Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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Col. James Miller and Louisa D. Farnsworth




Husband Col. James Miller 1 2




           Born: 15 Apr 1835 - Henderson Twp, Jefferson Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 1 Jul 1896 3
         Buried: 


         Father: Henry Miller (1803-1859) 4
         Mother: Annie Shaw (      -1862/1863) 4


       Marriage: 2 Jul 1857 5



Wife Louisa D. Farnsworth 1 2




           Born: 6 Mar 1837 - Armstrong Co, PA 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: John Farnsworth (1786-1852) 1 6
         Mother: Susannah Smiley (1793-1855) 1 6




Children
1 F Florence C. Miller 6

           Born: 27 Jun 1858 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 21 Aug 1893 - Kansas 6
         Buried: 
         Spouse: W. E. Goff (      -      ) 6


2 F Clara S. Miller 6

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Spouse: James D. Wall (      -      ) 6


3 M John S. Miller 6

           Born: 28 Apr 1866 6
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt Aug 1869
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Did Not Marry


4 F Katie B. Miller 6

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Spouse: H. S. Osborn (      -      ) 6


5 F S. Blanche Miller 6

           Born: 27 Nov 1870 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



6 F Jessie M. Miller 6

           Born: 12 May 1873 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



7 F Lillian L. Miller 6

           Born: 8 Oct 1875 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 



8 M Donald D. Miller 6

           Born: 9 Dec 1877 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 




General Notes: Husband - Col. James Miller


He obtained a common-school education, and was early trained to habits of industry on the farm. When a young man he went west, where he followed agricultural pursuits for about three years, and then returned to his native county. He married and located on Big run, in Jefferson County, where he followed lumbering until the fall of 1861. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he then joined Company K, 105th P. V. I., and was mustered in at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, whence he went to Washington and from there to the front. He was mustered in as first sergeant, was commissioned second lieutenant March 26, 1862, and at the battle of Auburn, Virginia, on the 13th of October, was severely wounded. He was promoted to first lieutenant of Company K, by order of Col. Craig, and was again wounded, this time at the battle of the Wilderness, and in the left elbow. When he had recovered he was again promoted, being made captain June 20, 1864, his commission to date from November 10, 1863. He was promoted to major, January 4, 1865, to rank as such from October 28, 1864, and May 11, 1865, was made colonel, his commission to date from the 25th of April. After the battle of Chancellorsville, he and a comrade of Company K received the Kearney cross for gallant conduct displayed on the battlefield. At the engagement at Sailor's Creek, in front of Petersburg, April 6, 1865, his horse was shot from under him, but he never faltered in the charge, leading his regiment on until they had captured sixteen officers and one hundred men. With those who had survived the many conflicts he returned to Washington, where he was mustered out July 11, 1865, and with the gallant boys who had followed him on Southern battlefields he went to Camp Reynolds, at Pittsburgh, where the troops were paid off. Bidding his followers adieu, he then returned home with a military record which made him distinguished as one of the brave and loyal officers of Pennsylvania. His promotion came not through influence, but as the reward of meritorious service. He was respected by his superior officers, and beloved by the men of his regiment.
In 1868 Col. Miller removed to Grampian Hills (now Grampian), where he engaged in lumbering, having purchased of Thomas Daugherty 141 acres of land in Penn township, adjoining the borough, and in connection with lumbering followed farming. He also dealt in coal, and in 1891 leased a large tract of his coal lands.

In politics Col. Miller was a Republican, and served as justice of the peace for a number of years. He held membership in the Baptist Church, to which his widow also belonged, and five of their children were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While driving in the summer of 1896, his horse, it is supposed, became frightened, and ran away, and being thrown from the road cart, the Colonel sustained injuries which resulted in his death.
No better account of the esteem in which he was uniformly held by those who knew him can be given than by quoting from letters of sympathy which were written at the time. From S. A. Craig, who was with him through the war, came the following: "To the friends of my comrade, Col. James Miller. I have just heard of the Colonel's death, and desire to extend my sympathy to his loved ones in this their great loss. May I not say with propriety, having known his worth and many prominent qualities of mind and heart through years of trying ordeal not only to the country but to himself, that through it all he bore himself so kindly and justly that he endeared himself personally to all of us; so prompt in response to every call of duty, so courageous in the many battles in which he was engaged that he constantly was held by us in the highest admiration, yet withal he was so modest and unassuming that we all thought him a model and exemplary soldier. I regret exceedingly that I cannot be at his funeral, but cannot refrain from sending some little token of my love and appreciation of his character and services. It should be a matter of great pride and satisfaction to his family and friends, now that they have lost him, that he will be remembered by the 'boys' by proper proceedings at their next reunion at Brockwayville. May the consolation of the noble life he led be ever present with his old associates and his own loved ones at home."
Dr. D. R. Crawford, also a military comrade of the Colonel's, Mrs. Miller received the following: "It is with profound sorrow that I write you on this occasion. I saw the sad news in the Pittsburg Times of the death of your husband, Col. Miller. I knew him intimately in the army, and as a private soldier, corporal, sergeant and commissioned officer, even to the colonel of the regiment, he was the same brave, honest man and patriotic citizen. I cannot say more than that he filled his place well. Just thirty-three years before, he was fighting for his and our country at Gettysburg; but such is God's way of dealing with us, and we should try and say 'The Lord's will be done.' He doeth all things well to those who love and serve him, and I hope the God of the widow and the fatherless will care for you and yours."


General Notes: Wife - Louisa D. Farnsworth


When she was a child of twelve years her parents moved to Big Run, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, where she attended the local schools; later she was a student in the Elizabeth Furnace graded school, near Bellwood, Pennsylvania. This was followed by a term in the Glade Run Academy, Armstrong County. For a short time prior to her marriage, she was a teacher in Pennsylvania.

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Sources


1 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 511.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 792, 1373.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 793, 1373.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1373.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 792.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 793.


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