REUBEN MILLER, JR. born June 24, 1805
Title: Genealogical and personal history of western Pennsylvania Vol. 1 / editor-in-chief, John W. Jordan.
Author: Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921.
Pg. 83, 84, 85
MILLER - REUBEN MILLER, JR. was the founder and one of the proprietors of the Washington Works, famous for the manufacture of steam engines.He was born June 24, 1805 in Philadelphia, near Frankford, Pa., and was a son of REUBEN and HANNAH (WILSON) MILLER, both natives of Chester Co.His parents were married Sept. 13, 1798.In the autumn of 1805 the family moved to Pittsburgh...REUBEN MILLER, SR. was engaged in a small way in the business of manufacturing cut nails by hand, and at the age of 13 the son became his assistant.In 1821 the youth made a trading trip as far as Louisville, Kentucky, thus getting his first glimpse of the outside world; and in 1824, at the age of 19, engaged in business for himself, opening a general provision store on Liberty St...In the course of trade his trade extended into Blair, Huntingdon and Center counties...In 1836 MR. MILLER bought out his partner and continued the business alone, and the same year, he, in association with others, commenced the operation of a foundry on the south side of the Monongahela River, the firm name being Robinson & Minnis.In 1840 he abandoned the provision business and, in connection with William C. Robinson and Benjamin Minnis, founded the Washington Works on the south side of the Monongahela River, opposite Pittsburgh, for the manufacture of steam engines and machinery.Soon after its organization the firm built the “Valley Forge,” the first iron steamboat that ever navigated the western waters.For the ensuing 14 years MR. MILLER gave his attention exclusively to his machinery and steamboat interests, and in 1854 retired from the concern, transferring his interests to his sons...
The well known business qualifications possessed by MR. MILLER caused his services to be much in demand on boards of different organizations.At the founding of the Mechanics’ Bank he was a large stockholder, and was elected president, but in 1855, on account of ill health, resigned the position.After the great fire of 1845, which broke up the insurance companies, the Western was in 1849 the first to reorganize, electing MR. MILLER to the presidency, which office he held for many years.He was one of the original subscribers to the first savings bank in Pittsburgh, known as the Pittsburgh Savings Institution, and was one of its directors and its treasurer.It was first conducted as a private banking institution, but finally obtained a charter and now exists as the Farmers’ Deposit Bank, of which MR. MILLER was first treasurer.He was a director in the Exchange Bank, the Savings and Trust Co. (now the First-Second National Bank), and the Bank of Pittsburgh...
A Whig in politics, he was devoted to the interests of his home city, serving as a member of the common and select councils of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City, and for 13 years being identified with the Second Ward School Board, representing that ward at the time of the organization of its high school...He was manager and one of the building committee of Dixmont Hospital, and for years served on its executive committee.
MR. MILLER married, in 1826, ANN LEISHMAN, daughter of PETER and SARAH HARVY, and they were the parents of five sons and two daughters.Of the sons, WILSON, P. HARVY, SAMUEL, and GUS L. (who was mortally wounded in the battle of Gettysburg) are deceased; REUBEN MILLER, the only surviving son, being one of Pittsburgh’s most prominent capitalists and numbered, as were his brothers, among her leading citizens...The death of MR. MILLER, at an advanced age deprived Pittsburgh of one who, throughout his splendidly successful career as a business man.
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