Completed in 1901 for attorney and statesman James Francis Miller and Julia Amanda Turner Batchelor Miller, this Greek Revival residence known as Walnut Ridge reflects the stature of a family rooted in Texas civic life. The design is attributed to noted architect J. Riely Gordon and presents a dignified classical composition that announced the owner’s prominence in law, banking, ranching, and public service. The site was purchased in 1868, and the finished house crowned decades of local leadership.
People and context
James Francis Miller was born August 1, 1832, in Tennessee, and moved to Texas with his father in 1845, settling near Hopkinsville by Waelder. He began practicing law in Gonzales in 1857. He married Almira Matthews in 1860; both Almira and their infant died in 1862. During the Civil War he served in Terry’s Texas Rangers until his company was captured in 1865, then returned to Gonzales to resume law practice. In 1867 he married Julia Amanda Turner Batchelor. Julia was born May 24, 1838, in Galveston, remembered locally as the first Caucasian girl born on the island. Her father Amasa Turner was a veteran of San Jacinto and other campaigns in the Texas struggle for independence. Julia’s first husband, attorney Benjamin F. Batchelor, was killed in 1864 during the war. James and Julia had one son, Francis T. Miller, who died at age eight.
Public life
Miller became a statewide figure, serving as the first president of both the Texas Livestock Association and the Texas Bankers’ Association. He represented Gonzales in the 48th Congress in 1883, was re-elected to the 49th Congress, and declined a third term. His reputation as an organizer and bridge between ranching, finance, and politics shaped the community that Walnut Ridge overlooks.
House and later years
James and Julia assembled the property beginning in 1868. The house, completed in 1901, is associated with architect J. Riely Gordon, whose work across Texas often used disciplined symmetry and scaled classical detailing. Walnut Ridge embodies that approach in a Greek Revival key suited to a prominent household. James died not long after the home was finished. Julia died about ten years later.