Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

Capt. James MILLER, chief engineer of Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet; born in Glasgow, 
Scotland, March 11, 1826, where he learned and worked at the trade of machinist until 25 
years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in Quebec in 1852, coming directly to 
Morris, Grundy Co., IL, where he engaged in the foundry and machinist business during a 
period of ten years; in 1862, he raised a full company of 102 men for the war, which he 
took to Chicago, and after remaining in Camp Douglas three months, the regiment was 
mustered out of service, the several companies joining other regiments; Mr. MILLER then 
enlisted in the U. S. navy as fireman, which position he held for three days, when he 
was promoted to Asst. Engineer, which office he held seven months when he received his 
commission as Chief Engineer, and held this position for three years until the close of 
the war; Mr. M. then returned to Morris, and again engaged in the foundry and machinist 
business for a period of two years, when he was appointed, in 1867, as chief engineer 
of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, which office he still holds. He married 
in Scotland in 1852, to Miss Elizabeth A. MILLER; she was born in Scotland in 1825; 
they are the parents of five children - James W., John Edwin, Frank, Margaret and Lillie.