USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 62
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He was for seven years president of the Massachusetts Press Association, and for a like period secretary of the Republican state central committee. He was one of the char- ter members and first commander of Post 39, G. A. R., in Lawrence ; was commander of the department of Massachusetts in 1875, and commander-in-chief of United States in 1881 ; has been senior vice-com- mander of the Massachusetts Commandery
GEORGE S. MERRILL.
of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. In 1883 he was commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.
For years he has been chairman of the national pension committee of the G. A. R. He was appointed by Governor Amcs to the office of insurance commissioner of Massachusetts, June 1, 1887, which position he now holds.
MERRILL.
Mr. Merrill was married in Concord, N. H., December 29, 1855, to Sarah J., daughter of Elbridge and Ruth A. (Felch) Weston. Of this union are two children : Winfield G. and Genevieve Merrill (now Mrs. Magee).
His present residence is Lawrence.
MERRILL, MOODY, son of Winthrop and Martha N. Merrill, was born in Camp- ton. Grafton county, N. H., June 27, 1836, and educated in the district schools of that town and at the Thetford (Vt.) Academy.
During the summer he was occupied with farming, and in the winter attended school. In the winter of 1856 he taught school at Ellsworth, N. H., and in 1857 at Thornton, N. H. Ill health prevented his entering college, and in 1859 he went to Boston and entered the law office of the Hon. William Minot.
He was admitted to the Suffolk bar in February, 1863. He served on the school board from 1865 to '74, and for seven years was chairman of the Roxbury high school committee. In 1868 he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served three years, and was a member of the state Senate in 1873 and '74, where his energy and ability won for him the influential position which he held among the leaders in that body. In 1874 he was chairman of the committee in charge of the memorial services on the death of Charles Sumner, and compiled the memorial history of that occasion.
From 1872 to '86 he devoted himself to the Highland Street Railway, of which corporation he was president during the entire term of its existence. This position was one well qualified to test the nerve and ability of anyone who had the courage to inaugurate a new scheme against the com- bined opposition of what have always been considered the most powerful monopolies in the metropolis. Subsequently, in 1886, he secured the passage by the Legisla- ture of the bill authorizing all street rail- ways of the city of Boston to consolidate, and it was due to him that the general consolidation was finally effected. Mr. Merrill put his whole heart into the work of establishing this new road upon a popular and paying basis, and his energy and perseverance were amply rewarded by the most brilliant success. It was also largely due to Mr. Merrill's influence that the system of public parks in the city of Boston was established, more especially that portion of the system which includes the now Franklin Park, containing nearly
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six hundred acres of the city's most valu- able suburban lands.
In 1880 he was a member of the Massa- chusetts Electoral College, but has taken no active part in politics for several years. He is president of the Roxbury Club, hav- ing been unanimously elected to succeed Nathaniel J. Bradlee, upon his decease.
MOODY MERRILL.
Quiet and unostentatious in manner, popular with his associates in club and so- cial life, strong in his political and com- mercial connections, he is to-day among the best known of Boston's public men.
METCALF, EDWIN DICKINSON, son of William and Nancy E. (Crook) Met- calf, was born in Smithfield, Providence county, R. 1., March 14, 1848.
His early education was given him in the public schools, Westford Academy and Eastman's Business College.
In 1868 he began business life as clerk in a house furnishing-goods store in Provi- dence, R. I. He removed to Springfield in 1875, and with Mr. Luther, formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Met- calf & Luther, house furnishers. They have since continued in the same line, doing a constantly increasing business, with branch houses in Chicopee and Holyoke.
Mr. Metcalf was married in Fall River, in September, 1873, to Carrie W., daughter
of Samuel W. and Caroline (Walker) Flint. Of this union were two children : Edwin F. and Harold G. Metcalf.
Mr. Metcalf is one of the leading busi- ness men of Springfield, and is also largely interested in banking and railroad proper- ties in the West. He is a director in the John Hancock National Bank, Massachu- setts Mutual Life Insurance Company, and the Cayuga Woolen Company, Auburn, N. Y. He was president of the Spring- field & New London Railroad at the time of its consolidation with the New York & New England Railroad.
He was a member of the House of Rep- resentatives in 1880 and 'SI ; mayor of Springfield in 1886 ; state senator 1889, and was three years on Governor Robin- son's staff, 1884, '85 and '86.
MILES, DANIEL CURTIS, son of Daniel and Mary (Curtis) Miles, was born June 1, 1827. in the eastern part of Westmin- ster, Worcester county. His early educa- tion was obtained partly in the public and partly in private schools. Later he attended the academy at Westminster Centre. This period of school training was supplemented by the not less valuable discipline of teach- ing, in which he engaged for twelve terms, in the towns of Lancaster, Westminster and Gardner.
Beginning his active business life upon a farm, Mr. Miles extended his interests to the lumber trade, and also became proprie- tor of a saw-mill, a grist-mill, and factory for the production of chair stock. Later he took an active part in erecting the chair factory and connected buildings at South Westminster, and for three and a half years he was a partner with Merriam & Holden in the manufacture of chairs and settees. He also owned and operated the Westminster and Winchendon bakeries for three years.
Prospering in these enterprises, Mr. Miles went into partnership in the manu- facture of cane-seat chairs at North West- minster, under the firm name of Miles & Lombard, afterwards changed to Miles & Son. This soon became an important in- dustry in that section of the town, giving employment to seventy-five persons. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Miles helped estab- lish the Westminster National Bank, of which he has ever since been the president. For the past few years he has operated ex- tensively in land in southern California and elsewhere, besides holding an interest in a large cattle ranch near Miles City, Mon- tana. This city was founded by his son, George M. Miles, and was named in honor of his brother, Gen. N. A. Miles, U. S. A.
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On the 22d of May, 1851, Mr. Miles married Lucy Ann, daughter of James and Lucy (Jones) Puffer, and of this union there have been five children : Mary Josephine, George M., Herbert J., Arthur W., and Martha G. Miles.
DANIEL C. MILES.
In addition to the numerous and success- ful business enterprises which have identi- fied him with the progress and prosperity of the town, Mr. Miles has held many offices of trust and responsibility. He has been auditor of the town's accounts, asses- sor, member of the school board, selectman and overseer of the poor, president of the Worcester North Agricultural Society two years, and trustee fifteen years, superintend- ent of the Baptist Sunday-school eighteen years, and clerk of the society twenty-six years, president of the Wachusett Baptist Association, and justice of the peace for many years.
Mr. Miles has amply gratified his taste for travel, in his own country, Europe, and the British Isles.
MILLER, ALBERT E., son of Ezekiel and Polly (Hogaboom) Miller, was born in Covert, Seneca county, N. Y., and is the youngest of ten children, and a descend- ant of the New England family of Miller.
His father when quite a young man emigrated to New York and settled on a
farm, on which the early life of the son was spent. He entered school at six years of age, having previously read the New Testament, "Hale's History of the United States," " Robinson Crusoe," and a num- ber of books taken from the public library.
After passing the district schools. he was sent to Cortland Academy, where, after one year's attendance, he, with one other boy, was selected by the superin- tendent to receive the benefits of the state normal department at Homer Acad- emy. Here he remained three years. His desire was to study medicine, but was over-persuaded by friends to read law. After reading law one year, he returned to his first choice -medicine, and was graduated from the Syracuse Medical Col- lege in 1855, and from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1864. He was a private student of H. H. Smith, M. D., professor of surgery in the uni- versity, also of the celebrated D. Hayes Agnew, M. D.
ALBERT E. MILLER.
Failing health forced him to abandon local practice. He began lecturing on public health in the principal cities and towns throughout the country, and for the last few years much of his time has been spent lecturing before schools. He has latterly returned to practice, has an office
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in Needham, and one in Boston - his specialty being lung diseases.
Dr. Miller is an active temperance man, working in the Republican party, but is not a politician. He was elected to repre- sent the 9th Norfolk district in the House of Representatives, 1888 ; was re-elected for 1889, and was House chairman of the committee on public health.
He is a prominent Mason, a member of Zenobia Commandery, Cortland Chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., New York ; past master Norfolk Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and past grand of Eliot Lodge, I. O. O. F., Needham ; member of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts ; has several times held the office of D. D. G. M .; is a member of Aurora Chapter, Eastern Star, Natick ; of Jewel Lodge, K. & L. of H., of Roxbury ; and is D. D. G. P. of district No. 16, State of Massachusetts.
He was one of the foremost in starting the Village Improvement Society of Needham, and was its first president. He has also beautified and rendered fertile a portion of the town reclaimed from waste land, built twenty fine houses and planted a total abstinence colony, as he refuses to allow entrance to any tenants who use alcoholic stimulants.
Dr. Miller was largely instrumental in securing from the Legislature the act allowing the town of Needham to supply its inhabitants with pure water. He was elected chairman of the water committee. He is superintendent of the First Parish Sunday-school ; president of the Union Temperance Band, the Chautauqua Liter- ary and Scientific Circle, and is active in all literary work in the village. He is a lib- eral, public-spirited citizen.
Dr. Miller was married in New York, No- vember 25, 1866, to Vesta Delphene, daugh- ter of Alonzo and Vesta (Ketchum) Free- man, of Newark, N. Y. She is also a phy- sician, and assists him in his practice. She is an active temperance worker, and has been president of the W. C. T. U. of Need- ham since its organization.
MILLER, GEORGE F., son of Joseph and Susan (Shaw) Miller, was born in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, N. Y., January 16, 1847.
His early education was received in the public schools and Union Village Academy, Greenwich, Washington county, N. Y. He subsequently took a course of study in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Albany, N. Y.
He began business life in Isaac G. Flack's general store, Lansingburgh, N. Y., then
engaged in the retail grocery business for himself in Greenwich. In 1868 he removed to North Adams, and entered the internal revenue office, where he remained two years and a half ; was then special agent for the Widows' & Orphans' Benefit Life Insurance Company one year, after which he took up the general insurance business.
Mr. Miller was married in North Adams, November 23, 1876, to Della A., daughter of Jasper H. and Harriet (Sheldon) Adams. Of this union are two children : Harry A. and Elsie Miller.
GEORGE F. MILLER.
Mr. Miller was clerk and treasurer of the North Adams fire district ; is now assessor of the town; secretary of the Hoosac Valley Agricultural Society ; justice of the peace ; notary public ; charter member of Greylock Lodge, F. & A. M. ; also of Com- posite Royal Arch Chapter and St. Paul Commandery, K. T.
MILLER, JOHN LELAND, was born in Adams, Berkshire county, June 2, 1813. He was the son of Caleb and Nancy (Mitch- ell) Miller, and a great grandson of William Miller, who was a surgeon in the British army.
John I .. Miller was of a feeble constitu- tion, and during his childhood his health was so delicate as to incapacitate him for severe labor. His early education was
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acquired in the common schools of his native town, which, however, his feeble health never permitted him to attend steadily. His studious habits at home compensated in a measure for the lack of instruction at school. He was instructed in the higher branches and in languages by private tutors. He also attended during short periods the academies in Adams and Williamstown.
At the age of sixteen he became a clerk in a mercantile establishment in the city of New York, but two years later, on the breaking out of the cholera in that city, his friends prevailed on him to remove to West Troy, where he was a salesman dur- ing a year, subsequently purchasing the business of his employer Within a year his stock of goods was burned.
After an illness of nine months, he com- menced the study of medicine. He pur- sued his studies during a year at West Troy, then for two years as a resident stu- dent in the Berkshire Medical College, during which he attended a course of lec- tures at Woodstock, Vt. He graduated at the Berkshire institution in 1837. He then went to New Orleans, and was soon engaged as surgeon of a surveying party at the mouth of the Mississippi River, under Captain Talcott of the United States topographical engineers. Thence he went to Pensacola, Fla., and soon afterwards sailed for New York, where he arrived early in November, 1838, after having been ship- wrecked on the rocky island of Gun Key in the Caribbean Sea. He then engaged during five years in the practice of his pro- fession in Providence, R. I. During this time he was appointed surgeon of General Stedman's brigade of state troops that were called out to suppress the "Dorr rebel- lion." Returning to Pittsfield, he renewed his studies, and in 1844 he became pro- fessor of anatomy and physiology in the medical department of Illinois College.
In 1847 he resigned his professorship to accept a position in the army. He was appointed assistant-surgeon of volunteers May 27, 1847, and major and surgeon of volunteers July 13, in the same year. He joined the army at Vera Cruz, Mexico, and was in active service till the close of the Mexican war. In 1855 he returned to Pittsfield, and removed to Sheffield in 1866 and having retired from practice, purchased the Mount Barnard farm, on which he resided until the day of his death, April 17, 1889.
He was many times called by his fellow- citizens of Sheffield to occupy positions of
trust in the town. Dr. Miller has been president of the Berkshire Medical Soci- ety, president of the alumni association of the Berkshire Medical College ; a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Berkshire Historical Society. He was a model farmer, and in 1876 was made president of the Housatonic Agricultural Society, and by his judicious management succeeded in restoring it to a condition of prosperity. He was a great friend of Williams College, and in 1888 gave it forty thousand dollars to establish a pro- fessorship of national history.
On March 4, 1862, he was married to Julia, daughter of John and Anne (Alden) Atkins, of Fairbury, Ill. She is a direct descendant of John Alden, who came to America in the " Mayflower."
MILLETT, JOSHUA HOWARD, son of Rev. Joshua and Sophronia (Howard) Mil- lett, was born on the 17th of March, 1842, in Cherryfield, Washington county, Maine. His father was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination and author of the " History
JOSHUA H. MILLETT.
of the Baptists of Maine." His early edu- cation he obtained in the public schools of Wayne, Maine, where he resided for some years after he was two years of age. He fitted for college at Hebron Academy, He- bron, Maine, and entered Colby University
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MILLIKEN.
at Waterville, Maine, with the class of '67. Unavoidable circumstances prevented his graduating with the class, but he received the degrees of A. B. and A. M. as of that class.
He then studied law in the offices of Hon. Isaac F. Redfield, late Chief Justice of the supreme court of Vermont, and with William A. Herrick, in Boston, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1870. He at once formed a law partnership with his two instructors, under the firm name of Redfield, Herrick & Millett, which contin- ued till the death of Judge Redfield, six years later. The two remaining members carried on the business till 1885, when by the death of Mr. Herrick, the entire busi- ness of the office came into the hands of Mr. Millett.
In addition to his legal business, Mr. Millett has been president and counsel of the Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Company since its organization in 1875. In 1869 Mr. Millett removed from Dorchester to Malden, where he has since resided. Dur- ing this time he has served several years upon the school committee, upon the board of trustees of the public library of this city, and represented the district in the Legis- lature in 1884 and '85. He has been among the most earnest workers in the Malden Improvement Society.
June 19, 1867, Mr. Millett was married, in Dorchester, to Rosa Maria, daughter of Charles and Hannah Giles Tredick. Their two children are: Charles Howard and Mabel Rosa Millett.
MILLIKEN, EBEN COLBRAITH, son of Edward and Lucia A. (Bacon) Milliken, both of Maine, was born in Windsor, Ken- nebec county, Me., August 6, 1843.
District schools of Winthrop, Me., gave him his first insight into books, - grammar and high schools of New Bedford, and a private academy, Providence, R. I., finished his academic education.
In 1863 he began his business career, with his father, in the grocery business.
He was afterwards book-keeper and paymaster in the Bay Mill Company, East Greenwich, R. I., for two years.
In 1869 he opened a bakery in New Bedford, and still conducts it as a success- ful business enterprise.
Mr. Milliken was married, September 15, 1869, to Ellen M. Darling. Of this union are two children : Albert Darling and William Beal Milliken.
Mr. Milliken was alderman of New Bed- ford, 1879; member of the House of Repre- sentatives, 1880 and '81 ; member of the
state Senate 1885, '86 and '87, where he was chairman of committees on harbors and public lands, street railways, fisheries, and woman suffrage. He is connected with various benevolent and political associ- ations. He was regent of the Royal Arcanum two years, and is director of the New Bedford board of trade.
MILLIS, HENRY L., son of Lansing and Harriet P. Millis, was born in Lansingburgh, Rensselaer county, N. Y., January 2, 1855.
He obtained his education at the Chaun- cey Hall, Dwight and English high schools at Boston, and began his business train- ing as clerk in the National Car Company, St. Albans, Vt.
He subsequently became car agent for the same company, and afterwards clerk for the general manager of the Central Vermont Railroad.
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HENRY L. MILLIS.
He is now president of the Oak Grove Farm Company ; selectman of the town of Millis ; director in Broadway National Bank and Market National Bank, Boston ; director of Ogdensburgh & Lake Cham- plain Railway, and the Hammond Beef Company ; treasurer of the Steel Edge Stamping Company of Boston, also of the Chicago, Boston & Liverpool Company, and the New York Despatch Refrigerator Company. He was representative to the
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General Court of Massachusetts, 1885 and '86, and has been honored by various other calls to positions of honor and trust.
Mr. Millis was married in Cambridge- port, December 15, 1880, to Annie R., daughter of Charles B. and Helen F. (Coolidge) Russ. Of this union are three children : Violet, Lansing, and Henry Lan- sing Millis.
MILNE, JOHN C., was born in Milfield, Scotland, May 18, 1824. His parents died while he was quite young, and to the ten- der care of his grandparents he was in- debted for educational opportunities and early educational training. In 1832 he emigrated with them to Nova Scotia, where, at the age of eight years, he en- tered the printing-office of an uncle, and soon became a rapid and accurate com- positor.
In 1835 he came with his grandparents to Fall River, and for nearly three years worked in the calico factory of Andrew Robeson & Sons. During that time he attended, three hours each day, a factory day school, maintained by the Messrs. Robeson for the benefit of the boys in their employ, and also an evening school.
In 1838 he obtained work in a printing office in Fall River, where, excepting six months spent at the Pierce Academy, Mid- dleborough, and a short time in a printing- office in New York City, he remained till 1845. After leaving the academy he con- tinued his studies with a view to entering college. He devoted a portion of each day to study, reciting to the Rev. George M. Randall, afterwards bishop of Colorado, and the remaining hours of the day and evening to labor in the printing-office, and was thus fitted for college. Thomas Almy, the proprietor of the office, his life-long friend and subsequent partner in busi- ness, kindly arranged his hours of labor in such a way that he could select his time both for study and work. Being destitute of means, he was forced to abandon his cherished purpose, and in 1845 was encour- aged to commence the publication of the " Fall River Weekly News," in company with Mr. Almy. The first number was is- sued April 3, 1845. In 1859 a daily edi- tion of the " News" was begun, and both papers are still published. Mr. Almy died in 1882, after a co-partnership with Mr. Milne of thirty-seven years. The difficul- ties experienced in those days, when these two young men undertook the work, were laborious, and their lives self-denying ; but by incessant application and rigorous economy they achieved success.
MILNE.
The paper was started as an exponent of Democratic principles, and so remained until the surrender of the party to the slave-holders of the South. It has been an earnest advocate of human freedom, the rights of free labor, the cause of tem- perance, and the best interests of the com- munity. For the last thirty years and more it has represented the Republican party, but ever in an independent manner.
In 1849 Mr. Milne was married to Abby A., daughter of George W. and Betsey
جماب ، حسب
JOHN C. MILNE.
(Howland) Gifford, of Fall River. Of this union were nine children, five of whom are living : Mrs. Mary J. Fenner, Joseph D. Milne, Mrs. Abby G. Carr, Mrs. Jennie D. Remington and Hannah E. Milne.
Mr. Milne was a member of the city council of Fall River for five years. He is a director in the Slade and Osborn mills, and has been a director in the Po- casset National Bank since its organization in 1854. He is also president of the Citizens' Savings Bank, and a member of its board of investment. He has repre- sented the city for five consecutive years in the state Legislature-from 1884 to 1888 inclusive -serving on several com- mittees, the most prominent of which were the committees on public charitable insti- tutions, and banks and banking. Of both
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of these he was, during the later years of his service, the chairman on the part of the House. He devoted much time and atten- tion to the interests of the charitable insti- tutions, of one of which he was appointed a trustee by Governor Ames, a position he still holds.
Mr. Milne is not only a gentleman held in the highest honor and esteem by his fel- low-citizens, but he carries his purity of character into his editorial work, and labors to disseminate only such journalistic matter as appeals to the higher moral elements of society.
MINER, ALONZO AMES, son of Bena- jah Ames and Amanda Miner, was born on the 17th of August, 1814, at Lempster, Sullivan county, N. H.
He was educated at the public schools and at various New England academies, and afterwards studied privately. From the time he was sixteen years old he taught school during the winters, for four years, and in 1834 became associate prin- cipal with James Garvin, of an academy at Cavendish, Vt. A year later he took entire charge of an academy known as the Unity Scientific and Literary Academy, · founded especially for him at Unity, N. H., by the parents of those sons and daughters who had been under his previous tuition, where he remained for four years. During the last year and a half he often filled neighboring pulpits on Sunday. He re- ceived fellowship as a Universalist clergy- man in 1838, was ordained in 1839 and settled in Methuen. In 1842 he removed to Lowell, and thence to the Second Universalist church -now the Columbus Avenue church, of Boston, in 1848, suc- ceeding the Rev. Dr. Chapin, as associate with the venerable Hosea Ballou.
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