Caleb Woolpert

Caleb Woolpert, alias “Howard Miller,” was born on June 17, 1841, in Ohio.

Caleb left Ohio and moved west, eventually settling in western Michigan sometime before the war broke out.

He stood 5’11” with gray eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was a 20-year-old farmer possibly living in Newaygo County when he enlisted with his parents’ consent in Company H, possibly as Musician on April 28, 1861. (Company H, formerly the “Muskegon Rangers,” was made up largely of men from the vicinity of Muskegon and Newaygo counties.) On January 16, 1863, he was transferred to F Battery, Third United States artillery at Rappahannock Station, Virginia, and was discharged on February 8, 1864, at Rappahannock Station.

It is not known if Caleb returned to Michigan after his discharge from the U. S. artillery. It appears that he may have been living in the New York City area when, for reasons unknown, he enlisted for one year as “Howard Miller” in the First Independent battery, New York Light Artillery on October 28, 1864, at Brooklyn, New York. He joined the Regiment on November 27, 1864, at Camp Russell, Virginia, and was mustered out June 23, 1865.

After the war Caleb eventually returned to Michigan. He was married to Michigan native Azabah or Azuba Burgess (1848-1894), and they had at least five children: Georgiana (b. 1868), Myron (b. 1871), Lloyd (b. 1877), twins Erwin and Helen (b. 1879). By 1870 he was working as a farmer (he owned $3000 worth of real estate) and was living with his wife and daughter in Roxand, Eaton County. By 1880 he was working as a farmer and living with his wife and children in Roxand; his younger brother (?) Frederick and his family also lived in Roxand.

He settled in Hoytville, Eaton County where he was residing in December of 1883 when he became a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association, and lived in Hoytville for many years. By 1890 he was living in Roxand, Eaton County.

He was still living in Michigan in 1892 when he applied for a pension (no. 1102219), but no certificate was ever granted.

Caleb was a widower when he died on December 30, 1898, presumably at his home in Eaton County. and was buried alongside his wife in Meadowbrook cemetery, Roxand Township, Eaton County.