There are times when randomly researching ancestors that you discover their involvement with the events of the past. The particular ancestor I was researching was Absolom Miller (1826-1909), my wife’s 3 times great-grandfather who was in the Civil War.
Absolom Miller was born in June 1826 (per the 1900 census) to Jonathan Miller and Mary Turley. I was so intrigued when I saw that Absolom’s mother Mary was married twice. First to Daniel Pauley (1794-1824) and then to Jonathan Miller (1796-1874).
A brief insight into the short life of Daniel Pauley revealed something I found truly surprising in relation to another Kanawha inhabitant, Andrew Beach:
From “History of Kanawha County”, by George Wesley Atkinson, 1876
Was Daniel Pauley really a teacher? I didn’t find any other form of records or documents to confirm that this was the Daniel Pauley that married Mary Turley, but I thought I’d pass it on just in case this is the same man.
Now, back to our subject at hand, Absolom Miller. Beginning with the 1840 Census in Kanawha County, VA, I found Absolom’s father Jonathan Miller:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
Absolom falls into this census, marked in the 3rd column where Absolom’s father, Jonathan Miller is at the top of the list shown above. The other surnames listed are that of Pauley, Turley, Childers and Midkiff, some related to Jonathan and Absolom, and/or to my wife. This reminds us that there are so many family trees that are intertwined.
In the 1850 Census, 13 Aug, 9 days before Absolom married Mariam (Mary Ann) Pauley, here is Absolom Miller with his family:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
It’s hard to say why Jonathan Miller is documented as Jonathan Williams.
Here is the marriage record of 22 Aug 1850 for Absolom and Mariam (Mary A.):
Courtesy of West Virginia Departments of Arts, Culture and History
Here is the 1860 Compiled Census Index, Kanawha Co., WV:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
Obviously, the following years after the 1860 Census, came the Civil War and Absolom Miller was a part of that history. The first company he was a part of was the 80th VA Regiment, Company C (Union) under the command of Capt. William W. Pauley, mustered in on June 10, 1862, according to the muster roll below. I found a fantastic source of information for all West Virginia regiment muster rolls of Jackson, Kanawha and Lewis Counties on the West Virginia Art, Culture and History website. I have included below the muster roll for the company that Absolom Miller was a part of:
Courtesy of West Virginia Departments of Arts, Culture and History
Another direct ancestor of my wife that I discovered in the muster rolls of the 80th VA, Co. C was Harrison Griffith. Sarah J. Griffith, the daughter of Harrison Griffith married Henry J. Miller, Absolom’s son.
Courtesy of West Virginia Departments of Arts, Culture and History
I then found these through an internet search of Google eBooks:
From Public Documents, Vol. 1, West Virginia 1902
From Public Documents, Vol. 1, West Virginia 1902
I found very little other information regarding the battles, conflicts and skirmishes in which the 80th VA Infantry, Co. C may have been involved.
Steve Cunningham that heads up the 7th West Virginia Cavalry website, referred me to an author of “The Battle of Charleston and the 1862 Campaign of Kanawha Valley” by Terry Lowry. I was able to get in touch with Terry and this is what he told me from what he knew of the 80th VA Regt. Militia:
“…most of the militia performed guard duty and assisted the regular troops with local affairs and were rarely in a fight.“
Terry also mentioned that the WV State Archives does have, what he called, one-time payment documents of the men of the 80th VA Regt. Militia. They are similar to pension documents that have statement from the soldiers own accounts of when and where they served, and sometimes some additional information. I may look into this further, but for now I am satisfied with everything I have discovered up to this point.
After Absolom’s apparent imprisonment in Richmond, VA, he then joined the 7th West Virginia Cavalry, mustered in on 31 Aug, 1864, in the regiment commanded by Col. John H. Oley:
Courtesy of Fold3©
Searching through the roster of the truly remarkable website, the 7th West Virginia Cavalry, I was able to track quite a number of family surnames related to my wife, if not related to Absolom as well.
25 Pauleys, 12 Midkiffs, and 8 Turleys. I searched for other family names that may be related to my wife. I searched on the surname Young, since my wife is related to Capt. John Young of the Revolutionary War. The results came up with 8 soldiers named Young. There is a John D. Young listed as a 2nd Lieutenant. John D. Young is listed in a SAR Membership Application as the son of Capt. John Young and Keziah Tackett, my wife’s direct ancestors. I also discovered that the wife of John D. Young, Elizabeth Morris James has a connection to my wife. Elizabeth was the granddaughter of Henry Morris and Mary Byrd, also my wife’s direct ancestors.
Here are the Battle Unit Details for the 7th West Virginia Cavalry:
Duty at Martinsburg and Charleston, W. Va., to April, 1864. Crook’s Raid on Virginia & Tennessee Railroad May 2-19. Rocky Gap May 6. Cloyd’s Mountain May 9. New River Bridge May 10. Cove Gap May 10. Blacksburg May 11. Union and Pond Mountain Gap May 12. Meadow Bluff May 24. Hunter’s Raid to Lynchburg May 26-July 1. Buffalo Gap June 6. Lexington June 11. Buchanan June 13. New London June 16. Diamond Hill June 17. Lynchburg June 17-18. Liberty June 19. Buford’s Gap June 20. About Salem June 21. At Loup Creek June 29. Ordered to the Kanawha Valley and duty at Charleston, Coalsmouth, Winfield, Point Pleasant and Guyandotte till August, 1865. Coalsmouth September 30, 1864. Skirmish at Winfield October 26, 1864 (1 Co.). Operations in the Kanawha Valley November 5-12. Mustered out August 1, 1865.
Courtesy of the National Park Service
The next record I found Absolom Miller in is the 1870 Census for Kanawha Co., WV:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
From 1871, Mary (Turley) Miller’s (Absolom’s mother) will fleshes out the relationships of Absolom’s kin and adds to the information I discovered about Absolom’s life.
Here is a breakdown of family members mentioned in Mary’s will – 17 Aug., 1871:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
| Name: | Gender: | Relationship: |
| Hezekiah Shelton Brogran | Male | Grandson |
| Jonathan Miller | Male | Husband |
| Absolom B. Miller | Male | Son |
| Mary E. Miller | Female | Granddaughter |
| Annetta Miller | Female | Granddaughter |
| Isabella Brogan | Female | Granddaughter |
| Isabella Pauley | Female | Granddaughter |
| Annetta Childers | Female | Granddaughter |
| Serepta Brogan | Female | Granddaughter |
| Sanford Brogan | Male | Grandson |
| Andrew Brogan | Male | Grandson |
| Lorenzo D. Miller | Male | Grand Newphew |
| Jonathan Miller | Male | Grand Newphew |
| Larrison Miller | Male | Grand Newphew |
| Rilen (Ryland) Miller | Male | Grand Newphew |
| George Washington Pauley | Male | Son |
| Larrison Pauley | Male | Son |
| Sidney (Pauley) Childers | Female | Daughter |
The relationships are quite simple really. Daniel Pauley and Mary Turley (her first marriage) were the parents of the George W. Pauley, Larrison Pauley and Sidney Pauley mentioned in Mary’s will. Jonathan Miller and Mary Turley (her second marriage) were the parents of Absolom B. Miller, both Jonathan and Absolom are mentioned in the will. Absolom’s 3 other siblings passed away before his mother. The grandchildren mentioned were the children of Absolom Miller, Issac and Serena Brogan, and Sidney and James Childers.
The grand nephews were the sons of Augustus Miller and Mary Bays. Augustus Miller’s father, David Miller was a brother to Jonathan Miller, 2nd husband of Mary Turley.
I next found Absolom in the 1880 Census in Kanawha Co., WV:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
Although we lost the 1890 Census to fire, we still have the 1890 Veterans Schedules:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
Here is the 1900 Census in Washington District, Kanawha Co., WV for Absolom:
Courtesy of Ancestry©
Absolom Miller’s life ended in 1909. I found no other death records for Absolom Miller. Just the information given on his Find a Grave memorial page:
Courtesy of Find a Grave©
It can be quite surprising when you decide to unlock the life events of just one individual ancestor because you just don’t know what you might find. Discovering the life events of Absolom Miller was challenging at times, but well worth the effort.
Sources:
Ancestry©
Fold3©
West Virginia Arts, Culture and History
Google eBooks
“History of Kanawha County”, by George Wesley Atkinson, 1876
West Virginia Union Militia Muster Rolls
West Virginia Adjutant General’s Papers: State Service Commission
“Public Documents, Vol. 1, West Virginia”, 1902 (Pgs. 43 & 46)
Battle Unit Details – The Civil War – The National Park Service – 7th West Virginia Cavalry
Featured Image: Field and Staff of the 7th West Virginia Cavalry, circa. 1865 – Courtesy of Steve Cunningham, 7th West Virginia Cavalry website
Acknowledgements:
Terry Lowry, author of the book “The Battle of Charleston and the 1862 Kanawha Valley Campaign” – thank you Terry for your input and knowledge
Steve Cunningham, author, presenter and webmaster of the 7th West Virginia Cavalry website – thank you Steve for you stewardship and knowledge of the 7th West Virginia Cavalry
My wife Cheryl for your continual love and support
Your Ancestors Demystified 