Possibly a group of black Baptist clergymen at Helena, Ark., c. 1880. Back row second is A.H. Miller (state representative, 1875) and fifth is Rev. J.T. White (state senator, 1871-3). In February of 1851, Rev. Abraham H. Miller was born a slave in Saint Francis County, Arkansas. Miller wrote "How I Succeeded In My Business," which was published in 1911. In 1887, he married Eliza Ann Ross with whom he had five children who survived to adulthood including Maria L., Lucian S., Katie May, George B. and Robert M. Miller died in July of 1913 in Helena at the age of 62. Rev. J.T. White was the founder and pastor Second Baptist Church, Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. Rev. James T. White was born August 25, 1837 in New Providence, Clark County, Indiana. In 1865, he was sent as a messenger from his Indiana church to the Consolidated American Baptist convention in St. Louis. There he received a call in August 1865 to serve the Second Baptist Church in Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas. As a resident of Helena, he was elected to the State Constitutional Convention in 1868. In 1868, he was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives serving the people of the 11th district composed of Phillips and Monroe County. He served two terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives. During this time he served on the penitentiary committee, the committee on impeachment and removal from office and the committee on miscellaneous provisions. In 1873, he was elected by the people of the 11th District to the Arkansas Senate. Following his service in the State Senate, he was appointed by the governor to be Commissioner of Public Works and Internal Improvements. During this time, he built a two story brick church for his congregation in Helena. Rev. White also organized an Arkansas Missionary Baptist Convention in 1867. Later he organized the first District Missionary Baptist Association. In 1874, he was elected to the new Constitutional Convention. He edited the Arkansas Review, a paper devoted to religious, political and educational interests of his race. Rev. White died prior to the publishing of Miller's book in 1911.
