Montour County PA Archives Biographies.....MILLER, Elias Swartz 1833 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com August 6, 2005, 4:19 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. ELIAS SWARTZ MILLER, superintendent of the Danville Water Works, which is one of Danville's latest and most successful improvements, is recognized as one of the valued residents of that borough, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens. He was born in Danville borough, November 11, 1844, and is a son of William G. and Martha (Walker) Miller, and a grandson of George Miller. George Miller, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Lancaster County, Pa. His father, whose name is unknown to the present generation, located in that county at an early date, being the first sheriff of the county. George Miller learned the trade of a gunsmith; he purchased a residence and shop where the opera-house now stands, and there followed his chosen occupation until his death in 1842, at the age of sixty-five years. He was united in marriage with Sarah B. Myers, and they became the parents of nine children, namely: John, Elizabeth, William G., Margaret, Levi, Mary, George, Julia Ann, and Jacob H. The grandmother of our subject passed from this life at the age of eighty-five years. William G. Miller, the father of our subject, was born in Lancaster, Pa., and his boyhood days were spent in his father's gunshop, where he learned the trade of a gunsmith, which occupation he followed in Danville all his life. He built a neat little home, which is now the home of Mrs. Rebecca Hess. Mr. Miller was wedded to Martha Walker, a daughter of Robert Walker and a native of County Derry, Ireland. As a result of this union the following children were born, ten of whom are now living: Sarah B.; Robert C; William H.; Joseph W.; Elias Swartz, our subject; Mary Jane; Luther, deceased; James S.; Maria B.; Martha A.; Isabella B.; and Emma. Mr. Miller departed from this life in 1882, aged seventy-three years and six months; his wife died at the age of seventy-seven years. Elias Swartz Miller acquired a good education in the public schools and then worked in the gun-shop owned by his father until his eyes failed him. He then worked at various jobs until the water works was established in 1873 when he was appointed assistant superintendent. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent, which position he held until 1889, when he began to work as a mechanic in the nail mills of that town. In 1891 he returned to his former position as superintendent of the water works and has since filled that responsible position to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers and the citizens of Danville. Up to 1872 Danville had only wells and springs with which to supply water, but in that year a committee composed of the following gentlemen was appointed to thoroughly investigate various water-supply systems: George W. Wray, J. W. Sweisfort, William Buckley, and M. D. L. Sechler. These gentlemen decided upon the Holly Company's system, and accordingly, in 1878 or 1879, a large tank, 50 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, was sunk in the Susquehanna River. In 1884 another tank with the following dimensions, 46 feet long, 7 1/2 feet wide, and 7 1/2 feet deep, was sunk, and the water is pumped from these tanks into a Morrison-Jewell Filter. The works also has a storage tank with a capacity of 98,000 gallons of filtered water. In the engine-room are three Worthington pumps, two of which pump the water from the two large tanks into a receiving tank, and the third pumps the water through the pipes into all parts of the borough. There are 1,600 hydrants for family use; 106 double fire hydrants; and the D., L. & W. R. R. and a number of manufacturing plants are also supplied with wter. The officers of the Water Works Company are: R. K. Polk, president; F. C. Angle and C. P. Harder, commissioners; E. S. Miller, superintendent; Jacob Byerly and Angus Wright, engineers; E. E. Bell and George Holligan, firemen. Mr. Miller was united in the bonds of matrimony with Esther R. Barr, a daughter of Washington P. Barr of Danville. She died at the age of twenty-seven years, leaving one child, Laura M. Our subject formed a second marital union with Sarah C. Foust, a daughter of Daniel Foust of Mahoning township, Montour County. He is a member and past master of Mahoning Lodge No. 516, F. & A. M.: past high priest of Danville Chapter No. 239, H. R. A.; and past eminent commander of Calvary Commandery No. 37, K. T. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb