This family has it's roots in Loudon Co., TN in the marriage of Eugene V. Miller's parents in Loudon Co. Elbert Howard Miller, b. 1876 in Roane Co., TN married Arlenie Elizabeth Humphrey, b. 1875 in Roane Co., TN on 18 April 1895 as recorded in the Loudon Co. records. To this family were born 6 children, none apparently in Loudon Co. Four of the children reached adulthood.
Elbert Miller family, ca. 1905
Elbert was a coal miner; his fifth child, Eugene (Gene) Victor Miller was born on 28 May 1907/08 in Crawford, Overton Co., TN where Elbert worked in the mines. Gene was named after Eugene Victor Debs, a prominent socialist of that day. His parents were socialists. Elbert died in civil unrest associated with the mines in southern Kentucky in 1911. Due to his unsettled childhood, Gene completed only through the 8th grade in school, being raised as a young boy first by his maternal grandparents, James Lewis and Amanda Humphrey of Loudon Co., then the Walter Luttrell family on a farm in southwest Loudon Co. The Luttrell's farm was located on or adjacent to the property that is now Fenders United Methodist Church and Fenders Cemetery. The Luttrell school in the area is named after the Luttrell family. Later, as a teenager, Gene went to live with his older brother in Kentucky, and worked there as a coal miner until he almost lost his leg in a mining accident. After he recuperated from his leg injury, he became a hobo for about a year in 1929. He eventually settled down and went to Chattanooga where he worked at odd jobs, which included driving a cab. Being ever inquisitive, Gene taught himself math, design principles, basic algebra, and eventually obtained the skills to became a journeyman welder and pipefitter in the late 1930's. He worked on many large construction projects over the next 45 plus years in many areas on the United States. He received a commendation for his participation in construction projects involved in the Manhattan Project in WWII. He was involved with the construction of several steam power plants and nuclear plants in the TVA system, K29 in Oak Ridge, working last (from 1975 on) as steamfitter-welder at the Watts Bar nuclear power plant. He finally retired in August 1984 at the age of 77. He was a fifty year member of the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada. Gene lived out his retirement years in Sweetwater, Monroe Co., TN where he died on 9 Aug 1996 and is buried next to his first wife in Memorial Gardens in Loudon Co.
Deanie & Eugene Miller, ca. 1965
On 2 November 1933, Gene married Maggie Modean (Deanie) Isbell in Roane Co., TN. Deanie, b. 1 November 1903/04 in Monroe Co., TN, daughter of Francis Marion Isbell and Ella Anne Roberts, both of Monroe Co., TN. She grew up in Sweetwater where she worked in early adult life in the hosiery mill. Gene met Deanie through his maternal grandparent's family in the early 1930's. After they married, Gene continued his education with the help of correspondence school. They had two children: 1) Barbara Anne, born 27 September 1934, in Loudon Co., TN and 2) Linda June, born 18 January 1939 in Chattanooga, TN. The family moved around a lot in the late 1930's and during WWII, following the available work. At the close of WWII, the family returned to Loudon in Loudon Co., TN where the children grew up, married, and moved away.
Eugene V. Miller family
Front Row: Eugene (Gene) & Deanie Miller
Middle Row: Barbara (Bobbie) and Linda Miller
Back Row: Gene's older sister, Ruby Miller
ca. 1944
After both daughters graduated from Loudon High School, Barbara attended Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN, for two years; Linda attended Univ. of Tennessee in Knoxville, graduating with a B.A. degree in English. Barbara married Garland Lewis Floyd of Loudon Co. on 27 November 1955 in Rossville, GA. They had two children, Garland Lewis II, and Amy Jeanine, both born in Loudon, Loudon Co., TN. Garland Sr. was a welder and pipe fitter like his father-in-law. In the early 1960's, Barbara's family moved away to New Jersey, where the residual of the family lives today. Barbara and Garland Sr. were divorced in 1978; he died in 1984. Linda married Bennett (Ben) Norton Benson of Knoxville, TN, a medical student on 23 December 1962 in Loudon, TN. Linda worked as a librarian for one year until her husband finished school. After graduating from medical school, Dr. and Mrs. Benson spent 8 years as a U.S. Air Force family before settling in Ft. Worth, TX where Dr. Benson was an anesthesiologist. He retired from practice in 1997. Linda and Ben had three children, Thomas Eugene and Charles Dean, both born in San Antonio, TX, and Loreley Anne who was born in Frankfort, Germany. The various branches of the Benson family reside in the Ft. Worth and Dallas, TX area.
On 5 October 1980, Deanie died in Loudon. She was buried in Memorial Gardens in Loudon Co. Shortly after her death, Gene became very ill, requiring coronary bypass surgery in January 1981. This worked well, and he returned to work in late 1981. On 14 May 1981, Eugene married a long time friend and neighbor, Mrs. Dorothy M. Dutton of Loudon, widow of Frank Dutton. Dorothy was a long time employee of the Loudon Co. Hospital as a PBX operator. In late1982, they moved from Loudon to Sweetwater to be closer to Gene's work. Dorothy still lives in Sweetwater in Monroe Co. where she and Gene moved in 1982. Dorothy still maintains reasonable health, and travels with her relatives several times a year.
Copyright © 2001 by Ben N. Benson, M.D.
