Douglas Millhoff
Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Weekend Chair Mike Barhorst has announced that longtime Sidney banker and civic leader Douglas Millhoff will be speaking at this year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 21-22 at Sidney’s 226-acre Tawawa Park.
Millhoff, a native of Sidney and graduate of Capital University, served six years as a technical sergeant in the Ohio National Guard before beginning his banking career. After serving three years as a state bank examiner, he began working at Mutual Federal, eventually serving as chief financial officer, chief executive officer, and then chairman of the board.
A member of the Stillwater Civil War Roundtable, Millhoff is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Veterans of the Indian Wars. An avid student of history, Millhoff has an extensive collection of historic memorabilia.
Millhoff will speak on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. about one of his relatives who served in the Civil War, Sergeant Philip J. Millhoff. Sergeant Millhoff enlisted in the 4th Ohio Cavalry in August, 1861 serving in Company G. He was discharged in 1862 and in August, reenlisted in the 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company G.
Millhoff participated in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia, Sweet Water, Tennessee, Cumberland Gap, Virginia, Bulls Gap, Tennessee, the First Battle of Mossy Creek, and the Second Battle of Mossy Creek, Tennessee. He was then ordered to join General W.T. Sherman’s Army, serving in the front lines in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Following the war, Millhoff returned to his farm in Shelby County. He also served as a minister, preaching the Gospel for more than 40 years.
Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Weekend is free and open to the public. A full schedule of events is posted online at www.sidneycivilwar.com.
Although no Civil War battles were fought anywhere near Sidney, a considerable number of local men, including Sergeant Millhoff, served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In fact, the 1860 Census records that Shelby County had a population of 17,493. Of that number, 8,960 were male, and a staggering 14 percent of them served in the Army during the war. Of those, 25.58 percent (326) died in the service of their country.
