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Samuel Miller of Wiconisco – Militia Man
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on November 8, 2019
Samuel Miller, (1833-1904) served in the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry (Emergency of 1863), Company D, as a Private and Sergeant, during the Civil War.
According to the Pennsylvania Veterans’ File Card from the Pennsylvania Archives, he enrolled at Lykens on 15 June 1863, and four days later was mustered into service. At the time he was 29 years old. At the conclusion of the emergency, he was discharged on 30 July 1863.
Previously on this blog, a post entitled Samuel Miller, Emergency Man and the Fire That Destroyed His General Store, gave more information about him and his Civil War service, including that he is honored on both the Lykens G.A.R. Monument and the Pennsylvania Memorial at Gettysburg.
Today’s post features a photo of his grave marker at the Calvary United Methodist Church Cemetery (above), Wiconisco, and his obituary, which was published in the Lykens Standard of 10 June 1904.
SAMUEL MILLER
Samuel Miller, one of Wiconisco‘s most prominent citizens, died at his home at that place at 3:30 p.m., Saturday, aged 70 years, 6 months and 1 day. He had suffered several paralytic strokes within the past few years which at his advanced age rendered him very feeble, and for a year preceding his death, he was unable to leave the house.
Deceased was born in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1833. He was a son of the late Charles H. Miller of this place [Lykens], and a brother to Edward Miller, deceased; Sophia J. Miller, Mrs. J. H. Foster, deceased; William P. Miller, deceased, all of whom were residents of this place, and B. F. Miller, residing at Wiconisco, and Henry C. Miller, deceased.
Mr. Miller was a self-educated man, having attended the public schools for only a short time when he was a small boy. He worked among the farmers, earning from 25 to 50 cents a day. When 14 years of age he was a clerk in a store in this place, receiving $2.75 per week, and paying his own board. He was for two years in this position, after which he took a contract for making a road in the upper end of the county, in connection with his father. He next worked at railroading in New Jersey, after which he returned to Lykens and worked two years as a blacksmith for the Lykens Valley Railroad Company. Then he clerked in a store at this place for four years, and in 1866 entered the store of Barrett & Blum, where he remained three years. In the Spring of 1869 he engaged in the general store business at Wiconisco with Rev. S. A. Heilner, afterwards becoming the sole owner, which business he was engaged in at the time of his death. He also opened a branch store in Lykens in 1881, which he conducted until 1888, when he sold it to his sons Charles H. Miller and Jacob M. Miller.
in 1856 he married Rebecca Mann. Nine children were the fruits of this union, viz: Annie L. Miller, Mrs. W. J. Simpson; W. Howard Miller, who died at the age of 4 years; Jennie Miller; Charles H. Miller, merchant of Philadelphia; Jacob M. Miller, merchant of this place; Rebecca E. Miller; Carrie L. Miller, died in infancy; Samuel H. Miller, manager of his father’s store; and Mary M. Miller. His wife preceded him in death 2 years ago.
Mr. Miller was a Republican, and was a number of times honored with office by the citizens of Wiconisco Township. He was a school director for two terms, during part of which he was a president of the board. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and for many years a trustee of the church. He was also for about five years a director of the Miners’ Deposit Bank of this place [Lykens].
He enlisted for three months at Harrisburg, in March 1863, in Company D, 26th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Colonel Jennings. He was a member of Ashlar Lodge, No. 570, F. and A. M. of Wiconisco, and had been a member of the Odd Fellows.
Funeral services were held at his late home at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday by Rev. Edward Devine, pastor of the Wiconisco M. E. Church, after which interment was made in the Wiconisco Cemetery. The pall bearers were Edward Lebo, Robert J. Beadle, F. J. Douden, Isaac Mossop, G.A. Pinkerton and George S. J. Keen.
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Obituary from Newspapers.com.
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