Albert
W.
Miller

ALBERT W. MILLER was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 24, 1845 to Charles Miller and his wife, the former Caroline Pennock. He grew up in  Philadelphia before the Civil War, and was living there when he enlisted in the Union Army on February 9, 1864 with Company B, 183rd Infantry Regiment Pennsylvania. He soon was in battle, at the Battle of the Wilderness. On May 12, 1864 during the fighting at Spotsylvania Courthouse he suffered a head wound which caused fainting spells for the balance of his days. After spending the better part of seven months in military hospitals he was returned to his unit in December of 1864. He mustered out with the rest of his regiment on July 13, 1865 at Washington DC. Albert Miller was awarded an invalid's pension for his Civil War duty on April 5, 1872.

Returning to Pennsylvania after the Civil War, Albert Miller went to work as a waterman (sailor) on the Delaware River. He resided in the 16th Ward, on or near Beach Street. Albert Miller married Rebecca Stahl on August 24, 1868, by a Baptist minister, Rev. Harrison. The Millers were living in Philadelphia when the census was enumerated in 1870.

The 1880 Census shows Albert Miller and his wife Rebecca on Beach Street in Philadelphia. His occupation was stated as "Follows the water", apparently he was an expert in the use of small boats and worked an assortment of jobs involving their use. Later he would also engage in huckstering produce and for a short time went into the junk business. Also at home in 1880 were his widowed mother, son Samuel, 12, daughters Amanda, 11, Mary Anna, 5, and Anna, 2. His older brothers Isaac and Charles also lived there. They were oystermen by trade. 

By 1900 there were 10 children, six of whom were living.   

The Millers were living in Pennsylvania as late as February of 1881. Albert Miller and his family crossed the Delaware to live in Camden in the 1880s. City Directories and census records show the family moved around quite a bit, but generally always stayed in the North Camden neighborhood bounded by York, Beach, Erie, and North 2nd Streets. City Directories give the following addresses, in 1887 at 30 York Street, in 1888 at 39 North Street, and in 1890 addresses at both 39 North Street and  932 Beach Street are given.

By 1900 Albert and Rebecca Miller had had ten children, sadly, only six were still living. The 1895 Census shows son Alfred, and daughters Carrie, Rose, and Lillian were still living at home. Carrie was not living at home when the 1900 census was taken. The family was then residing at 204 Erie Street. 

The 1906 Camden City Directory shows that Albert W. Miller had moved to Cramer Hill, residing at 930 North 25th Street and working as a fisherman. This move was short-lived, and by 1910 Albert and Rebecca Miller had returned to their old neighborhood, taking up residence at 4 York Street. May of 1912 found them living around the corner at 924 Beach Street. By the summer of the following year they had moved around the corner once again, this time to 51 North Street.

Albert W. Miller was working aboard a boat while employed by the Vaughan Piledriving Company, located at Beach and Erie Streets in North Camden when by some mischance he fell into the water and drowned on July 5, 1913. His body was discovered adrift in the river three days later. After funeral services at the North Street home, he was buried at Evergreen Cemetery. 

Albert Miller's son Alfred, a shipyard carpenter, had married and by 1917 had moved to 2839 Garfield Avenue in Cramer Hill. When the Census was taken in 1920 Rebecca Miller was living at with Alfred, by then a widower, and his six year old son at 928 North 24th Street. She died on November 3, 1922 in the borough of Clementon most likely at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Amanda Ettman, at Scott and Second Avenue. Funeral services, conducted by Camden undertaker John Crawford, were held at the daughter's home on November 8, after which she was buried with her husband. Alfred Miller apparently never remarried. He was living at 3083 Carman Street in East Camden as late as the spring of 1930.

 Surgeon General's
Verification of War Wounds

August 22, 1872

Copy
of
Marriage License

September 23, 1893

Declaration
for
Pension

May 20, 1912

 Camden Daily Courier

July 8, 1913

Camden Courier or Camden Post-Telegram * July 1913

Declarartion
for
Widow's Pension

July 15, 1913

Declarartion
for
Widow's Pension

July 15, 1913

Notification
of
ending of
Widow's Pension
due to
widow's death

November 7, 1922