Eclectic Ann: 05/19/25

Monday, May 19, 2025

Anderson Peter Miller - Civil War Veteran

The Second Civil War Ancestor of my grandson in law.

The Biography

Anderson Peter Miller

Civil War

Veteran

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.

The uniform of the 149th PA Infantry with the Bucktail on cap. This is NOT Anderson Miller.

On Aug 30, 1862, Anderson enlists with the 149^th 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 149^th 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.

Union Hotel General Hospital in Georgetown, Washington DC

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.

Apr 4, 1863 Discharge certificate

Only a short 7 months and 5 days after enlisting, Anderson, on Apr 7, 1863, is discharged due to disability. His discharge paper states the reason for discharge was due to “Phthisis Pulmonalis” or Pulmonary Tuberculosis. His physical description as stated on his discharge is age 21, 5’10 ½ ‘ tall, fair complexion, blue eyes and light hair. His occupation was farmer. Although one record shows him and Co H sent on a detachment to Alexandria, Virginia on Mar 4, 1864, he would have been discharged by then and could not have still been with the Company. His regiment would go on to fight at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, the Wilderness, Cold Harbor and the mine explosion at Petersburg among other battles.

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.

The Clarion Democrat, Aug 13, 1891

The Clarion Democrat, Oct 1, 1891

The Clarion Democrat, Oct 29, 1891

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/

Jacob Miles - Civil War Veteran

This story is the first of three Civil War ancestors of my grandson in law.

The Biography of

Civil War Veteran

Jacob C. Miles

1833 – 1909

Biography of Jacob C. Miles (1833-1909)

Civil War Veteran

Jacob Miles was born on Apr 7, 1833 in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, the son of Obediah Miles and Lavina Armogast. The Miles family had lived in Pennsylvania since Jacob’s 3^rd great grandfather, Richard Miles, emigrated to America from Wales. The 1850 census shows Jacob, age 17, living in Porter Twp, Clarion Co, PA with his parents and 6 younger siblings. According to his obituary, Jacob moved to Clarion county in his youth and soon bought a small farm in Redbank township and later he sold this property and bought a place in Millcreek where he lived for the rest of his life.

Jacob married Susanna Reese on Dec 21, 1854 in Clarion county and in the 1860 Census, he is listed as a Teamster living in Madison Twp in Clarion county. His wife, Susanna, is listed along with 3 children – Minerva age 5, John age 3 and Fielding age 2 months. His personal estate is worth $200. There were two other children born to Jacob and Susanna but they must have died young as they are not listed. In 1862, a fourth child Elmer was born.

Jacob Miles and wife Susanna Reese Miles

12th Cavalry Flag

Jacob Miles' Enlistment paper and Muster Roll

In June of 1863, Jacob registers for the draft and on Mar 26, 1864 in Meadville, Jacob enlists in the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry Company L as a Private at age 31. Jacob would serve for the remainder of the Civil War, a little over a year, and muster out on July 20, 1865 in Winchester, Virginia. At the time Jacob would have joined the regiment, the 12^th was located in the Winchester, Va area. They participated in skirmishes and battles in Virginia & West Virginia, as well as performed Guard or Scout Duty, at Winchester, Loudon Co, Charlestown, Duffield Station, Bolivar Hts, Hillsboro, Charleston again, Snicker’s Ferry, Ashby’s Gap, Berry’s Ford, Kernstown, Winchester again, Bunker Hill, Martinsburg, Cherry Run, Winchester, Charlestown, Hallstown, Mt Zion Church, Harpers Ferry, Hamilton, Goose Creek and back to Winchester.

Examples of Sutler's Chits of the 12th PA Cavalry Regiment

These would be used to purchase non-military issued items by the soldiers. The sutler's followed the regiments from camp to camp.

Jacob's Pension File Card

Jacob’s pension file and service record do not mention any wounds from his service nor being taken prisoner. As many other soldiers, his disabilities stemmed from diseases and conditions caused just by the everyday life of being a soldier at that time. According to a book about the 12^th PA Cavalry called “Leather and Steel”, the 12^th was a hard luck regiment. There were problems with it’s leadership and timing of battles and their locations. The 12^th always seemed to get the worst of it. Most of the time Jacob was with the 12^th, was spent in the Shenandoah Valley where the guerilla raider John Mosby operated at the end of the war. It is not known if Jacob was ever a mounted or unmounted cavalry trooper. Late in the war, many cavalry regiments were educed to being unmounted due to a scarcity of remount horses and the thought that mounted cavalry attacks were reckless. Later in the war, the carbine was the weapon of choice in the cavalry, but they also carried a revolver and a saber. Jacob states in his pension application that he was a cook. As such, he may have been permanently assigned to that duty or the duty could have been rotated through the Regiment or Company.

In 1888, documents in Jacob’s Pension File, describe him as 5’10” in ht, 145 lbs, fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Jacob states that he contracted disease of the liver & kidney while acting as a cook for the regiment at Bolivar, Virginia in December of 1864. He also states that he contracted chronic diarrhea and piles in July 1865. A comrade’s affidavit tells the same story for Jacob, also saying that he was an asst. cook and had to carry 5 gallon camp kettles full of water for the regiment which caused his liver & kidney ailments.

The 1865 Quartermaster manual describes Camp Kettles this way:

""to be of 3 sizes, made of good American sheet iron, and so as to fit into each other in nests of three; - viz. No 1, the largest size, should be 12 inches in diameter and 11 3/4 inches deep, and to contain 4 1/2 gallons. No 2 should be 10 1/4 inches in diameter, 11 1/2 inches deep and to contain 3 1/;2 gallons. No 3, should 9 1/2 inches in diameter and 11 1/4 inches deep and contain 2 1/2 gallons. All to have iron wire bails, 5/16 of an inch diameter, the ends of which drawn down to a point. Weight of a nest of three kettles, 17 1/4 to 17 1/2 pounds.""

A really detailed description of Civil War cooking can be found here: https://www.libertyrifles.org/research/uniforms-equipment/commissary-cooking

Camp Kettles

Below are several letters written by Jacob to the Pension Office

27 July 1892

Jacob was approved a pension of $12 a month for these disabilities in 1890. By 1907, Jacob was collecting $15 a month and in 1908, his pension was increased to $20. After Jacob died in 1909, his widow Mary was able to collect a widow’s pension of $12 a month until her death in 1921. For each increase in pension amount the applicant had to have a new medical exam and provide proof of injury or disease, marriage and children.

The 1870 census shows Jacob’s family living in Limestone Twp, Clarion county. His occupation is as a Dyer and his personal estate is worth $500. Jacob and Susanna would have four more children, Wilbert, Lewella, Washington and Jacob as well as an infant who died on Sep 6, 1872. Susanna died on Sep 7, 1872, most likely from childbirth complications.

Jacob Miles and 2^nd wife Mary Wyant

Less than a year later, Jacob married his second wife, Mary Wyant(Wiant), on July 17, 1873. They would have three children, George, Lavina and Sarah before 1880. In this census, Jacob is shown as a farmer in Redbank Twp, Clarion county. With wife Mary, children Fielding, Elmer, Wilbert, Lewella, Mead(Jacob), George, Lavina and Sarah living with them. The older boys are shown as working as farm laborers.

The 1890 Veterans Schedule of the Census, counts Jacob as living in Fisher Twp, Clarion Co, with his dates of service and unit along with notes describing his war disability as “Liver complaint, Piles, and Chronic Diarrhea” recorded.

In 1896, a notice of a Sheriff's sale of a property owned by Jacob Miles appeared in the Clarion Democrat. It contains a detailed description of the property.

By 1900, all of his children were off on their own except for George & Sarah. Jacob was still farming with son George. And on July 30, 1909, Jacob passed away at the age of 76. Jacob’s obituary describes him as a well known citizen who had lived an honored and honorable life. Jacob converted to the Methodist Episcopal faith over 40 years before his death and was known as a most exemplary Christian man respected and beloved by all for his good works.

Mary would show up in 1910 as a widow living on their farm with George and the now married, Sarah and her family. By 1920, it seems that Sarah’s husband has taken over the farm, but Mary still lives with them as an 85 year old widow and also son George is still with them. At 87 years old, Mary dies in Oil City, Crawford Co, PA on Sept 4, 1921 at the home of a daughter. Jacob, along with both Susanna & Mary are all buried in the Fisher Methodist Cemetery in Fisher, Clarion county.

Obituary in the Clarion Democrat on 5 Aug 1909

Fisher Methodist Cemetery

Jacob and Susanna are my son in law's 3^rd great grandparents.

The lineage to my son in law is:

Jacob Miles (1833 - 1909)

Fielding Miles (1860 – 1949)

Harry L Miles (1900 – 1970)

James R Miles (1937 – 2004)

Sources:

Ancestry.com

National Archives

Newspapers.com

https://www.libertyrifles.org/research/uniforms-equipment/commissary-cooking

Find A Grave

http://www.pacivilwar.com/12thflag.html

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/civil-war-chit-wm-sherwood-sutler-293822175

https://www.civilwartokens.com/Event/LotDetails/2687613/183-PA1205B-R9-NGC-F15-12th-Cavalry-Civil-War-Sutler-token

"Leather & Steel" The 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in the Civil War, Larry B. Maier, Burd Street Press, 2001.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Anderson Peter Miller - Civil War Veteran

Jacob Miles - Civil War Veteran

Week 46 - 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Wartime