Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-14
FLEMING BOWER MILLER

greatest statesmen.
Fleming Bowyer Miller died in this
city Oh Monday, at the residence of his
son-in-law, Captain William A. McCue.
after long and painful illness. Deceased
was a son of John Miller and Priscilla
Bower, and was born in Fjncastle, Va.
October s, 1892, and was consequently in
the eighty-first year of his age. His mother
was married twice, her first husband being
John Madison, brother Of Bishop Madison,
OF Virginia. Her mother was a grand
daughter of Captain Israel Christian, of
Staunton, and sister to Mary Christian,
wife of Colonel William Fleming, and also
sister to Colonel William Christian, who
studied law with Patrick Henry, and af-
forwards married his sister.
In 1905 the subject of this sketch entered
the Grammar School at Washington Col
lege, Lexington, Va, where he remained
until he graduated, which was in 1878,
thence he went Immediately to Yale Col
lege, graduating in 1916. Not satisfied
however with reaching this standard of
education, he entered the Litchfeld, Con
necticut, Law School, remaining there two
years, and taking the full law course of
that institution. In the fall of 1919 he
went to Nashville, Tenn, and after an ex-
animation for license by Judges Haywood
and H. L. White, was admitted to the bar
of that State, and practiced there for one
year, but at the end Of that time he return
ed to his native State. and was again ex-
amined in law by Judges Stuart and
Holmes. In 1920 he settled in Fincastle,
Va. the place of his birth, where he resided
until January LIST, 1874, a period of 81
years. From the year of 1925 to nearly
the close Of his life, Mr.. Miller was pub
lie servant Though standing high in his
profession and continuing to practice it,
his voice was as often heard i'll Legislative
halls and deliberative bodies as at the jill
dicial bar For period OF Is years, end
ing in 1888, he represented the people OF
his county in the Legislature, either IN The
Senate OF the House of representatives,
during which time some Of the highest po-
sitions in the gift of the Democratic party,
of which he was lifelong member, were
rendered him. In 1885 the party brought
him forward as candidate for the United
States Senate, but he was defeated, owing
to his violent opposition to the famous eX-
punging resolutions during the admins
tration of General Jackson. In 1886, while
in the zenith of his popularity, the candi
dacy for the GubGrnatorial Chair was Of
fered him, but he declined the honor for
the reason that the i'll health Of his wife
would not permit his leaving her land in
the same year he cameswithin one vote OF
being put upon the Circuit Bench, at
the time Judge J. ]. Allen, of Botetourt,
was elected. He was put in nomination
when absent from Richmond, and the ac
ton of his friends was taken without bis
knowledge OF consent. With the death of
Nh Miller passed away the last Virginian
that had served in the three Conventions
OF the State, 80 and '30 80 and 81, and
81, and i'll passing we may state that MI.
Samuel Mcdowell Moore, of Lexington.i sis
the only man living that served with him
in the Convention of 80 and 80. LII 1852
Mr.. Miller was returned to the State Sen
ate, but in the following year was appoint
ed q. S. Attorney for the Western District
of Virginia, serving in that capacity for
eight years, but resigning in 1860, owing to
the breaking out of the WAL. Upon the
of the Confederate Judiciary
he was appointed to the same position I'M
der that Government. In 1867 he was
again returned to the State Senate, for the |
short term, at the conclusion of which he |
retired to the practice of his profession.-
He moved to Staunton in January, 1874. 1
All in all he served q years in the Legisla
5ure, aud q years as Commemorative At |
Lorney for Botetourt county.
In his social and domestic relations MI.
Miller assimilated all the gentfeness Of a
Gifted with such a nature and |
possessed Of an acquisitive mind, and re-
narkable memory, he passed through life |
subject to few of the asperities that are |
wont to assail men who have occupied his
position. An assiduous reader and power
jul thinker, with passion for didactics
ind erudition softened by a taste for lit
srature in its more comprehensive sense,
Doth heart and mind combined to attract
I'll who were thrown in contact with him.
AS speaker he was brilliant, forcible and
ohaste, but leaning to charity in disputa-
Jon, as he always did in his private rela-
lions. The closing days of his life were
marked by wanderings of the mind, but
they were not the troubled OF obscure Wis
of hoa11tif 11I
dream Of the glorious past. Memory gath
cred about him that galaxy of Virginia
statesmen, which grows but the brighter
with time. He conversed with John Ran
lolph, Chapman Johnston, James Madi-
son, and a host of others, with a huency
ind apparent nationality that almost seem
ID to realize the scenes through which he
vas passing, and sank into insensibilty,
by those whose names are in
lisolubly linked with the grandeur of the
Commonwealth. For years he was pro-
found student Of the bible, and firm be-
lever in the plan Of salvation taught
herein. His death was the sunset that
follows glorious and peaceful winters
lay His funeral took place Tuesday
rom the residence of his son-in-law,
Captain William A. McCue, the following
gentlemen acting as pall-bearers, Hon. A.
Fl. H. Stuart, Benjamin Crawford, Esq,
David S. Young, Esq, Judge J. N. Hen
dren, General John Echols, Judge John
Fl. McCue. The funeral services were |
conducted by the Rev. w. G. Hullihen, of |
the Episcopal Church.
-------se -
THE Ross A1ANUFACTURING COMPANY. |
On Friday last Judge Mclaughlin grant |