Wednesday, March 7, 2007

REUBEN MILLER



Reuben Miller is the name of three men - father, son and grandson - who were prominent Pittsburghers during the 19th century.

Reuben Miller (1) was born in 1805 in Pennsylvania. He graduated from St James College and spent his life in the iron business. He was a clerk with the foundry of Christopher Cowan who was the first person to create a rolling mill in Allegheny County (in 1811-1812). Reuben Miller was selected by Cowan to make a trip to Nashville to learn about the process.

Reuben Miller (1) (born 1805-) married Ann L.? …


Here is their family in 1850:


MILLER, REUBEN - 45
MILLER, ANN L. - 45
MILLER, HARVEY - 23
MILLER, WILSON - 21
MILLER, REUBEN - 11
MILLER, JOSEPH L. - 9
MILLER, LAMETT - 5

In 1834, The Pittsburgh Savings Institution was brought into being by an act of the Pennsylvanian Legislature and Reuben Miller was among those who were named to be its directors. Also named were SFF&HC members or relatives Thomas S. Clarke, John Caldwell. Son and SFF&HC member Reuben Miller Jr. (born in 1839) was listed as the treasurer. The name of the bank was later changed to The Farmers Deposit Bank of Pittsburgh. Reuben Miller was also a director of the Exchange Bank with SFF&HC members and relatives Harvey Childs and James W Brown. Miller was also elected to the organizing board of the Mechanics Bank (1855) and upon election, became its first president.

Reuben Miller (2) (born in 1839) was the son of Reuben (1) and Ann L. Miller. He continued in the same line of work as his father, and listed his occupation as a steel maker.

Reuben Miller was a director of the Fidelity Trust Company, serving along with these SFF&HC members: C B Shea, Robert Pitcairn, Frank Semple and James H. Reed. He was a member of the Americus Club (as were many SFF&HC members. Miller served on the Central Board of Education for the Pittsburgh Public Schools and served as its first treasurer. He served as president of the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. And he served on the board of Homewood Cemetery.

Reuben Miller (2) married Mary L. Fleming. Their children include:


Reuben Miller Jr., (3) a graduate of Yale 1892, married Rachel Larimore (thereby a connection with the Mellon family)

Ruth Lindley Miller

Lois Fleming Miller

Harvey Miller
(his children include Harvey Miller, Jr. and Frances Miller)

[One of the daughters of Reuben and Mary Miller became Mrs. Cameron B Waterman of Grosse Pointe MI; their children include Cameron B Waterman Jr., Reuben Miller Waterman and Mary Elizabeth Waterman]

Their summer home was Rockmont, Beaumaris, Lake Muskoka, Ontario.

Here is the household of Reuben and Mary in 1880, or nine years before the Flood:

MILLER, REUBEN - 42
MILLER, MARY - 28
MILLER, REUBEN - 8
MILLER, FLEMING - 6
MILLER, HARVY - 5
MILLER, RUTH - 1

3 comments:

CameronSleuther said...

Hello, Vicomte.

I am descended from the Lois Miller Waterman of whom you wrote. I would very much appreciate learning from you about the flood and the other topics you noted pertinent to your reseach.

troz said...

just wanted to say i have a newspaper article (the original)from 1908 mentioning mr. miller about how he petitioned a congressman to pass a law for all ships to have wireless communcations after the sinking of the ship the republic

Vicomte Flesym said...

Thank you both for your comments. Cameron, I have posted just about everything I know, about the family and the Flood. Troz, your newspaper article is a good insight about Mr. Miller. Thank you both.