Henry L. Miller

Henry L. Miller, whose parents were natives of Bavaria, Germany, was born at Buffalo, March 12, 1836. He is one of the pioneer engineers of Buffalo harbor, having thirty- four issues of license, and, like the average German-American, his life and habits have been very steady, so that today, although at the age when most men retire from daily labor, he is still able and hearty enough not to give that question any serious attention.

Mr. Miller obtained all the schooling it was his privilege to enjoy before the age of twelve, for at that time he commenced work for a Dr. Neuman as office boy, remaining there about two years. He then engaged with George W. Rees as a printer's "devil," which employment he tired of after a year, when he went to work running a small engine for a whip manufacturing concern, being so employed about another year. When about seventeen he began his sailing career as porter on the Queen of the Lakes and Mount Vernon, remaining on each a season. He then went into David Bell's machine shop to learn the machinist's trade, continuing in the same place as a journeyman for another year and a half. Next we find him filling the berth of second engineer of the City of Buffalo for the season of 1860, and during one year of the war he was on the supply boat A.C. Steinar as her chief, plying around Virginia and Washington. After this service he again went on the lakes as second of the Neptune for two seasons and the Potomac for three seasons; was then second on the Tonawanda for one season, and the following season became her chief, continuing as such until she was sunk off Sturgeon Point, Lake Erie. His next employment was a service of five seasons as chief of the old Mohawk, which burned while laid up in the Erie basin at Buffalo. He was then chief of the Oneida for two seasons and the Annie Young for the three succeeding seasons, after which he fitted and brought out new the steamer Lycoming, running her three seasons, which (in 1885) closed his experience on the lakes. Having accepted the position of chief engineer of Weyand's brewery, he remained there about four years and then embarked in the tailoring business with his son, a year later engaging with the Case & Bayne Refrigerator Co., for whom he put up the sixty-five-ton ice machine in Lang's brewery. At this time he went to Cleveland and put in three machines, and to Erie, Penn., where he remained a year, running two refrigerating machines. Returning to Buffalo he ran a like machine for the Empire brewery, remaining a year with them, and then engaged with the Arctic Ice & Cold Storage Co. to run an ice machine, continuing in that position six months. At the end of that time he accepted his present position as chief engineer of the Clinton Co-operative Brewing Company, which he has since retained.

Mr. Miller was married in 1860 to Miss Mary Anna Huck, and of the children born to this union the following are living: August H., senior member of the firm of Miller & Patridge, prominent tailors, located at No. 60 Main street, Buffalo; Josephine, wife of F.P. Manhardt, a printer; Harry, Louis, Harriet, Mamie, Elizabeth and Blanche. The family residence is at No. 475 Ellicott street, Buffalo.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.