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Tandy Shewmaker

Tandy Shewmaker was not a Miller, but the chain of Millers that moved from Washington County to Daviess County are his descendents. Tandy is my Great Great Great Great Grandfather the same as Adam Miller. Tandy was born April 16, 1792 and died November 25, 1872 - but these dates don't match up with what was written in the Delaware County History book of 1881. I have Included a page on Tandy and the Shewmakers because there has been so much interest in who they are.

Tandy was an Indian born in Green County Kentucky in 1792. He lived to be 94 years old by written accounts, had 4 wives, and somewhere between 15 to 30 children. He was a highly respected man who fought in a Cherokee Indian Regiment in the War of 1812, the war that established America's northern border and ended the Indian's resistance to selling their land. Tandy was  in the Battle of Thames where Shawnee Indian Chief Tecumseh was killed in battle. It is by his regiment and where he was born that we can assume that he was of the Cherokee Tribe. He does not show up on Tribal Rolls, but he left the tribe after the war and moved to Indiana and raised his children educated.

One son, David Henry Harrison Shewmaker,  even became a teacher and principal at Muncie. Professor Shewmaker was highly regarded by his peers and his students. The following information was published about him in 1881.

From:

History Of Delaware County, Indiana
T. B. Helm
1881(Page 232-3)

David Henry Harrison Shewmaker

Born November 16 1840 in Harrison County, Indiana.

His father Tandy Shewmaker was a native of Kentucky, and his mother a Native of Virginia.

His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and belonged to the famous cavalry of Col. Dick Johnson, taking part in the battle of the Thames, in which the noted Indiana Chief was killed. In 1820, he came to Indiana and settled in the wilderness of Harrison County, where he cleared and improved a farm. There he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he died at the advanced age of ninety-four.

The subject of this biography worked on the farm with his father until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he abandoned the peaceful scenes of his rural home to follow the uncertain fortunes of war, and was enrolled as a member of the Third Indian Cavalry, a part of the Army of the Potomac. He was mustered into service with his regiment June 22, 1801, and took part in the battles of the south Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. During the Gettysburg campaign he received a severe gunshot wound, from which he has never recovered.

He did not permit this injury to interfere with his service to the Union, however, and followed Gen. Grant in his victorious campaign against Petersburg and Richmond taking part in all the general engagements, besides numerous skirmishes. His regiment which was a part of Gen. Phil Sheridan's famous Calvary was commanded by Col. George H. Chapman, of Indianapolis, who was afterward elevated to the rank of Brigadier General

Robert Shewmaker

Tandy had a another son named Robert Shewmaker, who had a son named Joshua Preston Shewmaker. Joshua was the father of my Great Grand Mother Sarah Elizabeth Shewmaker, or Grandma Lizzie as we called her.

Joshua Preston Shewmaker and 2nd wife Ella Walls

Joshua Preston Shewmaker is the Grandson of Tandy Shewmaker and the nephew of David H. H. Shewmaker

Joshua Preston first married Mahala Conrad, who was a full blooded Native American, and had one daughter, my Great Grandma Lizzie. Mahala died in her 30's and Joshua Preston remarried to a lady named Ella Walls and had four boys and one girl.

Depending on the bloodline of Robert Shewmaker's wife, Grandma Lizzie  was a full blooded Native American. Lizzie's father Joshua was no less than half  Native American and her mother was full blooded.

Great Grandma Lizzie and her half siblings are all the Great Grandchildren of Tandy Shewmaker.

Tandy raised his family in Harrison County and his Great Granddaughter (my Grandma Lizzie) Sarah Elizabeth Shewmaker was born there. Sarah married William Elwin DeWeese and had one daughter Mahala Evaline DeWeese. Evaline, as she was known,  married Arthur Jason Miller; they are my Grandma and Grampa Miller. (Arthur is the Great Great Grandson of Adam Miller and the 3rd generation of musicians in the Miller family.)

Left to right; Evaline DeWeese Miller, Sarah "Lizzie" Shewmaker, Lizzie's brother John Shewmaker and wife, Lizzie's 2nd husband Bill Ireland. Lizzie is believed to be be full blooded and her daughter Evaline and brother John, are believed to be half Native American. Click the images for a larger view.

This information is the research of many people across the United States and may contain errors. It is presented as the best information to date. Like all of those whose work I have incorporated herein, my research is a work in progress and subject to change without notice. A special thanks to Marlene Ricci of CA, Dwayne Meyer of CA, Jacqueline Bean of TX, Debbie Dick of IN, Milus Miller of IL, Carol Hendricks Miller of IN, Clarence Miller of IN, and Harold Glen Miller of IN. There are numerous others too; many of which are unknown, but their findings and stories are still much appreciated. Much of this would not have been possible with out their information. Also this website includes historical facts gathered from Washington County History, Indiana History, Rowan County and Salisbury North Carolina Historical sources and other US Historical sources.

James A. Miller- Great -Great -Great -Great Grandson of Adam Miller and Hannah Sheets.

©2007 The Millers of Washington County

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Last Updated 06/04/07 04:19:08 PM -0700