The Second Civil War Ancestor of my grandson in law.
The
Biography
of
Anderson
Peter Miller
Civil
War
Veteran
Copyright, 2022, Ann M Sinton
Biography of Anderson Peter Miller (1845 – 1891)
Civil War Veteran
Anderson Peter Miller was born in Fisher, Clarion county, Pennsylvania in 1845 the son of Andrew Miller and Lucy Harriger. Not much is known about Anderson’s father, except that he died when Anderson was about 3 yeas old. Anderson’s mother. Lucy, remarried in 1848 to Martin McCanna. The 1850 census shows Lucy and Anderson living in Clarion, Pennsylvania with Anderson’s step father and family. Martin is a farmer and also a Civil War veteran. At 15 years of age, in 1860, Anderson is still living at home, now in Mill Creek Twp, Clarion county.
_and_18th_U.S._Veteran_Reserve_Corps_Infantry_Regiment,_in_uniform_with_musket_in_hand_and_bucktail_on_LCCN2017659633.jpg)
On Aug 30, 1862, Anderson enlists with the 149th Pa Infantry Co H, also known as the 2nd PA Bucktails, as a Private at Strattonville, Pa. His Military Service Records show him at Harrisburg on Sep 16, 1862. Harrisburg was one of the locations where recruits went for their initial training, probably Camp Curtin. Also in September 1862, the 149th regiment was ordered to Washington DC and attached to the Defenses of Washington. The regiment would stay there until February 1863. Records show Anderson Miller as present in October, November and December 1862 . By January and February 1863, Anderson was shown as absent and sick in the General Hospital in Georgetown, DC. He was still in hospital in March and April and was sent to the General Hospital in Philadelphia to be discharged.
An interesting side story to this hospital. The author, Louisa May Alcott, served as a nurse in this hospital from 13 Dec 1862 until 21 Jan 1863, her volunteer service was ended when she contracted typhoid pneumonia. Even tho she only nursed there a short time, she wrote her second book entitled “Hospital Sketches” based on her experiences while there. The union Hospital was known to have poor ventilation, damp cellars and no way for people to bathe. She referred to the Union as a “hurly burly hotel” with disorder, discomfort, bad management and no apparent head. nurse at this hospital for a short time. She left there about Jan 21, 1863, while Anderson arrived there shortly before that on Jan 1, 1863. Maybe their paths crossed. Many people like Louisa volunteered their time to nurse injured and sick soldiers.
After the Civil War, in 1865, Anderson
marries Martin McCanna’s niece, Hannah McCanna in Clarion county. By the 1870 census, Anderson and Hannah are
living in Mill Creek Twp and Anderson is working as a laborer with a personal
estate of $150. They have two children
Jennie age 1 and Frances age 4.
1880 finds Anderson working as a farmer
and the couple now have 6 children; Frances 13, Jennie 11, William 9, Sarah 6,
Christian 4 and Martin 8 months. Another
child, Harry was born in 1883.
Anderson's Pension File Card
In 1881, Anderson begins the process of applying for a veteran pension. Records indicate that while in the army, he suffered from Typhoid Fever and bronchitis and was sent to the Union Hotel Hospital in Georgetown in DC. From there he was sent to a hospital in Philadelphia at Broad & Cherry Sts. and discharged. Between 1881 and his death in 1891, Anderson made several applications for pension increases. Each time he would have to have a medical exam and show proof of disease to be approved for an increase. Some of the proofs included affidavits from commanding officers or fellow soldiers, as well as medical doctors who treated him during the war and who could speak to his disease. An 1884 medical exam states that Anderson was 5’ 11 & 1/2” tall and weighed 178 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair. By the time of his death , Anderson was collecting $16 a month as his pension. Shortly after his death, Hannah applied for the widows pension due her. She was awarded an $8 a month pension plus $2 for each of the three under 18 children still with her. In 1928, due to new law passed for widows, she collected $40 a month.
The Veteran’s Schedule of the 1890
census has Anderson living in Mill Creek, Fisher, Clarion county and lists his
regiment and dates of service as well as his disability information which are
stated to be “Heart disease and Chronic Rheumatism”. His daughter Jennie, would pass away at age
20 this year.
Anderson would tragically take his own life at age 46
on Aug 9,1891 and is buried in the Fisher Methodist Cemetery in Fisher,
Clarion county, Pa.
Anderson's gravestone in Fisher Methodist Cemetery
Hannah continued living in Mill Creek and in 1900 was living there with sons Christian, Martin and Harry. Her son Harry passed away just 5 years later at age 21. Hannah, age 80, would pass away on Jan 22, 1930 in Ridgway, Elk county, Pa.
Anderson Peter Miller is the third great grandfather of my grandson in law
The lineage to him is:
Anderson Peter Miller (1845 – 1891)
Willim Anderson Miller (1871 – 1953)
Alta Pearl Miller (1906 – 2003)
James Russell Miles (1937 – 2004)
Sources:
Ancestry,com
National Archives
Find Grave
"Hospital Sketches" by Louisa May Alcott
Newspapers.com
Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/149th_Pennsylvania_Infantry_Regiment
https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/digitalbks2/id/57740/
Please give credit and post a link to my blog if you intend to use any of the information written here. My blog posts are © Ann M Sinton 2025. All rights reserved
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