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Below is a family biography included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.   These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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REUBEN MILLER, JR. Briefly narrating the life of this highly honored old citizen of Pittsburgh is as the unrolling of a panorama of the present century’s growth, and disclosing the changes that have been wrought in more than fourscore years of steady development.

Reuben Miller, Jr., was born near Frankford, Pa., June 24, 1805, a son of Reuben and Hannah Miller, natives of Chester county, same state. In the fall of 1805 the family moved to Pittsburgh, and here young Reuben received his education. At the age of thirteen he commenced work in his father’s iron business. In 1821 he made a trading trip as far as Louisville, Ky.; then continued to 1824 in his father’s employ, when he opened a general provision-store in Pittsburgh. In course of time his business extended into Blair, Huntingdon and Centre counties. In another year he became interested in a tobacco factory. At this stage of life he married, the lady of his choice being Ann L., the youngest daughter of Peter and Sarah Harvy. In 1836 Mr. Miller bought out his partners, and continued the entire business alone. In the same year he and others commenced and successfully carried on a foundry on the south side of the Monongahela river. In 1839 the firm of which Mr. Miller was a part built the first and only iron boat, the Valley Forge, that ever navigated the western rivers. For fourteen years, commencing in 1840, Mr. Miller confined himself exclusively to his steamboat interests, and in 1854 he retired from the concern, transferring his interests to his sons. Of many public institutions in both city and country he has been director, president or manager, and has always kept his heart and hand interested in everything tending to the public good.

Five sons and two daughters were born to him, both the latter of whom died in early childhood; one son was drowned in 1860 at the age of fifteen; the next youngest gave his services to his country, and on the third day at Gettysburg received his death-wound.

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This family biography is one of 2,156 biographies included in the History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania published in 1889 by A. Warner & Co.

View additional Allegheny County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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