San
Francisco County
Biographies
JOHN F.
MILLER.
The late lamented United States Senator General
John F. Miller was one of nature’s noblemen. He was a patriot, skilled soldier,
sagacious statesman and the peoples’ champion. There is no name in history
shines out with brighter lustre; the ideal American
gentleman. He was born in Indiana received a liberal education and graduated at
the New York Law School in 1852. The following tribute to his useful career we
quote: “Resigning his seat as a Senator in the Indiana Legislature, Mr. Miller
was commissioned a Colonel of the 29th Indiana Infantry, by the late
O. P. Morton, the great War Governor. With this regiment he took the field even
before it had been properly equipped for active service, and quickly won a
reputation as a brave and skillful soldier, loved and esteemed by commanders
and men alike. He was soon placed in command of a brigade, and for some months
before the battle of Murfreesborough, or Stone’s
River, he commanded the post at Nashville. When General Rosecrans reorganized
the Army of the Cumberland, in the fall of 1862, Colonel Miller was assigned to
duty as Commander of the 7th Brigade, Negley’s
Division, Center, General George H. Thomas’ Corps.” In the light of history
General Miller won the battle of Murfreesborough. Six
months, later, while leading his brigade in a charge upon the intrenchments of the Confederates at Liberty Gap, General
Miller was struck from his horse by a minie-ball
which lodged in the bones forming the socket of his left eye and was almost
utterly incapacitated for further field service. It is the frequently expressed
opinion of some of our best soldiers that that minie-ball
cut short the career of the most promising volunteer
officer in the Union Army. From that time till the close of the war he was in
command at Nashville, Mobile and other important points, except during the
glorious battle of Nashville, when he commanded the left wing of Thomas’ Army,
comprising 8,800 men. He was given the rank of Brigadier and Brevet
Major-General for “Conspicuous Bravery.” He was elected Presidential Elector in
1872 and again in 1876 and was elected to the United States Senate in January,
1881, taking his seat March 4th of the same year. His career in the
Senate has been marked with the success that always has attended all his
undertakings public or private. He was always an ardent student and few branches
of study, popular or recondite, were altogether passed over by him. His style
was characterized chiefly by vigor and elegance. He could be thorough without
pedantry and energetic without losing the polished smoothness of the litterateur. These considerations
justified the wisdom of his choice as one of the trustees of the great Leland
Stanford, Jr., University. Naturally of a literary turn of mind, he built upon
the foundation afforded by a thorough academical
training, by wide reading, extensive travel and profound observation, a
judgment that might have been relied upon to advise in the spirit of the
broadest catholicity in all matters that may come before the body of which he
was a member. As soldier, statesman and publicist, his views were always
liberal, far-sighted and accurate. He was chivalrous and brave, true and kind,
sincere and attached to his friends. He leaves an estimable wife and lovely
daughter, and the hearts of the American people are filled with sincere
sympathy for them in their deep affliction.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “Illustrated Fraternal Directory Including
Educational Institutions on the Pacific Coast”, Page 76, Publ. Bancroft
Co., San Francisco. Cal. 1889.
© 2012 Cecelia
M. Setty.
San Francisco County Biographies