• Bio
  • Summary
  • Transcript
  • Download
Milton Haney

Milton Lorenzo Haney (1825–1922) was an American preacher, Methodist minister, and Civil War chaplain whose ministry spanned over seven decades, leaving a lasting impact on the holiness movement. Born on January 23, 1825, in Savannah, Ohio, to James Haney, a local Methodist preacher, and an unnamed mother, he credited his mother’s godly home life as pivotal to his salvation. Converted at age 16, Haney began preaching in 1846 at age 21, appointed as the junior preacher of the Dixon, Illinois, Circuit, just six weeks after receiving his preaching license. In 1849, he married Sarah C. Huntsinger of Princeton, Illinois, a union that lasted over 70 years. His early ministry focused on southern Illinois but soon expanded to churches and camp meetings across the Midwest. Haney’s preaching career blended pastoral service with a passion for evangelism and holiness. In 1847, he professed entire sanctification at a Methodist camp meeting, aligning himself with the emerging holiness movement led by figures like the Palmers. During the Civil War, he served as chaplain of the 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, earning the Medal of Honor for bravery on July 22, 1864, at the Battle of Atlanta, where he voluntarily fought in the ranks to retake Union works, earning the nickname "The Fighting Chaplain." After the war, he became a freelance holiness evangelist, preaching the Wesleyan doctrine of sanctification, and later earned the affectionate title "Father Haney." Haney died on January 20, 1922, in Altadena, California, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, leaving a legacy as a colorful and dedicated preacher whose family contributed multiple generations to Methodist ministry.