My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM MILLER, manufacturer, Rankin station, B. & O. R. R., was born in Scotland July 21, 1820. His father, John Miller, a shoemaker by trade, married Mary Ross, and they were parents of five children, William being the only one who grew to manhood. At the age of nine years he left school and sought employment in a cotton-mill, working twelve hours for nine cents, and so continued for six years. In 1835 he commenced work in the forge shops, and has since been connected with that industry. He came to America in 1849, secured employment in West Point foundry, New York, where he remained five years. He learned the trade of hammersman, and returned to Scotland in 1855, remained there two and one-half years, and again came to America, locating in Pittsburgh. He was employed at his trade until 1862, when the Duquesne Forge company was organized, this plant being situated at Duquesne way, and the partnership existed until 1882, Mr. Miller being a partner and manager. He then came to his present place and purchased a grand space of ten acres on the B. & O. R. R., at Rankin station, Pa., and formed a partnership known as Miller Forge company(limited). This plant is equal to any in the United States in the manufacture of its product. Mr. Miller was married in 1845 to Jane Stout, of Scotland, and eight children were born to this union, six living: William J., Humphries, Elizabeth, Jane S., Agnes D., Jennette. There were made at Mr. Miller’s works during the war the first armor-plate for ironsides and the first battery steel cannon in this country. Mr. Miller has always been a successful business man. For twelve years he was director in the Merchants’ & Manufacturers’ Bank of Pittsburgh; has been a director of the Pittsburgh, Chartiers & Youghiogheny railroad; was president of the Pittsburgh exposition for two years, president of Pennsylvania Engineers’ society one year, and is a member of American Merchant Engineers. He and family are members of the U. P. Church; he is a republican.