William T. Miller, Horse Breeder

This picture came from Sue Miller Stephens of Clinton, Mississippi, who suggested a column about her great-grandfather.

William Thomas Miller was born in Kentucky in February, 1854. Breeding and raising horses was the love of his life. His specialty was raising American Saddle Horses on his farm near Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The American Saddle Horse came from cross-breeding small Narragansett Pacer horses with imported Thoroughbreds. These unnamed horses became desirable because of they were easy to ride and they were good at pulling carriages.

By the beginning of the American Revolution, this breed was called the "American Horse." Cross-breeding improved the American Horse. For example, cross-breeding the it with Morgan horses increased their stamina. During the American Civil War, the Confederate cavalry preferred the American Horse as their mount. The reason is they could endure long marches. They also tolerated the sound of gunfire better than other breeds.

Very early in 1891, Miller wrote to the "Farmers Home Journal." He suggested the formation of an association to promote the American Horse. This idea had been around for a while. The editor agreed the time was right and published several notices announcing the first meeting.

During the meeting on April 7th, 1891, the National Saddle Horse Breeders Association was established. This was the first American horse breed association formed in the United States. William T. Miller was elected one of the first directors.

In 1899 the association changed its name to the American Saddle Horse Breeders Association. The organization Miller helped start still survives. In 1980 the name was changed to the American Saddlebred Horse Association. Altogether, over the years, the association registered more than a quarter of a million horses.

W. T. Miller left Kentucky and by 1900 lived in the Cherokee Nation. He briefly operated a small mill. Around 1907 he started selling real estate for a living. At the same time he continued to raise American Saddle Horses on his ranch outside of Porum.

Many states including Oklahoma started chapters of the American Saddle Horse Association. Around statehood, Miller became vice-president of the Oklahoma chapter. This chapter was incorporated in 1955 as the Oklahoma Saddle Horse Association. It was re-incorporated twenty-two years later in Mounds, Oklahoma as the American Saddle Horse Association of Oklahoma.

W.T. Miller sold land and horses until age and infirmity forced him to retire. He died at the age of 88, about five months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He was laid to rest in Porum at the Coleman Cemetery beside his wife.