Sister of uncle Charlie) and their children are Ida Sue, Charles Silas (Buck) {deceased}, and Barbara Jean (Bobbi).

Edwin married first, Alta May Robinson and they had a son Dennis Edwin, He married second Belma and they had a son Barry Neal.

A picture of Tom, (the tallest), Chuck (Charles Miller, Dad's 3rd child with Jewell Fentress his first wife) and Me (Mike Miller)

I couldnt find any recent pictures of the whole family, but I did find one of my 2 daughters with husband and boyfriend, and one bad picture of me and Donna.

A picture of Me and my granddaughter the only child of Korri and Dan Perry.....Kaelyn Arlen Leigh Perry is the name.

A picture of Kaelyn at the Christmas tree. Notice the clip on earring she put on is actually stuffed in her ear. At two years old they already don't want any help. lol

Hello, I am Nancy Miller Haycraft. 4th child of Thomas and Vivian Miller. I have a few pictures for you. I will try to get more information from my brother for the site as well.
The first picture is of Forest and Ida Bradshaw Miller, I am unsure of the date.
The second is Thomas some time in the 70's I think.
The third is Thomas late 1964 or early 1965.
The foruth is all of us around 1960. Tomas Anthony, Thomas holding Arthur Delbert, Nancy, Vivian holding Brenda, Michael Forest, and Carol.
The fifth is a picture of the children late 1964 or early 1965. Left to right are Brenda, Arthur, Nancy, Mike, Tom, and Carol holding Alice.
Thanks
Nancy

Scott Davis visits Grayson County

A story of Edwin, the towel and “Uncle Joe” (As told by Scott Davis - Great Grandson of Forest and Ida Bradshaw Miller)

Here is a great story my Grandmother Virginia Miller Davis has shared with me many times. When she was small and lived at home, everyone always came into the house and washed before sitting at the table for meals. Grandma remembers her brother Edwin, would try to “skip” this ritual as often as possible. Once her mother Ida realized Edwin was shirking his hand-washing, she would always “check the towel” to make sure it was soiled and had indeed been used. Virginia caught on to this ritual at a young age and often would “check the towel” for her mother Ida … and often Edwin would be caught not having washed properly (shame on him).

Well, this was all pretty innocent until that summer when “Uncle Joe” came to help Forest and the family on the farm. Joe was a kindly black man that helped the family on the farm faithfully every year. Well, when Uncle Joe came into the house for the noon meal … my grandma of course “checked the towel” to make sure it was dirty after he washed and reported that his hands must still be dirty because the towel was still white. Ida (immediately appalled) yelled for Virginia to be quiet. Well, Uncle Joe kindly told Ida not to worry, and he took Virginia to the washbowl and towel and showed her that when he washed, the color of his skin was still black because that was the way God had made him.

When the meal was ready, "Uncle Joe" picked up his plate of food and started to walk outside to eat by himself. Forest asked why he was going outside to eat … and Uncle Joe said he did not want to interrupt the family meal. Forest looked at him and said: “If are going to work by my side in the fields all day, you will eat by my side when the meal is served”. Uncle Joe ate at my families table for every meal after that… very progressive thinking for the 1920’s.

"Uncle Joe" helped Forest on the farm for many seasons, and Forest was the only white man at his funeral when he died. Forest also was a pallbearer at Joe’s funeral service.

Thank you “Uncle Joe” for the lesson you taught all of us those many years ago.