Valentine came to the U. S. when about ten years old with his older brother and sister, John and Elizabeth. They came into the Port of New York in September of 1847. After arriving in the United States they settled in Kylertown, Clearfield County, PA. Before he went into service he was a lumberman. He entered into service for the Civil War on Aug. 19, 1861 at Milesburg, Centre Co., PA. During his time in the service while on duty at Brandy Station in Virginia on April 1, 1864 he broke his left leg between the knee and ankle while clearing off camp and cutting wood for the company. He was in Regimental Hospital and Emory Hospital, Washington D. C. He was discharged from service at Harrisburg, PA on September 15, 1864. In June of 1865 he moved to Delaware County, Iowa. He probably went there as John N. Kirchner had gone there before him. The civil war record showed him as being 5'6" tall, had a dark complexion, brown hair and hazel eyes. His naturalization record was applied for and granted in Clearfield, PA on September 26, 1864. It said he was 10 years old at the time of his arrival with his father now being dead. The naturalization record was witnessed by Henry Miller and Nicholas Kirchner. He married Anna Schumacher on Dec. 8, 1868 in the St. Boniface Church in New Vienna, Dubuque Co., Iowa. By 1874 they were in St Marys, Warren., IA. He died Dec. 27, 1887, 21 days after signing his will, with typhoid fever and is buried in the St Marys Cemetery.
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The following seduction case was found in the court records at Manchester, Delaware Co., Iowa

On January 25, 1868 Valentine Miller was arrested for the crime of Seduction in Delaware County, Iowa. The claim was that he had seduced and had intercourse with Barberry Schaller on December 27, 1867. It was stated by witnesses that she had an illigimate child in Germany before coming to America and that she was not a very chaste person but when it came time for them to testify they refused to testify that this was true. It was indicated that she had been with Jacob Kleespies, a married man. By January she was telling that she was expecting a child. Valentine Miller was convicted of this crime. He then asked for a new trial and posted a $500.00 bond and a new trial was ordered for the next term of court. Being from Germany and not, evidently, speaking English well Valentine did not realize that he could obtain testimony from citizens in Germany upon written depositions as to the character of Barberry Schaller. Barberry gave birth to a child on September 27, 1868. Valentine again lost the case and was convicted of the crime in October 1868 and was ordered to pay Barberry Schaller $3000.00.2

The following is the will of Valentine:

Know all men by these presents. That I Valentine Miller of the County of Warren and State of Iowa being of sound mind and memory do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following to wit:

Item 1st

I do hereby give and bequeath to my wife Anna Miller all the personal property and chattels I may have at the time of my death - directing that from the said personal property she shall sell enough to pay any and all debts that I may owe at the time of my death - except that if she so elect she may renew a part of the mortgage indebtedness now against my real estate for a period of two or three years at her discretion - and that when it becomes due then she shall pay the same from the personal property. It being the instruction of this will to give to her all my personal property with the right of absolute control thereof only and except that she shall pay my debts from the said property.

Item 2nd

I do further direct and will that all the real estate of which I am possessed to wit the north west quarter of section twenty one (21) Twp. seventy five (75) range twenty five (25) west of fifth P. M. Iowa shall be and belong the property of my wife Anna Miller so long as she shall live and remain my widow and that during said time she shall have full power to use the same as in her judgment may seem proper with full power to use the proceeds of said use in any way she may choose for the benefit of herself and our children.

Item 3

I do further will and direct that in the event my said wife shall marry and thus cease to be my widow then all rights given to her by this will shall cease and any and all property then being and remaining in her hands by virtue of this will shall be disposed of the same as though I had died without a will.

Item 4

I do hereby appoint and constitute my wife Anna Miller the executrix of this my last will and testament during her life or widowhood. I further direct that she shall not be required to give any bond as said executrix nor shall she be required to file any inventory or appraisement.

Item 5

I do further direct that in the event my said wife shall marry again after my death then all her rights as executrix shall cease and the court shall appoint an administrator who shall settle my estate as by this will and the laws of the state provide.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of December A. D. 1887.

Signed
Valentine Miller

Signed and declared to be his last will and testament in our presence by Valentine Miller and we do hereby at his request and his presence and in the presence of each other sign our names as witnesses.
December 6, 1887

Philip McAleavy
Samuel W. Lee

Certificate of Proof of Will
State of Iowa
Warren County
I J. H. Derrough Clerk of the District Court, of said county, hereby certify that on the 11th day of April A. D. 1888 the annexed instrument, purporting to be the last Will of Valentine Miller decedent, late of Warren County, was, upon the hearing thereof, by the said Court, duly allowed and admitted to probate according to law as the last Will of Valentine Miller deceased, the execution of the same having been duly proven according to law; and it was further ordered that letters testamentary issue to the executrix named therein; and that in accordance therewith Anna Miller executrix named in said Will, was appointed to carry the provisions thereof into effect. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my had and caused the seal of said Court to be affixed this 11th day of April A. D. 1888.
J. H. Derrough, Clerk of the District Court
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