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'''John Turner Milner''' (born [[September 9]], [[1826]] in Pike County, Georgia; died [[August 18]], [[1898]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a surveyor and engineer. As a railroad engineer he determined the location where the [[South & North Railroad]] would cross the [[Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad]] and therefore the site of the future city of [[Birmingham]]. He also developed mining operations at [[Coalburg]] and [[New Castle]].
'''John Turner Milner''' (born [[September 9]], [[1826]] in Pike County, Georgia; died [[August 18]], [[1898]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a surveyor and engineer. As a railroad engineer he determined the location where the [[South & North Alabama Railroad]] would cross the [[Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad]] and therefore the site of the future city of [[Birmingham]]. He also developed mining operations at [[Coalburg]] and [[New Castle]].


Milner was the oldest son of engineer [[Willis Justice Milner]] and his wife, the former [[Mary Ann Milner|Mary Ann Turner]]. He attended public school sporadically, assisting his father with farming, railroad work and gold prospecting at Dahlonega. When he was seventeen he and his father uncovered a seam thought to have been payed out. The gold was an answer to the older Milner's prayers and he fulfilled his promise to use the profits to send John to the University of Georgia.
Milner was the oldest son of engineer [[Willis Justice Milner]] and his wife, the former [[Mary Ann Milner|Mary Ann Turner]]. He attended public school sporadically, assisting his father with farming, railroad work and gold prospecting at Dahlonega. When he was seventeen he and his father uncovered a seam thought to have been payed out. The gold was an answer to the older Milner's prayers and he fulfilled his promise to use the profits to send John to the University of Georgia.


Milner needed remedial study to qualify for enrollment, but soon surpassed his fellow students in the study of engineering. He was forced to withdraw after three years, however, suffering from debilitating illness. Upon his recovery he went to work for the railroad engineer George Hazlehurst as part of a survey crew for the Macon & Western Railroad.
Milner needed remedial study to qualify for enrollment, but soon surpassed his fellow students in the study of engineering. He was forced to withdraw after three years, however, suffering from debilitating illness. Upon his recovery he went to work for the railroad engineer George Hazlehurst as part of a survey crew for the Macon & Western Railroad. He was soon promoted to principal assistant for the surveying of the Muscogee Railroad.
 
In [[1842]] Milner set out for Oregon and California in an oxcart and was placed in charge of the laying out of the city of San Jose by the provisional governor. He returned to the South in [[1852]] and resumed surveying work on the Montgomery & West Point Railroad. On [[December 30]], [[1855]] he married [[Flora Milner|Flora Caldwell]].
 
In [[1858]] Milner was commissioned chief engineer of the planned [[South & North Railroad]] which would connect the [[Tennessee River]] at Decatur to the [[Alabama River]] at Montgomery and allow the [[coal]] and [[iron]] produced in the [[Birmingham District]] to reach a wider market. The project, which was compared to Georgia's  Western & Atlantic Railroad, was expected to boost the economic development of the state. After the outbreak of [[Civil War]] it became crucial to efforts to furnish arms and supplies to Confederate forces and blockaded cities. Despite its importance, progress on constructing the line was hampered by a shortage of labor.


Milner's survey of the site of Birmingham is depicted on [[Eleanor Bridges]]' "[[Cyclorama of Birmingham History]]".
Milner's survey of the site of Birmingham is depicted on [[Eleanor Bridges]]' "[[Cyclorama of Birmingham History]]".

Revision as of 12:23, 22 July 2014

John Turner Milner (born September 9, 1826 in Pike County, Georgia; died August 18, 1898 in Birmingham) was a surveyor and engineer. As a railroad engineer he determined the location where the South & North Alabama Railroad would cross the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad and therefore the site of the future city of Birmingham. He also developed mining operations at Coalburg and New Castle.

Milner was the oldest son of engineer Willis Justice Milner and his wife, the former Mary Ann Turner. He attended public school sporadically, assisting his father with farming, railroad work and gold prospecting at Dahlonega. When he was seventeen he and his father uncovered a seam thought to have been payed out. The gold was an answer to the older Milner's prayers and he fulfilled his promise to use the profits to send John to the University of Georgia.

Milner needed remedial study to qualify for enrollment, but soon surpassed his fellow students in the study of engineering. He was forced to withdraw after three years, however, suffering from debilitating illness. Upon his recovery he went to work for the railroad engineer George Hazlehurst as part of a survey crew for the Macon & Western Railroad. He was soon promoted to principal assistant for the surveying of the Muscogee Railroad.

In 1842 Milner set out for Oregon and California in an oxcart and was placed in charge of the laying out of the city of San Jose by the provisional governor. He returned to the South in 1852 and resumed surveying work on the Montgomery & West Point Railroad. On December 30, 1855 he married Flora Caldwell.

In 1858 Milner was commissioned chief engineer of the planned South & North Railroad which would connect the Tennessee River at Decatur to the Alabama River at Montgomery and allow the coal and iron produced in the Birmingham District to reach a wider market. The project, which was compared to Georgia's Western & Atlantic Railroad, was expected to boost the economic development of the state. After the outbreak of Civil War it became crucial to efforts to furnish arms and supplies to Confederate forces and blockaded cities. Despite its importance, progress on constructing the line was hampered by a shortage of labor.

Milner's survey of the site of Birmingham is depicted on Eleanor Bridges' "Cyclorama of Birmingham History".

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