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Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

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Miller, on August 13, 1921, out from all<br />

these scenes <strong>of</strong> his activities at his home<br />

city <strong>of</strong> Bridgeport, in which, at the time<br />

<strong>of</strong> his death, he was a great outstanding<br />

figure <strong>of</strong> the community, particularly in<br />

matters <strong>of</strong> finance, wherein he was an<br />

acknowledged peer. Veteran also <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Civil War, as well as <strong>of</strong> many a com-<br />

mercial campaign, he made a large suc-<br />

cess <strong>of</strong> his life. He was a sound captain<br />

<strong>of</strong> finance, a safe and sane leader <strong>of</strong> in-<br />

dustry, a wise counselor <strong>of</strong> the citizenry<br />

in their municipal affairs—a positive asset<br />

<strong>of</strong> the community. "By the sudden death<br />

<strong>of</strong> Frank Miller," said the editor <strong>of</strong> the<br />

"Bridgeport Times" anent the death <strong>of</strong><br />

this leader in so many avenues <strong>of</strong> the<br />

city's life, "Bridgeport loses one <strong>of</strong> its<br />

oldest and best-known business men, a<br />

man <strong>of</strong> forceful personality, a keen stu-<br />

dent <strong>of</strong> financial affairs, and easily the<br />

dominant figure in local financial circles.<br />

Largely through his careful handling <strong>of</strong><br />

its aflfairs, he brought to its present position<br />

the City National Bank, which now<br />

ranks as one <strong>of</strong> the foremost financial<br />

institutions in the East. He was the most<br />

democratic <strong>of</strong> men, and the door <strong>of</strong> his<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice was always open to those in need<br />

<strong>of</strong> advice or assistance. Bridgeport can<br />

ill afford to lose such men <strong>of</strong> his type."<br />

Frank Miller was a descendant <strong>of</strong><br />

Thomas Miller, the founder <strong>of</strong> the family<br />

in America, who settled in Rowley, Mas-<br />

sachusetts, as early as 1643. He was a<br />

carpenter by trade, although he was "li-<br />

censed to draw wine." He and his wife<br />

removed to Middletown, <strong>Connecticut</strong>,<br />

where he became the town miller. He<br />

died August 14, 1680. He married (first)<br />

Isabel (date <strong>of</strong> marriage not recorded).<br />

He married (second) June 6, 1666, Sarah<br />

Nettleton, died March 20, 1727-28, at the<br />

age <strong>of</strong> eighty-six years. Thomas, the eld-<br />

est child <strong>of</strong> Thomas and Sarah (Nettle-<br />

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />

79<br />

ton) Miller, was born at Middletown, May<br />

6, 1667, and died September 24, 1727. He<br />

caried on the milling business <strong>of</strong> his fa-<br />

ther. He married (first) March 28, 1688,<br />

Elizabeth, born December 14, 1668, died<br />

February 9, 1695, daughter <strong>of</strong> Edward and<br />

Mary (Sanford) Turner. He married<br />

(second) December 25, 1696, Mary Rowell.<br />

Stephen, son <strong>of</strong> Thomas and Mary<br />

(Rowell) Miller, was born at Middletown,<br />

March 5, 1699, and died August 15, 1783.<br />

It is supposed that he was a saw and grist<br />

miller. He married, July 2, 1730, Anna,<br />

born in 1710, and died June 10, 1777,<br />

daughter <strong>of</strong> Richard and Hannah (Bulkeley)<br />

Goodrich.<br />

Coming down to the fourth and fifth<br />

generations in the lineage, paternal side,<br />

<strong>of</strong> Frank Miller, one is made acquainted<br />

with personal history <strong>of</strong> interest in con-<br />

nection with this memoir. Stephen Mil-<br />

ler (in the fourth generation), son <strong>of</strong> Stephen<br />

(i) and Anna (Goodrich) Miller,<br />

was born February 11, 1739-40, and died<br />

July 21, 1822. He married (first) October<br />

II, 1761, Thankful, born September<br />

12, 1739, and died April 12, 1777, daughter<br />

<strong>of</strong> Daniel and Mehitable (Hubbard)<br />

Whitmore. He married (second) April<br />

2, 1780, Lucy, born in 1755, and died January<br />

ID, 1837, daughter <strong>of</strong> William and<br />

Elizabeth (Jones) Roberts <strong>of</strong> Middle-<br />

town. Stephen (2) Miller, grandfather <strong>of</strong><br />

Frank Miller, was an importer and a shipowner.<br />

He was engaged in trade <strong>of</strong> immense<br />

proportions in rum, sugar, molas-<br />

ses, and other products <strong>of</strong> the West Indies.<br />

He became one <strong>of</strong> the most prom-<br />

inent men <strong>of</strong> Middletown. During the<br />

War <strong>of</strong> 1812 he lost sixteen <strong>of</strong> his vessels,<br />

sunk or captured by the British. Stephen<br />

(3) Miller, father <strong>of</strong> Frank Miller, and son<br />

<strong>of</strong> Stephen (2) and Lucy (Roberts) Mil-<br />

ler, was born in Middletown about July<br />

4, 1795, and died September 26, 1877. He

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