MILLER, Captain Jefferson, 1887 biography

MILLER, COPASS, SAMUELS, SCOTT, ACTON, SWIFT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/11/2014 at 23:35:19

Biography ~ Captain Jefferson Miller

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 618-19.

JEFFERSON MILLER is a native of Harrison County, Indiana, born January 1, 1829, a son of Valentine and Elizabeth (Coppers, sic should be Copass) Miller, natives of North Carolina. He is the fifth of seven children, the others being - Naomi, Felix, Valentine, Oliver, Elizabeth and Sydney. Jefferson Miller spent his early life on a farm, but in his youth learned the bricklayer's trade, which he followed some years. In 1856 he came to Iowa, and soon after went to Harrison County, Missouri, entering a tract of wild land on section 25, Clay Township, which he improved, and afterward moved to another farm, a half a mile distant, on sections 36 and 24, towndhip 67, range 26, making his home in Missouri until 1882, when he moved to Pleasanton, Iowa, where he owns seventeen town lots, and also improved property. He owns 327 acres of improved land in Harrison and Mercer counties, Misouri, 100 acres being his homestead, in Iowa. He is also engaged in raising cattle and horses short-horns being his favorite.

Mr. Miller is a hero of two wars. April 19, 1847, he enlisted in the Mexican war, and as assigned to Company D, Third United States Dragoons. He participated in several severe battles and skirmishes. When they were three days from Vera Cruz the train was nearly lost in the mountains and chaparel. Subsequently he was at National Bridge and Black Pass, and in the siege of Pueblo, which lasted twenty-seven days, and was on of the detachment left to hold the fort and care for the sick. Scarcity of food and water caused considerable sickness in the camp, and they were obliged to procure the water for their horses at night. After the siege they went to the city, and thence to the silver mines. They guarded a number of pack trains of silver to the city for the English, scouting almost constantly. They participated in the battles at Huamantly and Carniavacca, and other guerrilla fights. He was discharged from the service in August, 1848, having served a year ad three months.

In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, a member of Company M, Third Iowa Cavalry. At the battle of Pea Ridge, March 7, 1862, he was ounded in the right arm by a rifle ball, and was in the hospital at Cassville, Missouri, a month. He was then given a furlough, and was at home until August 1, when he was ordered to report at Breckenridge, Missouri, and from there was sent to St. Louis, and was in the Fourth Street Hospital until December 19, when he was discharged, and returned home. From the 7th day of March to the 19th day of December there were thirty-seven pieces of bone taken out of the wound. In September, 1863, he again enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and December 29, was appointed Captain of his company. He was in a number of engagements, including Shoal Creek and Nashville. He fought all day at Campbellville, was at Franklin, and fought at Hood's advance daily, from Shoal Creek to Nashville, and back again to the Tennessee River. From Nashville they went to Eastport, Mississippi, thence to St. Louis, Fort Leavenworth and Omaha; up the Loup Fork of [the] Platte River, and north to Powder River, in Montana, then up [the] Powder River 200 miles, and thence to the old California Crossing on [the] Platte River, to Fort Laramie, and Fort Leavenworth. In their travels they went a distance of 1,300 miles where there were no white settlers. They were mustered out at Fort Leavenworth in 1866, and Mr. Miller returned to his home in Missouri. Although apparently healed when he re-enlisted, the wound in Mr. Miller's arm broke out in 1880, and is still a running sore. He was married October 18, 1849 to Miss Cleopatra Scott, a native of Crawford County, Indiana, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Samuels) Scott. They have eight children - Albert W., Franklin P., Eliza Ellen, Henry M., C. Eveline, Hattie A., J. P. Sheridan and Amintas H.

NOTE: Captain Miller died March 19, 1910. Cleopatra (Scott) Miller was born October 28, 1831, and died March 8, 1921. Franklin Pierce Miller, son of Captain and Cleopatra Miller, was born June 28, 1852, and died August 28, 1921; married first November 20, 1876 Martha Ann Acton (1860-1912); married second July 28, 1914 Lillian Swift. Interments were made at Hamilton Cemetery, Pleasanton IA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014