Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1924-10-03
mrs. HARLEEA MILEY CELEBRATES
her 1OSfH BIRTHDAY ami.
VERSARY AT NILLERST0WN

| vEkSAkI All MELLEk1lUWN
| Mrs. Harlena MileY, aunt OF S, r
IMiley of 500 West Ash street celebrat
ed her 1OSth birthday Thursday at heI
home in Millerstcwn, Champaign
County, 0.
Mrs. Miley was in splendid health
until past 100 bat is now suffering
from cataracts as well as from the
effects Of a fall suffered two years ago.
just before she was 100 Mrs. Miley
visited Anderson, Ind.
Mrs. Miley was born in 1916, at Luray,
Page County. Va, the oldest of a family
| of seven children. Mrs. Miley is the
granddaughter of Abram Bennett, an
English colonist and revolutionary
soldier who was never accounted for
after the war.
When girl, she travelled from Vlr-
ginia to Millerstown in one of the old
covered prairie schooners or road
wagons. They were on the road three
weeks. Mrs. Miley alternated with
another girl in riding the lead horse
and at night slept in the wagon while
the men slept underneath.
In lS40 Mrs. Miley married John
Miley who died in 1885 at the age OF
|73 Four children were born. All are
well and living today. The baby, Miss
Mary Miley, who is only 6S suffers
somewhat from rheumatism. Isaiah
Miley 70, who is doctor at Anderson,
Ind still has large and active prac-
tee.
Nine grandchildren are living and
four are dead. There are Is great
grandchildren and four great-great-
grandchildren.
Mrs Miley remembers the Tip
pecanoe and Tyler Too" presidential
campaign of 1910 as well as things that
have happened week ago. She can
tell the stories of the war of 1872 that
were current when she was girl. just
the other week she memorized an old
hymn of 4S lines. She is still able to
sing.
I'm what way does Mrs. Miley ac-
count for her great age", We asked.
She has been good. pious W oman all
her life and has never done wrong to
anyone. Pm not old, she says, II
have just lived long while y. In
that way her nephew accounted for her
great age as well as for his own.
Her nephew S F. Miley of Piqua is
no infant, being in the eighties. De-
spite his old age, Mr.. Miley rode to
the County Fair on his bicycle, last
Wednesday. Until this year Mr..
Miley rode to Millerstown each year
on his bicycle to be with his aunt on
her birthday. Mr.. Miley still iaunts
into the country on his bicycle which |
he rides as rapidly as youngster.
He is active as carpenter and works |
every day.
Mr.. Miley is a Confederate War
veteran having fought under Gen.
jackson, Gen. j. E. B. "Jeb"
Stuart, and Gen. Turner Ashby. He
was a member of Co. B, 33rd Va. Inf, |
and fought from the first battle att
Manassas junction uutil the close of
the war. He bears five wounds.
MIR. Miley loves to recount the re-
craftsmanship of Gen.
Ashby who could shoot down man
after man with pistol while riding full
speed on horseback. Mr.. Miley thrilled
with pride as he told of the time Gen.
Ashby with % men routed two New
York cavalry regiments.
eve fought with flintlocks and
in the first battle of
Manassas, the old veteran said. The
old veteran himself possessed an old
homemade rifle over 100 years old.
He displayed picture of a steel
bridge being constructed by the South
ern Railroad at Toms Brook, Va. in
the Shenandoah Valley.
II helped build the first wooden
bridge across that point in the late
fifties, about 1857. This bridge was
burned during the war but was re-
placed by another wooden one. Today
the bridge is of STEEL"
Mr.. Miley suddenly thought of Gen.
Phil Sheridan at he was showing some
pictures of the Shenandoah Valley.
"You dare not mention his name in
that section, he said. 1t was Sher-
idan who ravaged this beautiful valley.
Mr.. Miley then displayed picture
of BELL Grove" where President
James Madison took refuge when the
British captured Washington. This
place was built by Major Isaac Hite,
son of Joist Hite, the first settler in
the valley Major Hite was aide dc
camp to Washington and Marie
Nellie Madison, the daughter of the
|president.
my cousin owns all the land ad
Joining this place." Mr.. Miley added
Iproudly.-The Piqua Daily Call (Ohio,
lSept. %, 1924.
| S. B. Miley, of Toms Brook Va, is
nephew of Mrs. Harlena Miley and
brother of S. F. Miley.