The Sage Of Pigeon Roost ~ Harvey Miller

I have heard about the "Pigeon Roost News" all my life.

I also saw an original copy while in the Historical Society office in Bakersville, N.C. I happened upon a write up about Harvey's children. He had two daughters and a son. On a whim, I searched for the daughter, and I came up with a lady's name. I found a phone number and called the lady. Turns out it was really her, daughter of THE Harvey Miller.

Journalist and writer of the Pigeon Roost News.

The Pigeon Roost Sage.

I was so excited! She talked about her childhood and her wonderful memories of the man. Harvey wrote about what he knew, and he sure knew the people of Pigeon Roost!
He wrote of the simple things, the things that mattered and all about the lives of those around him.

Guess what?? We are related to Harvey, by marriage! Yep, can you believe that one? He ALSO referred to "Uncle" John Henry and "Aunt" Nora, just as we do, because Nora was his AUNT, too. Nora Barnett Arrowood's sister, Lucinda "Cinda" Barnett, was Harvey's mom. She was six years older than Aunt Nora.



Harvey wrote many articles about Reverend John Henry and they are priceless glimpes into the life that the people of Pigeon Roost led. John Henry was a beekeeper from a long list of beekeepers. He still had the old bee hive that belonged to his mother, Sarah Ellen Winters Arrowood Miller. Harvey wrote about her, too. She was my 2nd Great grandmother!

Spencer Barnett and Hannah Honeycutt were the parents of Nora and Lucinda "Cinda" Barnett . There are several Barnett's buried in the Barnett/Sinking Creek Cemetery in Tennessee. They had ten children in all. Lucinda "Cinda" Barnett, born November 13, 1869, married David Miller. Cinda Barnett and David Miller had at least five children and one of those was Harvey James Miller.

Harvey's sweet daughter was just 'tickled pink' to find out that I was an Arrowood. She was so nice to me on the phone and before the phone conversation was over, we were tight cousins.. Big Smile!

She sent me a booklet that she had compiled from her Dad's writings through the years. I was over the moon to get this! The writings offer such a wonderful glimpse into life on Pigeon's Roost.

Wonderful documentation of our family's life up in the mountains, with some humor thrown in.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the man behind it all, The Pigeon Roost Sage.

Harvey James Miller

Thanks, Harvey. Rest in peace ~ Jul. 10, 1909 ~ Dec. 27, 1997

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Excerpts taken from the writings of Harvey J. Miller, dated 4/12/62.

Bears, once plentiful and feared by man and beast in Pigeon Roost area, are seldom seen now. But such places as Bear Wallow, Bear Cove and Bear Knob are reminders of the early days when the area was a howling wilderness and bears roamed the wilds.
In pioneer days, the bear population was so numerous, the animals prowled among the settlers in search for food. Oftentimes they tore up the beehives to get honey, and they raided the streams for fish. They also made it hard for the moonshiners. They raided for mash and whiskey, and upset the barrels and vessels used around the distilling plant. The animals were so destructive and so plentiful that the settler's often had to get out their guns and go in search for them.
Early settler's trapped bear for food and clothing. The meat was used for food, and the hides for clothing, bed covering and carpets for the homesteads.
Names given certain areas by the early settlers, because of the bears, have been retained through the years.

John Arrowood, great-grandfather of the Rev. John Henry Arwood, now nearing 90 years old, came over from England. He settled his family on the upper reaches of Pigeon Roost Creek. Due to the number of bear wallowing in the mud where he drove his stakes for a homestead, he called the place Bear Wallow. For years, bears continued to wallow in the mud near the old homesite.

The Rev. Arwood now resides in Spruce Pine, but when he lived here a few years ago, he told us his ancestor planted and grew an orchard at his Bear Wallow farm. He said when the trees began to bear, the bears would climb the trees for fruit. The older bears would shake the trees so that the cubs on the ground could have some.

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The last corn mill on Pigeon Roost that was pulled by a water wheel was owned and operated by the late Rev. and Mrs. John H. Arrowood, located in the upper section. He had one of the small water wheels that was called the 'undershot' kind. He had to always catch water in the mill race to get enough water to keep the wheel rolling. This mill wheel was hooked to a dynamo machine by Arrowood's son, R.H., and they had the first electric lights on Pigeon Roost, as well as the first electric radio.

Excerpt taken from the writings of Harvey J. Miller, dated 3/16/72.

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