The University of Iowa Libraries

James Miller (1824-1894) was born in Scotland. He immigrated to the United States by way of Canada. In September of 1851, he became a U.S. citizen. He was living in Pennsylvania and working as a master mechanic at that time. He later moved to Illinois and farmed near Channahon in Wills County. Miller helped raise Company G (Mechanics Fusiliers), 56th Illinois Volunteers. Because of a technicality, it was mustered out in January 1862. Miller then went to Cairo, Illinois and enlisted as a fireman in the Western Gunboat Flotilla of the Navy. On March 1, 1862, he was promoted to Chief Engineer. Discharged from the military in September 1865, Miller returned to Illinois and went to work as an engineer at the Joliet State Prison. In charge of all machinery, he served as chief engineer for twenty-five years. While there, he was responsible for the invention of certain improvements in feed water heaters and purifiers for boilers. He later invented an important part for blast furnaces.

The papers of James Miller consist of fifty items covering the years 1849 to 1903 and concerning his Civil War service and later inventions. Most of the documents pertain to Miller's tour of duty in the U.S. Navy on the Mississippi River from 1862 to 1865. Included are such items as benefit claims and military service records. Some of these documents were signed by Gideon Welles, David D. Porter, and William D. Porter. Finally, there are materials relating to his mechanical inventions and a copy of his marriage certificate.

Access: This collection is open for research.

Use: Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Acquisition: The papers of James Miller were donated to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1981 by Mrs. Margaret M. Claussen.

Preferred Citation: James Miller Papers, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.

Repository:	University of Iowa Special Collections
Address:	Special Collections Department University of Iowa Libraries Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:	319-335-5921
Curator:	Greg Prickman
Email:	lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Website:	http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.

Corporate Names:
United States Navy

Topics:
American Civil War, 1861-1865
American Civil War, 1861-1865
American Civil War, 1861-1865

Occupations:
Soldiers

Geographic Names:
Illinois
Mississippi River