When Mr. Samuel Withers first came to Miller Township, only a few settlers were here — Webb James Fullilove, Samuel Lefever, John M. Turner, Cyrus Ritchie, Major Asa James, Robert Smarr, Richard Gentry, and later Stephen Glascock.
Mr. Ritchie built a woolen mill and also a grist mill. After the railroad was built in 1859, toward the west, this settlement became a little village with two blacksmith shops, stores, a shipping point for livestock, and a telephone exchange with Mrs. Sallie Hamilton in charge. Dr. C. E. Vandiver was the physician. The fine old homes of the first settlers are still in use, and as substantial as when built. Most of them are occupied by descendants of the original owners.
In 1959, after one hundred years of use, the railroad track was removed. The shops and stores are closed, and you just pass through on the way to the concrete highways.
Providence Missionary Baptist Church was organized in 1849. The present pastor is the Rev. N. S. Dunham.
My parents Merle and Marjorie Coleman joined Providence Baptist Church in 1952. My dad became a deacon in 1954. Both of my parents were Sunday school teachers for many many years. All 6 of us children were baptized there. My parents attended and served the Lord in that church until they passed away. The original church was struck by lightning and burned down. Im not exactly sure what year that happened. A new church was built. My dad had a hand in doing much of the work on it. I have such fond memories of the original church. As a youngster I loved attending vacation Bible school there for 2 weeks every summer. Pastor Dunham was there in the 50’s and maybe early 60’s.
There have been various pastors since. I moved to Maryland in 1965 to work. I always attended church there with my parents when I would get back to Missouri. Both of their funeral services were at the new church.