San Francisco County
Biographies
WILLIAM
NOBLE MILLER
WILLIAM NOBLE MILLER was born in Canada,
near the city of Toronto, in 1832.
His father Edward Miller, was a native of Scotland
who settled in Canada
in his boyhood. Until he was eighteen years old, William N. remained at home,
acquiring a good education, and performing those tasks which usually fall to
the lot of the farmer’s son. When he finished his studies he was apprenticed to
learn the carpenter’s trade, and with naturally ingenious and mechanical
talents he arose rapidly in this calling; at the end of two years he became
foreman, and at the close of his apprenticeship he was made a member of the
firm. In 1859 he came to the United States,
and followed his trade in New York and Bridgeport
until 1860, when he embarked on a steamer for California;
he went by the Isthmus and arriving in San Francisco
he went to work as journeyman in the old Mechanics’ Mill; later he became
foreman of this shop. In the spring of 1863 he left San Francisco
for the mines, and located at Aurora, Esmeralda county,
Nevada; there he carried on a general mercantile trade,
being a member of the firm of Morrison, Miller & Haley; after four years
they closed out the business, and Mr. Miller returned to San
Francisco. He formed a partnership with James F. Haley
and they purchased the Empire Mill, which they operated four years, doing a
large business and employing 150 to 200 men. In the fall of 1871 the Empire
Mill was burned to the ground, Miller & Haley losing $100.000; this
disaster caused them to suspend. Mr. Miller then bought a one-third interest in
the Oakland Planning Mill, remaining a member of the firm eight years, during
which time he also acted as superintendent. The depreciation of real estate in Oakland
and the general depression of business caused Mr. Miller to sell his interest
in the Oakland Planning Mill, after which he became superintendent of the
Enterprise Mill & Building Company of San Francisco.
He was thus employed until May 7, 1884, when he formed a business relation with
James W. Hamilton, formerly head foreman of the Enterprise Mill; they rented a
part of the Enterprise Mill, and conducted a prosperous business there until
February, 1891, when they were compelled by the volume of trade to seek wider
quarters; they removed to 413 and 415, Mission street, were they are well
equipped for the manufacture of all kinds of house finishing’s; they give
employment to forty men.
Mr.
Miller was married in San Francisco in May, 1869, to Miss
Sarah A. Anderson, a native of New York City;
she died in 1879, leaving three children, May Morland,
Edward Arthur, and Lillie Augusta. By his second marriage, in 1880 to Miss
Charlotte Nelson, there have been three children: William Noble Jr., Alice
Pauline and Maud Ethel. The Family resides in Oakland,
where Mr. Miller purchased a home in 1886. He is connected with many business
associations in the city, taking an active interest in promoting the commercial
growth of the entire coast. He is Secretary of the Millmen’s
Protective Association, Vice-President of the Builders Exchange, director of
the National Builders Association and one of the Legislative Committee,
director of the Manufacturers’ and Employers’ Association and one of the
Executive Committee, a member of the State Emigration Committee, and a member
of the Board of Trustees of the first Unitarian Church in the city of Oakland.
Transcribed by Kim Buck.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 523-524,
Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Kim Buck.
California
Biography Project
San
Francisco County
California
Statewide
Golden
Nugget Library