Andrew
Jackson Miner
(1830-1864)
Andrew Jackson Miner was born in 1830 near Sego, Perry County, OH, the son of Frederick and Jane (Richardson) Miner Sr. As a soldier during the Civil War, he gave his life for the Union cause.
When Andrew was 17, in 1847, he resided in Perry County. One of his neighbors was Elizabeth Smitley (1842-1913), the daughter of farmers Solomon and Mary M. Smitley.
The year the Civil War erupted, Andrew and Elizabeth were married on Jan. 31, 1861. The ceremony was performed in Muskingum County, OH by Rev. Joseph M. Adair, a Methodist minister. Andrew was 12 years older than his wife.
Later that year, on Oct. 13, 1861, the newlyweds' son William Augustus Miner was born. Mary Flowers attended Elizabeth as a midwife during the birth of the boy.
Andrew and his brother Thomas
(seen here) joined the Army at Somerset, Perry County in 1862. They were
assigned to Company H of
the 90th OH Volunteer Infantry. Their brother Frederick
also served in the Union Army, with the 10th OH
Cavalry. Also joining the 90th OH Infantry was Andrew's neighbor and brother in law John
Smitley, who later recalled: "... we enlisted together and went in the same company and
regiment.... I lived neighbor with him for years before."
During the war, while her husband was away, Elizabeth and her son resided at Moorefield Twp., Clark County, OH.
Both Andrew and Thomas
served in the famous Atlanta
Campaign. The image seen here depicts fighting in and around Atlanta.
During that time, they suffered terribly from
severe diarrhea. Tragically, Andrew died from its effects on Aug. 2, 1864, at
Vining Station, GA, a stop along the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad.
Originally buried at Vining Station, Andrew's remains later were reburied at the Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, GA. He now now rests there for eternity in Section I, Gravesite 9555.
Major N.J. Hitchcock of the 90th OH wrote a letter of condolence to Andrew's grieving widow in a letter dated Sept. 19, 1864:
Doubtless ere this you have received the sad news of the Death of your husband, your brother being present. I depended on him and doubtless he has given you all the particulars. And it only remains for me to say to you that I have forwarded his final statement papers to the 2nd Auditor, Washington D.C. and now all you have to do in order to procure the pay due him and Bounty to refer to the 2nd Auditor, showing him that you are the Legal Widow of the Deceased, &c.
After the war, Elizabeth resided in Tippecanoe, Miami County, OH. She successfully obtained a pension from the federal government to compensate her and her son for their loss. She drew the pension until 1869.
On Aug. 22, 1869, Elizabeth married widower Joseph A. Clippinger (1826-1902), the son of Joseph and Elizabetha Clippinger, and a native of Hagerstown, MD. Their wedding took place in Tippecanoe. Joseph had been married once before, to Sarah Ann Bowen (1824-1868), and brought 8 children to the second marriage -- William H. Clippinger, David Clippinger, Martha E. Clippinger, Charles Edward Clippinger, Montel Clippinger, Emma Stine, Olive Muntz and Franklin Clippinger.
Elizabeth and Joseph went on to have six children of their own -- Ada Clark, Norris Clippinger, Joseph 'Granville' Clippinger, Benton Slippinger, Mabel Kirkpatrick and Clifford Clippinger.
The year that Elizabeth remarried, her son William A. Miner resided with H. Funderburgh in Troy, Miami County. Later, William's stepfather became his legal guardian. When William's grandfather, Frederick Miner Sr., died in 1871, he inherited funds from the estate.
The Clippingers resided in New Carlisle, Clark County, OH and in 1877 relocated to Springfield, Clark County. Joseph worked there as a shoemaker. The Springfield Sun said that Joseph was "prominently identified with society here, and being possessed of a pleasing address and capable of making friends easily, his aquaintance is very extended."
Joseph died suddenly of a heart attack on March 24, 1902. According to the Sun:
[Joseph] was found dead in bed yesterday morning by his wife, who went to ask him if he was feeling any better, as he had complained the previous day of being ill.... On Sunday he was indisposed, and yesterday morning at 5 o'clock Mrs. Clippinger asked him if he felt any better. He replied that he did not, turned on his side, and her next visit to the bed was to find him a corpse.
A family friend testified that after her 2nd husband's death, Elizabeth "owned no property nor anything and has no income from any source and never did own any property or have any income. She has no means of support only her wash tub."
Elizabeth then petitioned the government to receive her first husband's pension. She resided at 11 North Shaffer Street in Springfield. Later, she lived with son Granville at 800 1/2 Main Street. Sadly, she passed away of stomach cancer on Dec. 29, 1913. She is buried with her 2nd husband at New Carlisle Cemetery.
Many of Elizabeth's descendants remained in Clark County. Her grandson Howard G. Clippinger, of Tremont City, was a 60-year member of the Boy Scouts, was a recipient of the Benjamin F. Prince Award by the Clark County Historical Society, and President of the Ohio Long Rifle Collectors. Howard's wife Almeda Jane (DeGroot) Clippinger was President of the Clark County Genealogical Society, author of several papers on Ohio gunsmiths, and was the first woman paramedic in Clark County.
Copyright © 2001, 2005 Mark A. Miner