My maternal grandmother claimed to have Native American roots (supposedly Cherokee)...there is only one branch in my family that hasn't yet been traced out of the US. Washington Temple MILLER was born in 1815 Jefferson Cnty, KY. He lived in Alton and Chicago Illinois for most of his life, from 1830-1888. Miller is obviously a common name, but it is also frequent in Native tribes. That and the origin from KY promotes the possibility of Cherokee/native. He married a SMITH whos parents were from NY and CT...also a possible Native connection. I wonder though if it really is possible that WT Miller had Native American origins: he held some very prominent positions (mostly in Alton, Illinois). He was an alderman, a police constable, owned and subdivided hundreds of acres of real estate, was an Illinois State representative for the creation of one of the railroads, an officer in the Tippencanoe club, a banker, a lumberyard owner, a merchant.... During this time period, would someone of NA orgins been able/allowed to be in such positions? If not, then my focus should probably be on his wife's family when tracing NA roots. Thanks for any suggestions/help Pete Hanson