Biography of Andrew Jackson Miller, Coosa, alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/coosa/bios/ajmiller.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Ronald D. Bridges ================================================================================ October 1998 Biography of Andrew Jackson Miller - Coosa Co., AL Andrew Jackson Miller, sometimes called A. J., was born January 24, 1834, in Henry County, Georgia, to the parents of John McBridge Miller, Sr. and Martha (Gibson) Miller. John and Martha had seven known children and Andrew was the first born of their five sons and two daughters. Andrew’s family eventually moved from Georgia to Coosa County, Alabama, a year or two prior to 1850. During the early 1850s Andrew met Elvonea V. Logan, sometimes called Ellen. She was born 26 May 1839 in Coosa County to the parent of H. Alexander Logan and Martha (Smith) Logan. Andrew courted Ellen, and she accepted a marriage proposal from him. They wedded on July 28, 1858, in Coosa County, Alabama. Their first child, James Alexander Miller, was born June 2, 1860. Before James celebrated his first birthday, shots heard by many at Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, marked the start of the War Between the States. For many months after the firing on Fort Sumter, Andrew’s family and friends probably discussed the ramifications of the War and how it would effect their State, and their county. During quite moments at home Ellen and Andrew most likely conversed about how the family would cope if he volunteered to fight for the Cause. To complicate this question on whether to volunteer or not, Ellen was pregnant. She gave birth to Mary Amanda Miller on March 15, 1862. Later Andrew made his decision. On August 10, 1862, at Wetumpka, Alabama, Andrew enlisted as a Private into the 53rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment [Partisan Rangers] Company C. The 53rd was sometimes referred as a mounted infantry. In 1862 Andrew brother, John McBride Miller, Jr. made his decision also. He enlisted into the 34th Alabama Infantry Regiment, Company B. This decision and commitment made by Andrew had a huge impact on his wife and family. Ellen became the head of the household with the responsi- bility of caring for the two children, house, animals, and farm. Her family did not own slaves. "Slaveholding women had drivers and field hands to continue the work on the plantation and produce food, but white women of the mountains, the hill country, and the Wiregrass did not, and it fell to them and their children to produce what they would eat."(1) It should be noted that "(in) Coosa County raising 800 men translated into 15,000 acres uncultivated."(2) This decision and commitment made by Andrew to fight for what he thought was right also meant the possible loss of his life. While serving in the 53rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment, Andrew was wounded in 1862 at Corinth, Mississippi and also Altoona, Mountain, Georgia. He performed the duties of Teamster - Ambulance driver from December 22, 1863 to February 29, 1864, and then from March 1, 1864 thru April 1, 1864. He was paid a rate of 25 cents for this occupation. Andrew fought when Union General William T. Sherman reached Atlanta. The 53rd was the principal force engaged in the daring raid in his rear, whereby a valuable train was destroyed. It was then at the heels of Sherman as he devastated Georgia and the Carolinas, and it took part in the last operations of the war in that quarter. On May 5, 1865, Andrew was discharged. He returned to the arms of his loving wife in Coosa County. There he farmed 120 acres at Bentleyville in Coosa County. In 1869, Ellen bore him a son, Henry Miller on 28 May 1868. June the 27th of 1871 was a sad day for Andrew. Ellen died at the age of 32 on 27 Jun 1871. She was buried in the same cemetery as her parents were, Poplar Spring Baptist Church Cemetery, Coosa Co., Alabama. Andrew continued to farm and never married again. On the 15th of June, 1899, Andrew applied through the State of Alabama for a pension; relief of Confederate Soldiers and Sailors. His application was approved a class four on July 26, 1899. On January 25, 1905, Andrew died one day after his birthday. He lived to be 71 years and one day old. He was buried beside his wife. His only daughter, Mary Amanda Miller, was also buried beside him. She never married. Later in 6 Nov 1927, Andrew’s brother, John McBride Miller, Jr., died and was buried near him. Two Confederated Soldiers - Rest in Peace. (1)William Warren Rogers, Robert David Ward, Leah Rawls Atkins, and Wayne Flynt, Alabama: The History of a Deep South State (Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 1994), p. 207. (2)Ibid., 207. Written & submitted by Ronald D. Bridges, Andrew Jackson Miller’s Great- Great Grandson.