​Not only was Alex and his wife Audrey Castille Miller lifelong residents of the Sunset, LA area but his father, Charles D. Miller and wife Alice Bernard, as well as was his paternal grandparents Dosite “Zick” Miller and Olivia Faul. All were residents of St. Landry Parish.
 
When you follow Alex’s grandfather’s Dosite Miller’s family line, then you find that he is the descendant of George Miller, Sr., of the United Kingdom, and his wife Catherine Ritter, of Frederic, MD.  On the other hand, if you follow his grandmother Olivia Faul’s (Fall) ancestry you find that she is a descendant of Jacob Miller and Anne Marie Thaison/Theigen of Germany.  Therefore Alex is a descendant of two early Louisiana Miller settlers.
 
Alex’s great-great grandparents are John Alexandre Alexon Miller (1853-1899) and wife Alicia Leger (1856-1938).  They were 2nd cousins. Their common ancestry is Jean “Valois” Savoye and his wife Marguerite Catherine Boutin.
 
Alexandre “Alex” Miller’s obituary follows.
 
SUNSET - Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in Evangeline Memorial Gardens Chapel in Carencro for Alexandre "Pop" Miller, age 80, who passed away Sunday, November 18, 2018 at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette.
 
Interment will be in Evangeline Memorial Gardens in Carencro. The Rev. Gary Schexnayder will officiate at the services.
 
Mr. Miller was a native and lifelong resident of Sunset. He was a parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. He was a farmer for most of his life who especially enjoyed growing vegetable. A veteran of the military, Mr. Miller proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Sunset.
 
Survivors include his devoted wife of over fifty-four years, Audrey Miller; two sons, Patrick Miller, Sr. and his wife, Cheryl, and Brian Miller and his wife, Sheila; two daughters, Andrea Carlson and her husband, Brent, and Melanie Morgan and her husband, Monty; one brother, Joseph Miller; twelve grandchildren, D.J. Kimble and his wife, Angelle, Devan Miller and his wife, Nancy, Alexis Morgan, Katelyn Morgan, Madison Morgan, Patrick Miller, Jr., Gretchen Carlson, Vivian Carlson, Dutch Carlson, Kristen Sylvester, Jennifer Dunbar and her husband, Jonathan, and Heather Gregory; and fourteen great grandchildren.
 
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Miller and the former Alice Bernard; and four sisters, Leverta Prejean, Emma Miller, Mildred Willingham and Anna Belle Miller.
 
A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.
 
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Tuesday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday.
 
Pallbearers will be Patrick Miller, Sr., Brian Miller, Brent Carlson, Monty Morgan, Joseph D. Miller and Devan Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Miller, Jr. and Dutch Carlson.
 

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Other related blogs: Three Early Louisiana Miller Settlers
Zick Miller - Two Hands On A Plow
Jack Miller's Food Products Celebrate 75 Years

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Jacob, George and William Miller families were early settlers in southwest Louisiana. Jacob Miller, and wife Anne Marie Thaison, claimed to be “Roman Catholic and Apostolic, and native of Germany.” George Miller, and wife Catherine Ritter, probably born in Maryland, was from London and reared at Hanover, Germany. William or Guilliam Miller, and wife Anne Kevin or Caven of Ireland, was born in Scotland.
 
Both Jacob and George Miller lived near Grand Coteau after the 1750’s. William did not live in LA but, his wife and family did. William died in Pensacola, FL in 1771 and his wife died in St. Martin, LA. Two of the three known daughters, both Marguerite and Elizabeth Genevieve Miller, married and lived in St. Martin and St. Landry parishes, respectively. Marguerite married Pierre Guidry in 1781 and they had 12 children. Elizabeth married Robert Burleigh, Jr. before 1781 and they had seven children.
 
Some of the William Miller descendants married into Jacob and George Miller families. Pierre Richard, a William Miller descendant, married Eva Colligan in 1865. Eva was a descendant of both Jacob and George Miller families. Therefore, their six children are descendants from the three Miller southwest Louisiana families.
 
Many in southwest Louisiana may know of, or their parents know of, some names from the Jacob Miller family. The Chataignier Miller families included Antoine Miller and Augustine Manuel’s descendants, Antoine Salomon (sons Camille, Faustin and Salomon), Emile (sons J. Bte. “Gus” and Cleophas) Martel (sons Aliday, Martel, Jr., and Gilbert Lee) Homer (son Mayo Homer, daughter Felonise & husband Onest Sonnier), and Jean Pierre (son Octave and his son Malcolm Lionel).
 
Farther south and west in Cameron parish, Antoine’s brother and Civil War Veteran, Pierre Valcour Miller settled. From that family, the well known cattleman Eugene Miller whose son Laurent was a veterinarian and son Martin O. Miller a well know New Orleans physician and was Governor Earl Long’s personal physician. Pierre V. Miller’s son P.V. Miller, Jr.’s son Minos Drosin Miller, Sr. was an attorney who practiced in Lake Charles and Vinton. He was politically well connected. Minos’ son M.D. Miller, Jr. was a WW II pilot, shot down on a mission, presumed dead, and buried at sea. After the U.S. victory, he was freed from a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He practiced law, followed by his election as Judge of the 31st Judicial District Court of Louisiana (Jennings).
 
With so many Miller descendants, it can become overwhelming when evaluating ones family history. You may ask if "So and So" is your relative? The answer requires hours of research. Examples include Miller families in Evangeline parish. The Bonnes Nouvelles recently published “Jack Miller's Food Products Celebrates 75 Years” (June 2016) and “Zick Miller Family - Two Hands to the Plow” (September 2003). The Ville Platte Gazette listed J. Bte. Gus Miller as the Police Jury President (July 1976) and the Daily World (April 1987) printed, “Memories of Miller’s Lake revived”. Roderick Luke Miller’s obituary in the Daily World, January 2005) recounted Cleophas’ son, Rod, and his success as a family man, an attorney, and the first Republican elected to the House of Representatives from Lafayette Parish. Not all of your questions will be answered about the Miller stories published, but let us explore some of the family details mentioned about those families.
 
Dosite “Zick” Miller married Olivia Faul (also Fall) in 1901. One of the 12 children is Jacque Dosite “Jack” Miller who married Joyce Chapman in 1937. Dosite (Do za’ ta) is a descendant of George Miller, Sr. (London) and Catherine Ritter (Germany) both born in the mid 1750s. Olivia’s 2nd great grandparents are John Faul and M. Therese Miller married in 1802. M. Therese Miller is the daughter of Jacob Miller and Anne M. Thaison. Thus, all of Zick and Olivia’s descendants are George and Jacob Miller descendants. That makes “Gus” Miller, the successful Miller Lake advocate, and Jack Miller, of Jacks’ BBQ, 3rd cousins twice removed.
 
Additionally, Olivia Faul is related to Jacob Miller family via her 3rd great grandmother, Marie Barbe Miller, daughter of Jacob. Marie Barbe Frozard, daughter of M. Barbe Miller and wife of Toussaint Quebedeau, is the father of Marie Catherine Quebodeau who married Jean George Fall, great grandfather of Olivia.
 
Dosite “Zick” Miller is 1st cousin three times removed with Marie Magdelaine Boutin, wife of Jean Miller, son of Jacob. This relationship is via his great grandmother Sophie Andrus who married George Miller, Jr. Sophie is the granddaughter of Marguerite M. Boutin, daughter of Paul Boutin, Jr. and the father of Marie Magdelaine Boutin. Gus Miller’s great grandparents are Jean Miller and M. Magdelaine Boutin. Accordingly, Antoine Miller is 2nd cousin twice removed with Dosite “Zick” Miller.
 
Zick and Olivia’s grandson, Alexandre “Alex” Miller married Audrey Castile in 1964. As previously established, Alex is a descendent of both George and Jacob Miller. Audrey’s grandfather Onezime Castille married Laura Guidry, daughter of Moise Guidry and Marie Julia Miller. Julia is the great granddaughter of Charles Miller, Sr. and Anastasie Andrus. Charles is the son of George Miller, Sr. and Catherine Ritter. Thus Audrey Castille is the 5th great granddaughter of George Miller, Sr. and Catherine Ritter. Audrey’s husband is the 4th great grandson of George Miller, Sr. and Catherine Ritter.
 
Audrey Castille is also a descendant of the Jacob Miller via her maternal grandparents, Moise Savoy and Eliza Leger. Eliza’s grandparents are Honore Meche and Josephine Meche, the daughter of David Meche and Marie Rose Frozard. Marie R. Frozard is the daughter of Joseph Frozard and Marie Barbie Miller, the daughter of Jacob Miller and Anna M. Thaison. Accordingly, Audrey Castille is the 5th great granddaughter of Jacob Miller and Anna M. Thaison.

In summary it appears that some family trees have few branches. Regardless of the where one was born, cousins did marry cousins. Many, like my parents, were simply unaware of the family relationships. The automobile did not play a significant role in separating one major family from another until the 20th century. Moreover, cousins who did marry are separated by several generations. Living in an agrarian society until the early 1900s, families with different names were neighbors and in those early years, few traveled away from home. Whether you are Louisiana born or not, if your last name and your spouse’s last name is the same as an early settler, you probably married a distant cousin.

by Jim Miller, Bonnes Nouvelles, September 26, 2003

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In this world of light speed lifestyles I thought it would be nice to reminisce about a time and era as well as a family who moved at a slower pace and enjoyed life for the mere sake of living. We will be looking at the Dosite “Zick” Miller family as well as the genealogy of both Zick and his wife Oliva. The Zick Miller Family like many families of the area begas as immigrants. Zick’s forebearers can be traced to four brothers who emigrated from Germany during the 1800’s with the last name Mueller. Alexon Miller and Alicia Leger. Zick married Miss Oliva Faul her parents were Phillip Valmon Faul and Eva Boudreaux. Both families had twelve children each.
 
These rather large families by today’s standards were necessary for help on the farm. Zick and Oliva Miller made their home in Sunset, where they had a farm and a small store. Oliva spoke only French and was known as Maw Maw Petite while Zick spoke both English and French. They had an Acadian style home with a picket fence reminiscent of those depicted in drawings by Floyd Sonnier. Like most families of this time they grew everything they could and only bought the absolute necessities. Joyce Miller Coreil of Ville Platte, granddaughter of Zick and Oliva, and daughter of Jack and Joyce Miller, remembers spending a couple of weeks every summer out at the old Miller home place in Sunset. She said, “I can remember how they had all kinds of fruit trees such as: figs, mulberry, pomegranates, etc. They would grow almost everything including watermelons, cantaloupes, and peanuts. I remember a large assortment of vegetables. Anything that could be grown, was. They also had plenty of livestock such as: cows, chickens, ducks, horses and pigs.”
 
“I remember Maw Maw had a long table and when the table was set there were always three kinds of meats and all the fruits and vegetables you could eat. A tradition at that time was that the men ate first while the women served them then the women would eat and then finally the children. Also the children were to remain and play outside while the adults ate. Maw Maw for a long time cooked on a wood fire stove and there was no electric lights, only lanterns. Also there was no indoor bathroom. Slowley they added electricity and other new amenities but they were an old fashioned people and like life simple.” She did not recall the store as clearly as her brother Kermit Miller who was told about it by his dad Jack Miller. “Remember at the time there were no regular grocery delivery trucks to Daddy (Jack) said that “drummers,” people who would carry loads of everything from flour to pots and pans on makeshift backpacks, would walk from one country store to the next selling there wears. Often these ‘traveling salesman’ would board with the family overnight.” Many hours were spent by Oliva and her daughters sewing whether it was making clothes, mending or making quilts. They would pass away hours rocking and sewing. Joyce said, “I can remember going up into the attic and seeing garlic cloves drying and potatoes and preserves being stored. On Sunday the family would go to mass in Grand Coteau. On Sundays and Holidays we would have big dinners at Maw Maw and Paw Paw’s houlse. All of the aunts, uncles, and cousins would come over for dinner.
 
The house was heated only by the fireplace. They made their own mattresses out of moss and Maw Maw was known for home remedies such as mustard plasters. Going to Maw Maw and Paw Paws’ house was like taking a trip back to yesteryear. One final memory that is vivid is how paw Paw (Zick) was laid out in the kitchen for his wake.” Here is certainly a glimplse into a world that had passed away, though times were harder, life was simpler. On Hwy 93 at Zick Miller Rd. south of Sunset Zicks’ mercantile store and home can still be seen today.
 
This family is not the only example of a country farming family, it is merely one out of many who lived deliberately. These families living in the rural areas of St. Landry Parish in the early twentieth century lived close to the land. Theirs was a world not of the surplus waste which overwhelms us today, but rather a simple life carved out by their own hands from the plentiful land they tended. Eventually Zick’s daughters Lillian and Louise along with their brother Alexis “Boo-key” sspent the remainder of his days in a local nursing home until his death.
 
Genealogy of Dosite “Zick” Miller
Alexon and Alicia L. Millers children were:
Dosite’ “Zick” Miller
Alexon “Beb” Miller married to Eva Lavergne. They had three children.
Theogen “Tage” Miller married to Elzora Lavergne. They had five children.
Elena “NaNa” M. Cetrephon. They had two daughters.
Elia “Ya” M. Barton had no children.
Clarice Marie M. married Philogen Savoy.
Artemese Miller never married.
Cellizza M. married Enos Burleigh.
There were two more children who died young or at birth.
 
Parents and sibling of Oliva Faul Miller
Philip Valmon Faul and Eva B. Fauls’ children were:
Arcard Faul married Melissa Vidrine.
Ovile Faul married Mr. Palnay Meche.
Louis Faul married Mabel M.
Tanis Faul married Adel Venable.
Oliva Faul married Dosite’ “Zick” Miller
Ammont Faul married Will Venable.
Louise Faul married Laynore Kaddy.
Azola Faul married Saul Richard.
Zuima Faul married Marius Venable.
Agnes Faul married Jules Doucet.
Arvina Faul married Dosilite Venable.
Zick and Oliva in turn had twelve children they were:
Charles Miller married Emma Vesseur who died then he married Alice Bernard [with whom] he had a total of six children: Leeverta, Emma, Mildred, Alex, J.D. “Joe,” and Anna Bellee.
Lillian Miller
Rose M. Doucet.
Odile M. married Gaston Dugas.
Alicia Miller.
Jack Dosite Miller married to Joyce Helen Chapman together they had four children: Joyce, Jackie, Kermit, and Oliva.
Alexis “Boo-key” Miller
Simon Miller
Simon Miller
Louise Miller
Eva M. married to Rene Thibodeaux together they had three children: Ruby, Philip, and Raymond.
Phillip Miller married to ? together they had three children: Nolan, Robert, and AV.
Theresa M. married to Lewis Marks together they had three children: James, Pauline, and Allen.
 
Simon Millers’ Clock Ship
Zick and Oliva Miller’s fourth oldest son Simon took over the store after his dad. Simon in youth had been crippled by what we can gather must have been polio. He was permanently hunched over and could not stand upright. Zick built a special ledge on the family’s porch that Simon could lean against and rest. It was here Simon began tinkering with watches and other mechanical items. Over the years Simon taught himself to fix watches, clocks, sewing machines, etc. Though life had thrown him a curve he overcame it and because a well established and much sought after clock and sewing machine repairman. People from all around the area brought Simon things to work on. Monette Miller granddaughter of Jack Miller recounted, “I remember walking in his store and there were clocks everywhere and he always gave us kids Kit Kat and a Coke in a glass bottle while the clocks were constantly chiming.” The memory always brings a simile to her face. Simon was also known for his great sense of humor. His passing marked an era, both for the family and the community.

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