HENRY MILLER, SR. obituary as found in the Keystone Newspaper

This week the entire Keystone community paused to do honor to the memory of the town's oldest resident, a kind friend, an honored citizen, and the township's last survivor of the Civil War. Henry Miller Sr., who passed away at his home here Friday morning, March 27, 1925 at the age of 89 years, 10 months and 22 days. The flag on the town staff floated at half mast during the time of the funeral services, a fitting recognition to the memory of a man who was loved and honored by the entire community, and who had many times risked his life in the defense of the flag he honored. Mr. Miller was born in Ramstedt, Schleswig, Germany on May 4, 1835. In 1858 he left his home in Germany to find a new home in America, and located at Davenport, IA. Early in 1861, answering one of the first calls of President Lincoln for troops, he enlisted in the 16th Iowa Infantry at Davenport. The following spring his regiment was sent into Tennessee, and April 6th and 7th of that year, two days after its arrival, was fought the battle of Shiloh, in which his regiment played so conspicuous a part. On October 4, 1862, he was wounded at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi and was sent to Andersonville prison. Of his experiences at that famous prison Mr. Miller often told his friends and has said, "the cruel treatment and suffering which with my comrades I there endured were beyond human description". After two months confinement at Andersonville, he with about 2000 other soldiers were freed by exchange, and Mr. Miller at once rejoined his regiment at Atlanta and took part in Sherman's famous "March to the Sea" from that place. After three years of service in the Union Army he was discharged in November of 1864 and at once returned to his former home at Davenport. In 1865 he came to Benton County and here, on October 15, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Augusta Heldt. And for sixty years he remained a resident of the county of his adoption. He with his wife and members of his family removed to Keystone a number of years ago, and have since made their home here. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born nine children, four of whom preceded the father in death. Besides his aged life companion, he is survived by three sons, William, August and Andrew, all of Keystone, and two daughters, Mrs. Amanda Loeck of Lakefield, MN, and Mrs. Minnie Mess of Keystone. He was the last surviving member of his immediate family. Funeral services were conducted from the Lutheran Church Sunday afternoon, which were in charge of the pastor, Rev. A. W. Brauer. Members of Magnus A. Merkel Post, American Legion, attended the services in a body, forming a guard of honor and bearers of the flag draped casket. It was one of the largest attended funerals ever held in Keystone, the entire community turning out to pay their last respects to the kind friend, the honored pioneer, the beloved neighbor and the staunch defender of his country's flag. At the Keystone Cemetery where the remains were laid to rest, the services were in charge of the American Legion post whose full ritualistic burial serivces were exemplified, concluding with salutes by the firing squad and the sounding of taps by the Post bugler.