Isaac Miller

As printed in 1897

ISAAC MILLER, whose post-office is Chambersburg, Ohio, is one of the old soldiers of the Civil war and a highlyrespected citizen. He was born in Butler township, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 7, 1828, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Sunderland) Miller. Isaac was a son of James Miller, who came to Montgomery county, Ohio, from Kentucky, in 1794, settling in Butler township. His children were John, James, Mary, Martha and Isaac. When he came to Ohio in 1794 James Miller settled on 140 acres of land, being the first settler within the limits of Butler township. His farm consisted of an unbroken forest, which he cleared as fast as possible, in the meantime making a part of his living by hunting. Later he left Butler township and settled on the Wabash river near Lafayette, Ind. He was a typical pioneer, and lived to a great age, dying in the last-named state.

Isaac Miller, father of the subject, was born in 1790, and came with his parents from Kentucky to Ohio in 1794. Growing up in the wilderness among the pioneers, his education was necessarily limited. He married in 1811, when he was twenty-one years old, Elizabeth Sunderland, who was born in 1794, in Pennsylvania, and who was a daughter of Richard and Nancy Sunderland, for fuller mention of whom the reader is referred to the biography of Richard Sunderland, in this volume. After their marriage Isaac Miller and his wife settled on the old Sunderland homestead, and lived there the remainder of their lives. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Greenville about eight months. He and his wife had the following children: Nancy, Martha, Pattie, Massie, Richard, Martin, William, Isaac, Benjamin, John and Elizabeth. Mr. Miller lived to be seventy-nine years old. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and in politics was first an old-line whig and became a republican upon the formation of that party. Four of his sons were in the Civil war, viz: Richard, Martin, Benjamin and Isaac. Martin was a private soldier in company H, Thirty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, served his full time and was in many battles. Benjamin was in an Illinois regiment, served three years and veteranized, and participated in many engagements.

Isaac Miller, the subject of this sketch, was born March 7, 1828, in Butler township, and was educated in the common schools. Reared on the farm he naturally became a farmer. On October 14, 1833, was born Martha Westerman, whom Mr. Miller married in Butler township. She was a daughter of Henry and Ellen (Harrison) Westerman, the former of whom was of English ancestry, and married his wife in Maryland. His children were as follows: Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Thomas, Lafayette, William, and one that died in infancy. Henry Westerman came as a pioneer to Butler township and purchased a good farm of 100 acres. He lived to be eighty-two years old, an honored citizen and an upright man.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller settled on the old Sunderland homestead, upon which they lived for thirty years, and then moved to Henry Westerman’s farm in Butler township, upon which they lived ten years. They then removed to their present home in Chambersburg. Mr. Miller now owns a farm of fifty-six acres and is in comfortable circumstances. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had the following children: Ellen, Henry, who died at the age of eleven years, and Elizabeth. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Miller has been a trustee of his church for twenty-five years. In politics he is a republican.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Ohio volunteer infantry, and enlisted to serve three years, or during the war. He served until he veteranized at Chattanooga in 1864, in the same organization, and served until mustered out at Camp Dennison, July 17, 1865, thus serving his country faithfully three years and nine months. He was in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. The principal battles in which he took part were Stone River, Dalton, Buzzard’s Roost Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, the battle of Atlanta, in which McPherson was killed, and Jonesboro. Mr. Miller was also in many minor battles and skirmishes, and went with Sherman to the sea, taking part in the battle of Savannah. He was in all the battles, marches and skirmishes in which his regiment was engaged. He is a member of Milton Weaver post, No. 594, G. A. R., and has held the offices of junior and senior vice-commander. Mr. Miller is now a hale and hearty man, and is a splendid specimen of the veteran American soldier and the true and worthy American citizen.

As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.