William Lee Miller - A FARMER, EX-COUNTY OFFICIAL, CIVIL WAR VETERAN EIGHTY YEARS OF AGE
A biographical sketch of Ex-County Treasurer William L. Miller not only presents to the readers of THE STANDARD, a man extensively and favorably known, but it is a chapter connecting the history of the present with the past. Mr. Miller has been all of his nearly eighty years of life, except his first two years, a citizen of Decatur county, and he comes of a historic family that deserves more than a passing mention of this article. He is of Scotch-Irish stock, transplanted from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, whence his parents came to Indiana in 1829.
His grandfather, William Miller, was a soldier under Washington, and while in camp at Valley Forge, that dreary winter of 1777-8, he, on a foraging expedition in the hills of Pennsylvania, found a bee tree and took a mass of the honey to his commander-in-chief, whose words of personal thanks were proudly remembered by him till his dying day.
His mother was Jane Lee, and with just pride a relationship is claimed with that historic family, the Lees of Virginia. His grandmother Lee lived near the Old Red Stone Fort, on Monongahelia river, not far from the junction of the two mountain streams that form the Ohio. She distinctly remembered seeing the British and American troops under General Braddock and Colonel Washington proudly march by her father's cabin, on their way to the terrible disaster known in history as Braddock's defeat. She was then fourteen years of age. She came to Indiana with her daughter, and died at the age of ninety years, at the Miller's homestead in Decatur county. Mr. Miller had three uncles that served in the war of 1812-- Alexander Miller, Joseph Miller and William Lee. A number of old letters and papers that would show much light on the family history were kept in an old trunk in the log cabin on the Montgomery farm, and destroyed by rats as late as in the seventies.
William Lee Miller, the subject of this sketch, was born in Flemming county, Kentucky, October 28, 1827, on a farm about two miles from Flemmingsburg. His parents, William T. Miller and Jane Lee arrived in Decatur county, Indiana, November 1, 1829, and settled four miles northeast of Greensburg, on land now owned by John T. Meek. His father died in 1857, and his mother in 1869. The family consisted of seven children;
- Eliza Miller McWilliams, the mother of Eph McWilliams;
- Rachel Miller Meek, the mother of ex-Sheriff Taylor Meek;
- Martha Miller Rankin;
- Mary Miller Weed;
- William L. Miller;
- John Miller, a prominent young attorney who died at Versailles in 1859, and
- Isabella Miller, who died at the age of twelve.
Mr. Miller was married May 5, 1869, to Mrs. Julia A. Wilson, who died May 9, 1872, leaving one child,
- Pearl May Miller, who married Edward Hamilton, and died some ten years ago, May 31, 1896.
He was again married January 24, 1884 to Mrs. Elizabeth E. Lanham. To this union one child has been born,
- William J. Miller, now aged twenty-two years.
Mr. Miller's business has been essentially that of a farmer. He inherited a farm from his father, but he added to this by purchase till he owned a half section, three hundred and twenty acres in a body, on the Kingston road, the best land in the county, being much of it burr oak land, which is superior for corn. In 1866 he was elected county treasurer and filled the office two terms with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. In 1870 he went back to his farm where he continued a profitable business till he came to this city in October, 1899, and purchased the William Thomas residence on North Broadway, where he has since lived in retirement and at his ease. He still owns one hundred and sixty acres on the Kingston road, just south of the Miller homestead, known as the old "Mike" Montgomery farm. In 1872 Mr. Miller met with a financial loss that forced him to sell one quarter section of his land. It grew out of a liability for a security debt which amounted to $12,000 and interest, and another debt of $3,500, of which he saved about $700 - all of which he paid.
But William L. Miller's record as a soldier is the most interesting chapter of his life's history, and to describe it in detail would be to write a thrilling narrative. He enlisted at Greensburg, August 15, 1862, for three years, and at the age of nearly thirty-five was enrolled as a private in Company C, Seventh Regiment of Indiana infantry. He afterwards served as sergeant in his company. The history of the "Old Seventh" is familiar to all. It was at first commanded by Col. Dumont, afterwards by Col Gavin, and later by Col. Ira G. Grover. The regiment participated in the bloodiest battles of the war in the East. It fought at Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and other noted battlefields of the civil war. Sergeant Miller was with his regiment and in the thickest of the carnage. He was severely wounded in the left side at the battle of the Wilderness. His life was saved almost miraculously by a small pocket dictionary and his watch, which turned the course of the deadly minnie ball. He preserves the book, the watch and the bullet as much prized relics. He was discharged from the service in front of Petersburg, in October, 1864.
Mr. Miller is a Royal Arch Mason. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and of the "Pap" Thomas Grand Army Post No. 5, of this city. Mr. Miller is a Republican, but not an offensive partisan. He is very popular wherever known and counts his friends by the list of his acquaintances. He is a good conversationtist, and especially an interesting talker when it comes to old reminiscences. He knows all of the old pioneers, and recalls the first house built for his father by John B. Trimble and John Montgomery, carpenters of the early day. Mr. Miller's farm is under the immediate care of his son, William J. Miller. He is comfortably located and has contentedly set down to enjoy the evening of his life as befits one whose career has been active, honorable and useful.
