Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

MILLER, Samuel J.,
Manufacturer.
When a man's name is familiar not
only to his home community, but also to
numbers of his fellow-citizens in different
parts of the United States, he stands in
no need of an introduction from his bi-
ographer. This is true of Mr. Miller as
the present president of the Gilbert &
Bennett Manufacturing Company, and
among his friends and neighbors of
Georgetown he holds the place of a highly
esteemed citizen.
Samuel J. Miller was born November
i8, 1856, a son of David H. and Cather-
ine (Welling) Miller (q. v.). He received
a common school education, and
in 1869 entered the servJce of the firm of
Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company
in the capacity of office boy. Beginning
at the bottom of the ladder, Mr.
Miller learned the wire business, as the
saying is, "from the ground up." Surely
and steadily he advanced, filling succes-
sively the offices of assistant superintend-
ent, director, general superintendent, secretary,
vice-president and general man-
ager. In 1915 he succeeded his father in
the presidency of the company, retaining
the position of general manager. The
subsequent history of the organization
has proved that, with the executive abil-
ities of which he has so long shown him-
self possessed, he combines unusual tal-
ents for leadership. He is a director of
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
the Fairfield County National Bank, of
Norwalk.
Mr. Miller married, January 15, 1879,
Esther A. Cannon, daughter of Charles
Cannon, of Cannondale, in the town of
Wilton, and they are the parents of two
children : Mary Catherine, born August
15, 1880, wife of Louis R. Ambler, of
Cannondale ; and D. Henry, whose biography
follows in the work. Mr. and Mrs.
Miller are members of the Protestant
Episcopal church, of Wilton.
The almost lifelong connection of Samuel
J. Miller with the Gilbert & Bennett
Manufacturing Company, a period of
fifty-one years, furnishes strong evidence
of the value of concentration of energy
and persistent, high-minded adherence to
one line of endeavor. Moreover, he has
always been public-spirited, as he showed
by serving five years as regimental clerk
to the Connecticut National Guard. He
is an all-round man.
MILLER, David Henry,
Manufacturer.
More than a third of Mr. Miller's life
has been spent in the service of the Gilbert
& Bennett Manufacturing Company,
of which he is now sales manager and
third vice-president. During all this time
he has been active as a citizen, taking a
leading part in all that concerned the wel-
fare of Georgetown and its vicinity.
David Henry Miller was born March
10, 1861, a son of the late David H. and
Catherine (Welling) Miller (q. v.). Da-
vid Henry Miller was educated in public
schools, and then, moved no doubt by the
adventurous spirit of his race, sought the
freer life of the Western country, so-
journing in Kansas, Oklahoma and Ari-
zona, spending six years on cattle ranches,
and during a portion of that time being
engaged in the cattle business for him-
self. In 1882 Mr. Miller turned his face
homeward and became a resident of
South Norwalk, Connecticut, where he
has since lived. For many years he was
engaged in the oyster business. .A^bout
1897 Mr. M'ller became identified will;
ihe Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing'
Company, becoming a member of the sell-
ing force, and later holding a special
commission in the sales department. He
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