My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM SMITH MILLER, wholesale dealer in meats and provisions in Northampton, was born in South Hadley in 1860, son of Edward Curtis and Elizabeth White (Smith) Miller and grandson of Joseph Miller, one of the pioneer farmers of Ludlow.

Grandfather Miller died at the age of eighty-five, some years after his wife had passed away. They reared two sons and three daughters, but only one son is now living. This is Edward Curtis Miller, who came to South Hadley in 1838. Then a strong young man of nineteen, he hired with Ezra Allen as a farm hand, and worked for him six years. At the expiration of that time he bought fifty acres of land in South Hadley, upon which he established a homestead, and there resides to-day, engaged in general farming. In November, 1845, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth W., daughter of Medad Smith, of Granby, who claims a long and honorable lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had a large family of children. It comprised: Joseph Edward, who died in 1888, at the age of forty-two, leaving a widow and three children; Charles Herbert, in the meat business in Williamsburg; Martha Pamelia, wife of C. A. Gridley, a merchant in South Hadley; Frank, who died in infancy; Harriet E., who also passed away in childhood; Addie Elizabeth, at home with her parents; William Smith, the subject of this notice; and Carrie Irene, wife of F. H. Cook, draughtsman in the office of the Holyoke Water Company.

William Smith Miller received a good education. After attending the common schools, he studied for one year at the Agricultural College of Massachusetts and for one year more at a business college in Springfield. At the age of twenty-one he entered the business world. His first venture was a market in Amherst, which he conducted for two years. He then bought a farm in Hadley, and cultivated it with profit. At the same time he took charge of an extensive butchering establishment, succeeding Mr. Jackson in that line. In the fall of 1893 he sold his farm, and removed to Northampton, there engaging in the wholesale meat business as one of the firm of F. C. Steele & Co. In the following year the firm name was changed to Miller & Steele; and in March, 1895, Mr. Miller took charge of the entire business. He handles the best of goods, averaging fifty head of cattle per week. The two-story brick building that he occupies was built by Armour & Co. in 1893. It has the latest improvements in cold storage, and is admirably fitted in every way for handling and preserving meats.

Mr. Miller was united in marriage on August 26, 1885, to Mary J. Howe, of Hadley, daughter of Charles Howe, of Boston. Mrs. Miller is a graduate of the College for Girls at Bordentown, N.J., and is a lady of refinement, with an exceptional grace of manner. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have two daughters: Mary Elizabeth and Grace Adele, respectively eight and five years of age. Mr. Miller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics he is a Republican. He occasionally attends the Congregational church at Hadley, of which Mrs. Miller is a member. He is regarded as a capable and experienced business man, one with whom it is pleasant to deal.