"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 278.
 
R. H. MILROY

     While General Robert Houston Milroy and his wife cannot be counted among
the original pioneers who fought their way, step by step, through the
wilderness, their arrival in Olympia as early as 1869, to take up the important
duties of Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the rapidly developing Territory
of Washington, and the respect and honor with which the memories of General
Milroy and his wife, Mary Armitage Milroy, are cherished in the minds of the
early Olympians, surely entitle them to a prominent niche in this collection of
pioneer sketches.
     General Milroy's name is remembered with the respect due to a patriot, a
brave soldier and a public spirited citizen. Mrs. Milroy, with her lovely
character, Christian life and womanly graces, was an inspiration towards all
good to her devoted family and wide circle of friends. R. H. Milroy was a native
of Washington County, Indiana, and was born in the year 1816.
     His ancestry and parentage were from an aristocratic Scotch family. Indeed,
the Milroys could trace their ancestry in a direct line back to Robert Bruce.
     R. H. Milroy was educated in the Military Academy of Norwich, Vermont,
where he graduated in 1843, Master of Arts, of Law and of Civil Engineering and
of Military Sciences. He was valedictorian of his class. In 1850 he received
a diploma from the law school of Bloomington, Indiana, which institution
conferred on him the degree of B. L.
     He was engaged in the practice of law when he was called upon to take part
in the war with Mexico, where he rendered his country gallant service as Captain
of the First Indiana Regiment. After this war he was commissioned Judge of
the Eighth Judicial District of Indiana. At the breaking out of the Civil war
Capt. Milroy was commissioned Colonel of the Ninth Indiana Volunteers, serving
under Gen. McClellan in Western Virginia, and taking part in the battles of
Grafton, Philippi and Laurel Hill.
     He was later commissioned Brigadier General, and placed in command of the
mountain department and put an effective stop to guerrilla warfare in Western
Virginia.   President Jefferson Davis made Milroy's order in regard to
punishment of guerrilla warfare the subject, of a special message to
the Legislature and that body offered a reward of ten thousand dollars for
General Milroy, dead or alive. Milroy and General Butler were the only Union
Generals thus honored by the Southern Congress. For his gallant actions in the
battles of McDowell and the second battle of Bull Run. He was made Major General
of the second division of the Eighth Army Corps, nice thousand strong, and with
McReynolds' brigade, occupied Winchester, July 11, 1863. He fought his last
battle in the war against Generals Forrest and Bates on the field at
Murfreesboro, and defeated their combined forces.
     General Milroy resigned his command July 26, 1865, after having served
valiantly in the great struggle for the upholding of the Union. After the war
General Milroy was appointed trustee of the Wabash and Erie Canal Company, and
from 1869 to 1874 he was Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Washington
territory.
     From this date to the time of his death, General Milroy was identified with
Olympia and took an active interest in the growth and development of the city.
He built the house on the corner of Eleventh and Main streets, which was the
Milroy home until after the family was broken up by the death of Mrs. Milroy and
where General Milroy ceased his earthly labors on the 29th of March, 1890.
     Of the seven children born to General and Mrs. Milroy only three are still
living, Robert Bruce, Valerius A. and Walter J. The son Valerius or Val, as he
is commonly known in Olympia, has remained faithful to his boyhood home. Coming
here when but a lad of 18 years, he became a clerk in his father's office, and
from there spent a few years in surveying and learning the printers' trade. He
was at one time engaged in the livery business with Mr. M. O'Conner, and was
appointed postmaster of Olympia by President Harrison.  After the expiration of
his term of office he was elected city clerk, and has since held positions of
honor and trust. Val is still unmarried. Of the other sons, Robert Bruce, with
his family, lives in Yakima, and Walter J. and wife live in Victoria, B. C.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.