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Fred Miller
1833 - 1921
OCTOBER, 1921
FRED MILLER DIES
WAS A PIONEER IN WATERTOWN
Came to Watertown from Germany in 1855
Was an Early Day Business Man
And Well Known Citizen
1921
Watertown Daily Times, 10
1921
Fred
Miller, pioneer resident and early
day business man of Watertown, answered the summons of death in the family
home, 600 Third Street, on Wednesday evening, following a general breaking down
of the system due to the infirmities of old age. Had he lived until the 26th of the present
month he would have been 88 years of age.
His health began to fail eighteen months ago since which time he has
been confined to his home, receiving the tender care of a devoted wife.
Mr.
Miller was born in Bayrische, Rhein, Pfalz, Germany,
October 26, 1833, and was educated in his native town. At the age of 22 he came to this country and
to Watertown in 1855, shortly after entering the employ of the late William Buchheit, and
in 1858 formed a partnership with the late Charles Jacobi under the firm name
of Jacobi & Miller, distillers and
liquor dealers, which continued until 1866.
In 1867 he formed a partnership with the late Christ May which firm did a large cooperage
business with sawmill and stave factory on a large scale and which continued
several years. In 1881 in company with Jonas
Sleeper he engaged in the manufacture of flour at the Brick mill, the site of
the present waterworks plant. The firm
was known as F. Miller & Co., which later became the Globe Milling Co., the output of which at one time
was 70,000 barrels of flour a year, and sold out his interest in 1885.
After
disposing of his milling interests he entered the grain business here with the
late Henry Pritzlaff
and upon the death of the latter continued with H. Wertheimer in 1888 and retired from
active business pursuits a few years later.
Mr.
Miller was always the keen man of business with a large capacity for work which
combined with good business judgment rendered successful the various
undertakings with which he was connected.
When
the Wisconsin National Bank was
organized, which followed the old Bank of Wisconsin, February 6, 1865, he
became identified with the institution as a stockholder and has been a director
of the institution since its inception.
He served one year as its head following the death of President Daniel
Jones, and was the last of the original stockholders, the others being William
M. Dennis, P. V. Brown, Daniel Jones, Dr. Edward
Johnson, Dr. James Cody, Charles Jacobi, A.
F. Matice, Waterloo, H.
Mulberger, Sr.
He
never aspired to political honors, although his ability was recognized by all,
being content with a business career and the home life which he loved so well
to the exactions of political preferment.
Mr.
Miller was united in wedlock in 1864 with Minna Riehl
of Milwaukee, who survives him. He was
the father of two daughters, both of whom preceded him in death. One sister, Mrs. John Weber of Cincinnati,
also survives.
Was Familiar Figure
Mr.
Miller was one of the most familiar figures in Watertown and was known by
practically all our citizens, as during his long business career he came in
contact with many people who grew to know him as a man of worth and
integrity. While devoting a large share
of his time to business pursuits he always retained a portion for the home life
and the social activities and was always a welcome guest at any of the social functions
in the early days which he graced by his presence. His nature was of the sterling stuff that
wins and keeps friends and his active and cheery presence will be missed from
the familiar paths of life, and Watertown loses one of its best and for many
decades its most prominent citizen who rounded out so many years of
usefulness. He possessed a kindly nature
and never turned aside a worthy appeal for assistance, while taking an active
interest in the business development and welfare of the city. The announcement of his death is made with
profound sorrow which the whole community will share because of the realization
of the high worth of this good citizen.
The
funeral will be held from the family home Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Services will be conducted by the Rev. N. C. Daniell of the Congregational church and the burial will be
in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
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click to enlarge
Fred Miller House
600 S Third
The Mattek home was built in 1888 by Fred Miller. At the time Miller was vice president of the
Watertown Gas Company; Jesse Stone was
president of the company.
The
home was purchased by the Rev. Jim and Sue Mattek in
1990 from Professor Hollawood who taught at Maranatha Baptist Bible College.
When
the Matteks purchased the home, they classified it as
a very sad lady who at one time had been very dignified. The maintenance of the home had been
neglected for many years. It had been Sue
Mattek's lifelong dream to own and refurbish an old
home, but she did not envision the months and years that it would take to make
this home the showcase piece it is today.
Sue Mattek was attracted to the home because
of its great interior woodwork and its stained-glass windows. In the years after their purchase the
woodwork was refinished, the ceilings and wiring replaced, and layers of
wallpaper and linoleum removed.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin