John Franklin Miller (1831 - 1886)

Born 21 Nov 1831 in South Bend, St. Joseph, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1886 at age 54 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA

John Miller is Notable.

Preceded by Newton Booth

John Franklin Miller US Senator (Class 1) from California[1] 1881—1886

Succeeded by George Hearst

Biography

John Franklin Miller was an American businessman, lawyer, politician and soldier. He was a brevet Major General in the Civil War. He was a United States Senator representing California.

Birth

John Franklin Miller was born on November 21, 1831, at South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana. He was the son of William and Mary (Miller) Miller. [3]

Personal Life

John Franklin Miller married Mary Wickerham Chess in 1857.

Career

In 1852, Miller was admitted to the bar and established a law practice in South Bend, Indiana. The following year, Miller moved to Napa, California and practice law there. In 1855, Miller returned to South Bend and resumed his law practice. In 1860, he was elected to the Indiana State Senate. [5] [6]

In September 1865, Miller left the army and returned to California. President Andrew Johnson appointed him collector of customs at the port of San Francisco. He served in that post until 1869. [5] [6]

For 12 years, Miller served as president of the Alaska Commercial Company, in the fur industry. In 1880, Miller was elected to the United State Senate representing the state of California and held that office until his death in 1886. [5] [7]

Military Service

On August 27, 1861, John F. Miller was commissioned Colonel of the 29th Regiment, Indiana Infantry. Miller was engaged in the second day of combat at the Battle of Shiloh. Subsequently, his regiment participated in the siege of Corinth. In December 1862, Miller commanded a brigade during the Battle of Stones River. He was wounded in the neck during the battle. [6]

During the Tullahoma Campaign, Miller commanded a brigade of the XX Corps and, on June 27, was wounded and lost his left eye, in battle at Liberty Gap. [5] [6]

Miller was out of action for about a year recuperating. On April 10, 1864, Miller was promoted to Brigadier General. In December 1864, Miller commanded sizable force at the Battle of Nashville. On March 13, 1865, Miller was brevetted Major General. [5] [6]

Death

John Franklin Miller died on March 8, 1886, He was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery, San Francisco, California. When that cemetery ceased to exist, in 1913, he was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery. [5] [6]

Sources

1. ↑ Died in office, vacant March 8, 1886 – March 23, 1886 when successor appointed.

• [1] "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6PZ-J2R : accessed 13 March 2016), John F Miller in household of Henry Corliss, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district ED 114, sheet 56D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0076; FHL microfilm 1,254,076.

• [2] Concerning the Van Bunschoten or Van Benschoten Family in America: A Genealogy and Brief History, Second Edition, by William Henry Van Benschoten (West Park on Hudson, New York, 1907) p. 45.

• [3] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5231/john-franklin-miller: accessed 10 February 2023), memorial page for John Franklin Miller (21 Nov 1831–8 Mar 1886), Find a Grave Memorial ID 5231, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

• [4] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

• [5] John Franklin Miller – Major General, United States Army, United States Senator, Arlington National Cemetery. https://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jfmiller.htm

• [6] John Franklin Miller (senator), Military Wiki, Fandom. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/John_Franklin_Miller_(senator)

See also: * Wikipedia: John Franklin MIller (senator)

• Wikidata: Item QQ1304433, en:Wikipedia