Henry W. Miller - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

The name "Henry Miller" was very popular in this area during the time of our subject's life. In the 1860 Defiance County census alone, six Henry Millers could be found!  But through clues in our soldier's obituary, in sibling names, dates, and other details, this William Henry Miller could stand apart from the rest as a Union Army veteran and member of the G.A.R., Bishop Post.

 Born and raised in Defiance County, Henry was born on November 13, 1847, to his parents, another Henry Miller and Mary Knoll.  In the 1860 census, he was 12 years old living with his siblings: George, 10; Caroline, 8; Ellen 5; and Frank,2. Sarah Miller, 16, was also there, but labeled as a servant, so it remains unknown if this was an older sister.


Soon after he turned 16, he enlisted in the Army as a private in the 38th Regiment, Company G, Ohio O.V.I.  In January, 1864, the 38th Ohio was home on furlough for a month.  Many of those men reenlisted and Henry became a new enlistee, signing up for three years duty on January 29, 1864.  By May, the unit had reached Georgia to join Sherman's Atlanta campaign.  They fought in all the major battles of that campaign, and later headed with Sherman to the Carolinas campaign.  The end of the war came, and Henry and the 38th traveled to the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. to celebrate.  In Cleveland, he officially mustered out and headed home, having been discharged on July 12, 1865.

Pension Card

 Henry's obituary noted that his father was a soldier and was killed in the South, so Henry, enlisted to take his place, probably partly out of patriotism and partly out of respect for his father.

 By the 1870 census, Henry, at 22, and his brother George, 20, supported the household.  Henry was a day laborer and George was a machinist at the Defiance Machine Works.  Their mother, Mary, 46, lived in the household, along with siblings, Ella, 14, and Frank, 12.

On Christmas Eve, 1873, Henry Miller married Ellen Heatley in Defiance, Ohio.

The Holgate Pike was the location for their home in 1880. William H. Miller, 32, worked as an engineer in the Defiance Machine Works.  He and Ellen, 30, had no children. A Defiance newspaper, on January 18, 1896, reported that Ellen Miller had two small tumors removed from her shoulder, but they grew back and she feared another operation. In 1896, Ellen passed away, perhaps because of an illness related to those tumors.  An obituary could not be located.

The 1900 census enumerator found Henry living alone at his home at 410 North Clinton.  Henry, 52, widowed, was a stationary engineer at the machine works.
However, he married again on December 17, 1908, to Mrs. Hester (Esther) Minsel, widow of Andrew J Minsel, who died in 1905.  The two settled into Henry's home at 410 North Clinton where they lived until their deaths.  Henry worked until in his seventies at the Defiance Machine Works.  Hester had four children by her first husband, and three of those were living.  

Hester's obituary, from the Defiance Crescent-News, August 1, 1926:

"DEATH CLAIMS MRS. MILLER

Long Resident of Defiance Succumbs at Age 77

Death claimed Mrs. Hester Miller, wife of Henry Miller, at their home, 410 North Clinton street, Wednesday afternoon at 12:15 after eight months with carcinoma.  She was 77 years old.

She is survived by her husband, a daughter, Mrs. Ella Dull of Cleveland, and a son, Earl Minsel of Mansfield, and a son, Bert Minsel died last September, and another died in childhood.  Two sisters and brothers also survive, Mrs. Frank Sapp, Perry Street, Defiance, and Mrs. L. Whitney, North Richland township and Frank VanDusen of Hillsdale, Mich.

She had lived in and around Defiance practically all her life, coming here from eastern Ohio with her parents when a small child.  She was a member of the Women's Relief Corps.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. central standard time at the late home, and at 2:30 at Independence church, with burial in Independence cemetery.  Rev. R. B. Foster will officiate."

So, in the 1930 census, Henry, 82, lived at his old home, retired, but eventually, he moved in with his niece nearby.  He passed away on September 22, 1935, one of the last of the veterans of the Civil War living in Defiance.

His obituary from the Defiance Crescent-News, September 23, 1935:

"W. HENRY MILLER, 87, WHO MARCHED WITH SHERMAN TO SEA, SUCCUMBS

With the death of W. Henry Miller, who marched with Sherman to the sea, the roster of Civil War veterans living in Defiance today had been reduced to two.

Mr. Miller, affectionately known to his many friends as 'Bid,' passed away at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the home of a niece, Mrs. Robert Toland, 416 North Clinton Street.  Death followed a stroke of paralysis. Despite his 87 years, he had been in fairly good health until last Friday when he was compelled to go to bed.

RITES TO BE TUESDAY.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 Tuesday from the Mansfield funeral home, where the body has been taken, with Dr. B.F. Hofer, pastor of Zion's Lutheran church, officiating. Herbert E. Anderson post will conduct the American Legion ritualistic service.  Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

John Myers and L. P. Rife, who live in Defiance, are the remaining members of Bishop Post of the G.A.R.   Fred Grossenberger of near Junction and J. S. Palmer of Napoleon are also listed as members of Defiance post.

Mr. Miller was born in West High street, Nov. 13, 1847.  He was a son of Henry Miller of Bucyrus and Mary Knoll of Baden, Germany, who came to Defiance shortly after their marriage.

SERVED WITH HIS FATHER.
In 1863, when Mr. Miller was 16 years old, he secured admission to the Union forces and served with his father.  The elder Mr. Miller died in the south when he contracted fever.  His son continued his service until the close of the war.

Shortly after he entered the army, Mr. Miller was wounded in a brisk engagement and was transferred to serve as an officer's aide.  It was in this capacity that he accompanied Sherman to the sea.

CANAL BOAT ENGINEER
When Mr. Miller returned from the war, he farmed for a short time before securing employment as an engineer on a canal boat plying between Defiance and Detroit.  Later, he was an engineer at the Defiance Machine Works for more than 40 years before he retired.

After his return from the war, Mr. Miller was married to Ellen Heatley of north of Defiance. Following his first wife's death, Mr. Miller was remarried on December 17, 1908 to Hester Minsel of Independence.  When Mrs. Minsel died nine years ago, Mr. Miller went to live in the home of his niece, Mrs. Toland, whose home adjoined to the Miller residence.  With the exception of numerous nephews and nieces, Mr. Miller has no immediate relatives."

Riverside Cemetery

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)