George M. Miller

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

George M. Miller

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

George Macculloch MILLER, lawyer, of Morristown, is a descendant in the fourth generation of a family of German lineage, his ancestors leaving their native land at an early date in order to escape religious persecution, arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later settling in the State of New Jersey, where they were prominently and actively identified with the development and improvement of the communities in which they resided.

The pioneer ancestor was John Henry MILLER, who came to this country in the year 1750, landing August 12, and three years later removed to New Jersey. He held the office of town clerk of Tewkesbury for thirty-one years. His wife, Marie Catherine (MELICH) MILLER, bore him four children, among whom was David, of whom further.

David MILLER, son of John Henry MILLER, was born April 26, 1769, died at Paterson, New Jersey, in January, 1844. He was a resident of Middle German Valley. He was appointed major of the First Battalion, Second Jersey, September 30, 1862. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1823, and began the practice of his profession in Morristown, where he soon acquired an extensive and profitable practice, especially in the higher courts. In 1832 he was elected a member of the State legislature, but in the following year resumed the practice of his profession. In 1838 he was nominated for the State senate by the Whigs, and elected by a large majority, and at the close of his term in 1840 he was elected United States senator for New Jersey. At the expiration of his term, in 1846, he was re-elected, serving two full terms in the Upper House of the first legislative body in the world when that body in both branches was at the zenith of its glory. In 1825 he was quartermaster-general of militia, and was prominent the year previous on the occasion of the visit of General LAFAYETTE to Morristown on July 14. During 1827 he became one of the incorporators as well as the first vestryman of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. He married, November 7, 1825, Mary MACCULLOCH, daughter of George Perrot and Louisa Edwina (SAUNDERSON) MACCULLOCH. They were the parents of nine children, among whom was George Macculloch, of whom further.

George Macculloch MILLER, son of James Welsh MILLER, was born at Morristown, Morris county, New Jersey, May 4, 1832. After completing the course in the common schools of his native place, he became a student in Burlington College, from which institution he graduated, and he then pursued a course of study in Harvard Law School, which was supplemented by study under the supervision of his father. Subsequently he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey and New York. In 1854 he began the practice of his profession in New York City, and was constantly employed as counsel and attorney for many large institutions. In 1871 he became president of the New port & Wickford Railroad & Steamboat Company; in 1873 a director of the New York, Providence & Boston Railroad Company, and subsequently was chosen as its vice president; in 1879 elected president of the Providence & Stonington Steamship Company; president of the Denver, Utah & Pacific Railroad Company for the six years ending 1887; president of the Housatonic Railroad Company, and for many years was one of the leading directors of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company. He founded the firm of MILLER, PECKHAM & DIXON, which is one of the leading corporations of the State. Mr. MILLER is a trustee of the Central Trust Company, and Greenwood cemetery; president of St. Luke’s Hospital, in which he has taken an active interest since 1869; founder and until recently president of the Hospital Saturday and Sunday Association of New York. He is one of the original trustees and secretary of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and a warden of St. Thomas Church. In politics he has always been a Republican, and was one of the committee of seventy to advance municipal reform.

Mr. MILLER married, October 15, 1857, Elizabeth HOFFMAN, daughter of Lindley Murray HOFFMAN. Children: Hoffman; Mary Louisa, wife of William Bard McVICKAR; Leverett Saltonstaff,; Elizabeth Agnes, wife of Godfrey BRINLEY; Edith Macculloch.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)