Early Life
Miller was born in Van Buren, Arkansas but moved with his parents to Franklin, Texas at one year of age. Miller's father, Jacob, was born in Pennsylvania in 1801, was a stonemason, and helped build the first capitol building in Austin, Texas. Miller's mother, Cynthia Basham, was born in Tennessee in 1827. Just a few years after the move both of Miller's parents died and he was sent to Evant to live with his grandparents. At the age of eight, Miller was again orphaned after his grandparents were found murdered in their home. Miller was arrested but was not prosecuted for the crime.
His sister, Georgia and her husband, John Thomas Coop, accepted him onto their farm at Plum Creek near Gatesville. The 1880 census records him as being nineteen years old, living in Coryell County, Texas with his siblings and widowed mother. On July 30, 1884, Miller approached his brother-in-law, with whom he had an argument, while he was sleeping on his porch. Miller shot him in the head. Miller was arrested for the murder which was performed with a shotgun. Miller was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, however, the conviction was overturned on a technicality.
After leaving the Coop farm, Miller became a hired hand on the McCulloch County ranch of John Wesley Hardin's cousin Emanuel "Mannen" Clements. Clements was killed by Ballinger City Marshal Joe Townsend on March 29, 1887, during Miller's time of employment at his ranch. Townsend would be later ambushed by an assailant wielding a shotgun, Miller's signature style. Townsend would survive but lose his arm to amputation.
Read more about this topic: Jim Miller (outlaw)
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