Albert McHenry Miller
Albert McHenry Miller, veteran of the Civil War and retired farmer and carpenter, a former justice of the peace in and for his home township, who for many years has made his home in the village of Jamestown, is a native son of Greene county, born on a farm in New Jasper township on August 1, 1841, son of George and Caroline (Wilson) Miller, the former of whom was a native of the old Keystone state and the latter of the Blue Grass state, born in the vicinity of Mammoth Cave, who were married in this county and here spent their last days.
George Miller was twice married and was the father of eighteen children. He came from Pennsylvania to Ohio during the days of his young manhood and settled in Greene county, following here his trade as a brickmason until presently he bought a farm of one hundred acres on the Jamestown and Xenia pike in New Jasper township, paying for the same five dollars an acre, and there established his home. His first wife was a Bromagem, a member of one of the pioneer families of the Cedarville neighborhood, who bore him six children, three of whom grew to maturity and one of whom, Simon Benton Milller, is still living, now a resident of Celina, Auglaize county, and is past ninety years of age; the others having been Dr. Milton Miller and Rebecca, the latter of whom married one of the Cedarville Townsleys. Following the death of the mother of these children George Miller married Caroline Wilson, a member of one of the pioneer families that had come up here from Kentucky, and to that union were born twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, of whom the following grew to maturity: Perry W., who spent his last days in Illinois; Harney Anslie, now deceased, who was a veteran of the Civil War, his service having been rendered in the Seventy-fourth Ohio, commanded by Col. Granville Moody; George C, deceased; John Thomas, also a soldier of the Union, who went out as a member of the First Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by one of the "Fighting" McCooks, and died in service; Albert McHenry, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; James D., who also enlisted his services in behalf of the Union during the Civil War, went to the front with the First Ohio and was killed during the battle at Missionary Ridge; William Edwin, a retired farmer of this county, now living at Jamestown; Mrs. Mattie M. Townsley, now living in Iowa; Mrs. Miranda Caroline Hite and Mrs. Amanda Evaline Gordon, twins, the former of whom is now hving at Bellefontaine and the latter in the vicinity of Jamestown, and Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Harrison, who died in 1914. Major-Gen. John Harney, of Civil War fame, was an uncle of these children.
Albert McHenry Miller grew to manhood on the home farm in New Jasper township, receiving his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and was living on the farm when the Civil War broke out. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Gen. J. Warren Keifer, of Springfield, commanding. After some service with the Army of the Potomac in Virginia, Mr. Miller was assigned to detached service as a headquarters guard and in that capacity continued his service until mustered out after the close of the war, his final discharge being received in May, 1865. During this service Mr. Miller participated in some most interesting experiences, his headquarters activities bringing him in close touch with some of the great leaders of the war, and he was on duty at Washington at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. He stood guard at General Grant's headquarters in the Wilderness and on two occasions was guard over Belle Boyd, the famous Confederate spy, who was captured and brought into General Milroy's camp, he at that time being guard at Milroy's headquarters. He also served in like capacity under Gen. Lew Wallace, under General French, of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac; under Gen. H. G. Wright and under Gen. J. B. Rickets, the latter of whom it was his duty to awaken at the opening of the battle of Cedar Creek. He followed General Rickets out onto the pike, where tlie general was seriously wounded and he carried his officer back to the hospital. Mr. Miller was present when gallant "Phil" Sheridan rode up on his famous black charger during the battle of Cedar Creek and heard Sheridan say after General Wright liad ordered a withdrawal: "Place the Eighth Corps on the left; the Nineteenth on the right, and the old slow Sixth in the center and I'll whip hell out of them before sundown." During the battle of the Wilderness Mr. Miller was within ten feet of Gen. John Sedgwick, of the Sixth Corps, when the latter was slain. Mr. Miller was not of voting age at the time of the first Lincoln campaign, but he voted for Lincoln in 1864, his first Presidential vote, and at the same time voted for Brougli for governor of Ohio, the latter receiving a majority in excess of one hundred thousand. Mr. Miller's experience as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War and his thoughtful consideration of the history of that period, together with his comprehensive knowledge of the general history of the country, have given him exceptional opportunities for service as a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and he long has held the post of patriotic instructor in that organization, of which he also is past commander and for many years one of the most active members.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Miller returned home and resumed his labors on the farm, but his health presently began to fail and he sold his farming interests and began working as a carpenter, a trade in which he had been trained before going to war. After his marriage in the fall of 1872 he established his home in the village of Jamestown, where he continued to follow his vocation as a builder until his retirement. Mr. Miller is a Republican and for years served as justice of the peace at Jamestown, but in 1917 resigned that office. By religious persuasion he is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.
On September 5. 1872, Albert McHenry Miller was united in marriage to Laura M. Shrack, of this county, who died at her home in Jamestown on February 5, 1902. To that union were born three children, two sons and one daughter, the latter of whom, Jessie S., wife of the Rev. L. B. Albert, of Muskegon, Michigan, has a life certificate as a teacher and is principal of one of the schools at Muskegon. Her husband also is a teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Albert have one child, a son, Paul McHenry, born in 1906. James Albert Miller, Mr. Miller's youngest son, born on July 1, 1874. died on April 1, 1917, and twenty days later his brother, Anslie Miller, met his death in a railway accident at Jamestown. Anslie Miller, born on May 13, 1873, married Elizabeth Alice Saunders, of Jamestown, and was the father of one son, James Albert. His widow and son are still making their home at Jamestown.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918