Clackamas County OR Archives Biographies.....Miller, C. G. February 23, 1863 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 24, 2009, 5:02 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 112-113
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

      C. G. MILLER has long exercised a potent influence in business circles 
of Oregon City and is one of the best known and most successful automobile 
dealers in this part of the state. He was born February 23, 1863 near Ashland, 
Kentucky, in which state his parents, J. W. and Mary (Meyers) Miller, both 
passed away. In the public schools of the Blue Grass state he received his 
education and remained on his father's farm until 1888. When a young man of 
twenty-five he responded to the call of the west and came to Portland, Oregon. 
Entering the service of the old Willamette Falls Electric Company, he was 
assigned to the construction department and aided in building the line to 
Oregon City. Later he was needed for inside work and eventually mastered the 
technicalities of the electrical end of the business. With his earnings Mr. 
Miller purchased a stock of sporting goods and in 1905 started a small store 
in Oregon City, also handling bicycles. At the same time he continued with the 
Willamette Falls Electric Company and acted as the representative of the firm 
in Oregon City until 1913 when he tendered his resignation, as his own 
business required all of his attention.

     Mr. Miller's first store contained about five hundred square feet and was 
situated in the Oregon City Bank building. In 1906 he sold a single cylinder 
Reo, which was probably the first automobile purchased for use in Oregon City. 
Later he became a dealer in the Auburn, Mitchell, Cadillac and Overland cars, 
as well as the Reo, and from 1913 until 1921 handled the Oldsmobile, Overland 
and Dodge Brothers machines. From 1921 until 1923 he carried only the Dodge 
automobiles and later took over the Studebaker agency, which he has since 
retained. Mr. Miller also now carries a complete line of tires and other 
automobile accessories. One of the chief features of his business is the 
repair department and his service station is the oldest, largest and best 
equipped in Oregon City. In 1913 he entered into a partnership relation and 
the name of the Miller-Parker Company, Inc., was adopted. A reorganization was 
affected in 1921 and the style was changed to the present form of the C. G. 
Miller Company, Inc., with C. G. Miller, president and manager, and W. F. 
Tipton, secretary and treasurer. The building in which the business is now 
housed was erected by the company in 1917 at No. 910 Main street and its 
exterior is of concrete. The structure is eighty by one hundred and thirty 
feet in dimensions and two stories in height. The firm employs a regular force 
of twenty men and has sold as high as four hundred and fifty cars in a year, 
these machines being both new and used automobiles. Mr. Miller is well 
acquainted with every phase of the trade and through tireless effort and good 
management has built up a business of extensive proportions.

     In 1898 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Winona Williams, a daughter of C. 
O. T. and Mary Williams, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Miller was a lifelong 
resident of Oregon City and passed away in March, 1923, leaving a son, Gordon 
W., who is a member of the class of 1929 of the University of Oregon and 
belongs to the Psi Kappa fraternity. He is taking a course in business 
administration and acts as junior manager of the university football team. The 
father is a Kiwanian and one of the energetic members of the Chamber of 
Commerce. His fraternal affiliations are with the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Throughout his career Mr. 
Miller has closely applied himself to the work in hand, thus advancing 
steadily, and his integrity and ability are well known to his fellow citizens, 
who entertain for him high regard.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/clackamas/bios/miller915gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/

File size: 4.4 Kb