Miller, Joseph, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1867 by Joseph Miller, this square brick farmhouse sits on a low bluff overlooking the Sangamon River flood plain near Rochester. Its bearing walls are about 12 inches thick, made of handmade local brick on a limestone foundation hauled from Cold Springs. Features include a pyramidal roof with two symmetrical chimneys, six-over-six windows with segmental brick arches, a south entrance with sidelights and transom, a long west verandah, a rear kitchen wing, and a curving walnut staircase inside. The house matters as one of the community's oldest unaltered homes and the earliest surviving dwelling of the Miller family, who came from Virginia in 1835. Christian Miller acquired about 2,100 acres, and his descendants still farm the surrounding land. The house is a simple Federal style farmhouse showing Southern influences, such as the wide side verandah. Restoration was guided by an 1871 photograph, though some work remained to be done.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest unaltered homes in the community and the earliest surviving dwelling tied to the prominent Miller family. It is a good example of a simple Federal style farmhouse that reflects the family's Virginia origins. It also represents the Millers' role in clearing land and developing agriculture in the state.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001408, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Buckhart Rd., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001408 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown; built by Joseph Miller in 1867 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Structurally sound and unaltered from the 1867 design, but deteriorated when the current owners bought it; restoration of porches and other features was under way and incomplete in 1980. |
| Coordinates | 39.74944, -89.45255 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001408.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20709840
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.