Venango Citizen Press Page 1 - Wednesday, Dec 21, 1927 - GENERAL CHARLES MILLER DEAD AT 84, LONG ACTIVE IN INTERESTS OF FRANKLIN; PROMINENT IN OILDOM - Had Been in State of Coma for Several Days - One of Founders of Galena-Signal Oil Co. and Its President Many Years. - ACTIVE AS AN INDUSTRIALIST

Gen. Charles Miller, aged 84, one of the founders of Galena-Signal Oil Co., prominent for years as one of the leading oil men of PA, died at his home in Miller Park, after several weeks illness, at 3:25 o'clock Tuesday morning. For a day or so General Miller had been in a state of coma, and members of the family and friends realized that his death was only a matter of hours. Death was due to heart trouble, from which he had been a sufferer for some months. General Miller's health had been failing for the past six months and had been such as to keep him away from his office for days at a time. However, he possessed unusual vigor for one of his age and the earnest attention which he gave to his various business interest was a matter of frequent comment by his friends and business associates.

Gen. Mille, was born in Alsace, on June 15, 1843, when it was a part of France, prior to its annexation by Germany in the war of 1870-71. He came to this country when a boy in his teens. He frequently mentioned that the first real work he had was selling sewing machines. This was shortly after he came to Franklin. It was not long until he recognized the importance attaching to the development of the oil business and, thinking years ahead of others, planned the Galena Oil Co., which later became in its time, the foremost supplier of oils for railroad purposes. He was president of the Galena-Signal Oil Co., for many years, retiring from the presidency about eight years ago.

During the time he was president of the Galena-Signal Oil Co., the Galena-Signal provided lubricating oil for more than 80 percent of the railroads of the country. Many of these contracts both in the US and abroad, were obtained through General Miller's personal acquaintance with railroad officials. At that time, he was probably one of the best informed men on business affairs to be found anywhere in the country and his advice was frequently asked by other men of high standing in industrial lines.

He then became identified with the Home Oil Co., and later with the Franklin Railway Oil Co., which he himself organized and which built a refinery in the Two-Mile Run district. The signal success which he had attained with the Galena-Signal Oil Co., was not, however, realized in the newer concern.

Gen. Miller was instrumental in having the New York Central railroad build the Jamestown, Franklin & Clearfield railroad, 22 years ago. This road cost several million dollars and was a 45 mile engineering feat, piercing the hills of Venango and Clarion counties and tapping a rich coal territory. The road was a paying proposition for many years. Then when competition with other roads developed and automobile traffic curtailed receipts, the passenger service was finally dropped. Gen. Miller's interest of late have centered in the Jamestown, Franklin & Clarion railroad of which he is president. The business on this road was only nominal when he obtained control. Through his efforts however, real development came about in the coal industry and manufacturing industrie, and the road is now on a substantial basis. This road operates the line from Clarion to Summerville.

For 25 years Gen. Miller has been actively identified with the American Steel Foundries. He was chairman of the board and regularly each moth attended the meetings of the directors when they convened in New York.

For many years, Gen. Miller maintained at his own personal expense, a night school in Franklin which proved the starting point for many successful business careers of young men and women. The advantages of this school were numerous and were available without any cost whatever to the students. Many of the graduates later found places of profitable employment in the Galena-Signal offices, while others went from Franklin and almost invariably became successful business men and women elsewhere.

Gen. Miller's interest in the city generally were so widespread that 20 years ago, there was hardly a large industry in the city with which he was not connected in some capacity. The development of Miller Park was one of his outstanding achievements and it has often been acclaimed as one of the beauty spots of Pa. He was president for many years of the General Manifold & Printing Co., and was president of the Evening News Printing Co., until its merger with The Venango Daily Herald in May of 1919.

With Franklin Manufacturing Co. and the Grant Tool works, his interests were many and varied. The Miller and Sibley stock farm in the late 90's and early part of this century was one of the leading farms of its kind in the Country. Eight or nine years ago, the site of the stock farm was donated to the city as a public playground by Gen. Miller and Joseph C. Sibley, his former partner and the place to this day bears their name and is known as the Miller-Sibley Field.

During recent years Gen. Miller has conducted the Rosemont Farm, adjoining Franklin and his home in Miller Park. It has figured almost every week or so in high grade test of the American Jersey Cattle Club as excelling in production of butterfat and high grade milk. The farm has a number of times sent out carloads of cattle which visited fairs in many places in this and other states and carried off many prizes. Gen. Miller always maintained his interest in and love of flowers and the greens surrounding his spacious and elegantly furnished home in Miller Park have long been the source of admiration to many visitors.

In the First Baptist Church, of which he was one of the founders, he took an active interest until his failing health of the last two years prevented him from engaging actively in the teaching of his Men's Bible Class. The Miller Bible Class at one time had more than a thousand members and was known throughout the nation as one of the outstanding organizations of its kind. In the teaching of this class Gen. Miller took personal delight and frequently hurried home from important business engagements in New York City that he might be on hand to teach the class at 2:00 Sunday afternoon. For more than 50 years he was the teacher of this class. In connection with it, there was formed an orchestra which comprised the best musical talent in Franklin and Oil City, and frequently concerts by this organization are still a pleasant memory. For 53 consecutive years, he was superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School, personally taking an active interest in its welfare. His first appointment to that office was in 1874.

Charities received his attention and no worth-while appeal ever fell upon a deaf ear so far as General Miller was concerned. He was president of the YMCA for many years and saw that institution weather several crisises. He not only supported it actively as an official of the organization but was a heavy contributor financially to its welfare. It was at his suggestion that the third floor was added, the money being provided by a mortgage which has since been paid off. It provided dormitory rooms which made the institution almost self supporting, besides adding a great convenience for many men of the city who are obliged to find rooms.

When he was at the height of his business career, he was especially fond of seeing young men gain advancement and followed their careers with interest. During the last few years of his life, the projects with which Gen. Miller was identified failed to achieve the degree of success that his early association had brought about, but unflaggingly he took an active interest in them

Gen. Charles Miller had only a common school education, but he made the most of it. Probably no other man in Franklin with the same degree of training attained the literary and scholastic distinction which he acquired through self improvement. He became a great reader of books and his library today is one of the finest to be found anywhere. He became a capable public speaker and his keen analysis of human nature and his frequent talks before his Bible class, as well as before young men in the YMCA and at other public gatherings stamped him as one of the leading speakers of the city. He had a wonderful memory for stories and these went far to add interest to his addresses. In the early days of the Prohibition movement he was enthusiastic in its support and left his busy office work to make addresses in neighboring township halls.

Gen Miller attained his title of Major General in the Pa. National Guard, serving two terms as commander of the Division which includes all the troops of the State. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and for 37 years consecutively was commander of Mays Post. No. 220. Grand Army of the Republic in Franklin, a distinction not held by any other Civil War veteran. He was a student of military affairs and his interest in the National Guard unit from this section never waned. When it seemed to him that the National Guardsmen of Pa. were being kept at El Paso months beyond their scheduled time during the trouble with Mexico, he headed a committee of local citizens and urged their return. In this demand, he incurred the enmity of the officers of the 16th Pa. Infantry who declared that they were only following the government's orders in remaining on the border, but the incident illustrated once more the constant interest which Gen. Miller took in this community and the trouble to which he would go in its behalf.

He was a man of unusual physical strength and energy. Until within the past few years, he was as active about his business affairs and office work as a man of 55 or 60, and many with whom he came in contact could not realize that he had really passed the 80-year mark. His mind was clear and he had a keen grasp of business essentials.

He gave to Franklin the first modern hotel it had, the one now known as the "Park", the original name being "Alsace" after the French province in which he was born and the memory of which he always held sacred. The Evening News building was erected during the time that he was president of the Evening News Printing Co., and was constructed of the same brick as that used in the Park Hotel. The Miller Apartments, originally the Odd Fellows Building, is his property and contains the offices of the Franklin Railway Oil Co, and the Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion Railroad. He was for many years the principal owner of the Hotel Latham in Hew York City. His private car, "Franklin" on which he made trips to other cities for a considerable time, was one of the few private cars in frequent use in the country and a special car shed was constructed for it near Buffalo and 10th Streets.

For about 25 years, Gen. Miller financed the trips of the local Civil War veterans to national encampments. Up to two or three years ago, when infirmities prevented many of the veterans from parading, he led them on foot in their Memorial Day parades and had a leading part in the ritual services at the monument. Gen. Miller is a man who will be missed. His heart was ever with Franklin in anything it aspired to do. He made many friendships and his record in the business world is one to which few men attain. Death came to him after many accomplishments had been crowned with success.

Gen Miller's last public appearance at any gathering was on the occasion of the presentation November 15, of the International Petroleum Exposition medal to Jacob Sheasley. This ceremony took place in the Chamber of Commerce offices, and Gen. Miller made a brief address, telling several incidents of the development of the oil industry.

Gen Miller was twice married. His first wife was Ann Adelaide Sibley and to this union were born five sons and two daughters of whom the following survive: J. French Miller, of Franklin, who is secretary-treasurer of the Galena-Signal Oil Co., Clarence A. Miller of Franklin, and Major C.J. S. Miller of Venles les Roses, France, Mrs. Metta Miller Rochester, of Tarrytown, NY, and Mrs. S.A. Megeath of Ardsley-on-the-Hudson. LeRoy Miller, another son, died a year ago last June. One son, Henry, died in infancy. He was the last of several children, his brother William Miller dying three or four years ago.

Gen. Miller was designated as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France, a coveted decoration, and he was ever proud of this distinction. His loyalty to France and his patriotism for America were outstanding traits of his character. General Miller was a member of the Franklin Lodge of Odd Fellows, the Franklin Club, of the Union League of Pittsburgh and belonged to several Masonic orders. He was a 32d Degree Mason.

The funeral services are to be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the First Baptist Church, internment following in the Franklin cemetery.

January 2007
1 Christian Miller, Sr. b: 08 Oct 1808 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine d: 31 Jan 1896 in Boston, NY
.. +Marie Madeleine Voeltzel b: 09 Jul 1810 in Bischweiller, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine m: 23 Dec 1830 in
Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine d: 23 Oct 1851 in Oberhoffen,
Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine
...... 2 Christian Miller, Jr. b: 27 Feb 1832 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, France d: 22 Nov 1893 in Colden, NY
.......... +Salomee Frantz b: 01 Sep 1830 in Alsace, Germany m: 25 Jul 1853 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-
Lorraine d: 13 Apr 1912 in Colden, NY
...... 2 Martin Miller b: 07 Jun 1834 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, Germany d: 1908 in Hayes Hollow, Colden Cemetary
.......... +Magdalene (Lana) Kummer b: 19 Feb 1835 in Alsace, Germany m: Abt. 1855 d: 1913 in Erie County, NY
...... 2 Frederich Miller b: 04 Jul 1836 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, France d: Abt. 1885
.......... +Magdeline Henry b: Abt. 1833 in France m: 1858 in Erie County, NY
...... 2 Louis Miller b: 09 Jun 1838 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine d: Abt. 1883
.......... +Catherine Goldberg
...... 2 Michael Miller b: 16 Apr 1841 in Alsace, France d: Bet. 1920 - 1924
.......... +Elizabeth Miller b: Feb 1850 in Colden, NY m: Abt. 1867 in Erie County, NY d: Aft. 1900
...... 2 Charles Miller, (General) b: 15 Jun 1843 in Oberhoffen, Canton De Bishweiler, Alsace, France d: 20 Oct 1927 in Franklin, Venango County, PA
.......... +Ann Adelaide Sibley b: 05 Jul 1846 in Friendship, Allegheny County, NY m: 18 Jun 1863 in Springville, NY d: 30 Jun 1914 in Franklin, PA
...... *2nd Wife of Charles Miller, (General):
.......... +Emma Bulen m: 30 Aug 1905 in Mannhattan Hotel, New York City, NY
...... 2 William Miller b: 07 Apr 1845 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, France/Germany d: 1919 in Erie County, NY
.......... +Katherine Anna Schlegel b: Jun 1846 in Erie County, New York m: Abt. 1869 in Erie County, NY d: May 1914 in Erie County, NY
...... 2 George Miller b: Apr 1847 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine d: 14 Jul 1847 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine
...... 2 George Miller b: Abt. 1849 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, France d: 16 Apr 1854 in Died at sea 5 or 6 years old
...... 2 Magdalene Miller b: 03 Oct 1851 in Oberhoffen, Alsace, France d: 1926 in Prob NL, NY
.......... +J. Erdman Wallasch b: Dec 1847 in Germany m: Abt. 1873 in Erie County, NY d: 1921 in Prob NL, NY
*2nd Wife of Christian Miller, Sr.:
.. +Marie Magdelena Cobbett b: 15 Aug 1805 in Alsace - Lorraine m: 31 Jul 1853 in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace-Lorraine d: 26 Feb 1889 in Boston, Erie County, NY