The fourth owner of the Dobbin’s House has an unique story of family history that ties multiple events together. The family that bought the house and the property from the bank of Gettysburg was that of the Miller family. General Thomas Craig Miller and his wife Margaret McGinley obtained the house in 1825, where their last two children would be born in the house prior to 1830. Both Thomas and Margaret were originally from Fairfield, Pennsylvania, and moved closer to the borough of Gettysburg.
General Thomas Craig Miller (1789-1860) was a veteran prior to obtaining the Dobbin’s House. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. At this moment, I’m unaware of what battles or areas that General Miller fought at. That will be something for a later segment.
Their first son, William Henry Miller (1820-1877) married Jane K. McDowell (1823-1896), and they had one child together. Their daughter, Mary Ann Miller (1858-1951) married Herman Otto Ludden, Jr. (1847-1941) They would have ten children together.
William’s brother, James McGinley Miller (1822-1904) married Hettie Lusk Weakley (1825-1915) would have nine children. The interesting thing about James is that there is a picture of him with his younger brother Captain Thomas Craig Miller III. Here is that picture below that was taken around 1854:
Thomas Craig Miller III is on the left, while his older brother James is on the right from this 1854 picture. Thomas would have been 27 years old, and James would have been 32 years old.