Private Charles E Miller, 40th Iowa Infantry Regiment, Company K

WILLIAM MILLER > GEORGE MILLER m Mary Ann Leroy > CHARLES E MILLER

Mary Ann Leroy, who descended from Christina Cappoens, was married to George Miller and had
five known children. George's father, William, was born and reared in England and came to the US as a young man, marrying Lorain Fountaine, a French-Canadian/American born in New York.  They resided most of their married life in Onandaga, New York. George and Mary eventually moved West and arrived in Benton County, Iowa. Lorain would die in Center Point, while father William died in New York.

40th Iowa Infantry Monument

Charles Miller, the oldest son of Mary and George, and also brother to my 2nd great grandfather Ira Miller, was born in about 1837 in New York. He resided in the Urbana area in 1860 with his wife, Mary Ferry or Perry who was born in about 1838 in New York. They had been married on 08 Jan 1860 in Benton County.

In 1862, he entered the Army, serving as a private in the 40th Iowa Infantry, Company K, commanded by First Lieutenant Christie. The group saw many minor skirmishes and by August 1864, was located at Little Rock. It was while there that Charles died of disease on 03 Aug 1864 and was buried in Little Rock National Cemetery. Nineteen enlisted men in this unit died of battle injuries and 184 of disease. His brother-in-law, James Black, husband of Charles' sister Anna Augusta Black, served in the same company for three years and returned safely home.

At home, this put his wife, who had two young sons, in dire financial straits. In January 1865, the county supervisors voted to appropriate $30 out of the Soldier's Relief Fund for the support of the Millers. After 1860, no trace of Mary is found - I would presume she remarried.

Her two sons, Charles Henry and George Sylvester, are a bit of a mystery. Charles is found in Vinton in 1900, single, with no further word on him except that he is still alive after the death of his brother.

Klinefelter Livery, Waterloo, iowa

George Sylvester Miller lived in Vinton for many years and was formerly the driver for Dr JP
Whitney, former mayor of Vinton. George died in his adopted home in Waterloo, Iowa after a stroke on 09 Feb 1914. He had been employed by Klinfelter livery barn for many years and was at work when he was struck down. He left a widow and two children.

I'd love to figure out what happened to Mary Ferry and what became of Charles. If you have information, leave a comment and I'll get back to you.