A large article in the February 16, 1870 newspaper described Miller’s business, in which they said he made improvements “in styles of furniture, upholstery, and cabinet work.” During 1869, his small shop produced 500 bedsteads, 200 bureaus, 175 stands of different kinds, 300 large and small tables, 2,000 chairs of all kinds, 75 cupboards and secretaries, 100 lounges, settees and tete-a-tetes, 50 center tables, 500 picture and mirror frames, and 75 cribs and trundle beds. In addition, he had done a large quantity of job work, repairing, and more. In addition to building a fine, new hearse, which was “a great acquisition to his trade,” he made a great many coffins. During this time he kept seven or eight cabinet-makers and finishers busy.” He used the best quality of oak, walnut, cherry, and other more common kinds of lumber, as well as mahogany and rosewood. The editor added, “We are glad to speak thus encouragingly of Mr. Miller’s establishment, for he is one of our very best citizens. He advertises in the Sentinel.”
The 1870 census showed that his son Robert, 23, was also a cabinet maker living with the family. In addition, there were three daughters, ages 14, 11, and 8, plus sons who were 6 months and 13 years old. His real estate was valued at $5,000 and his personal property at $4,000.
In August 1871, Miller announced that he had “just received a full line of metallic burial cases of the best patterns, all sizes, which he will furnish at liberal rates.” He still offered the free hearse to accompany either coffins or burial cases to funerals in the village.”
By March 5, 1873 Miller had acquired a partner, O. G. Dart, at which time they purchased the furniture establishment of N. Blakely. The partners were to manufacture at Miller’s old stand and have their salesroom in the store that Blakely had occupied on the east side of the square.
Unfortunately, a fire at the manufacturing plant was discovered the next morning at 11:00. The alarm was sounded immediately and the fire department was promptly on hand. “Before the engine began to work the fire had made great headway; huge pillars of flame and smoke bursting through the roof in several places. The engine soon had two large streams playing upon the fire; the firemen worked with a will; the ‘pail brigade’ strained every nerve, and soon, the dark dense clouds of smoke rolling madly upward proclaimed to the experienced eye that the fire king had received his death blow, and at twelve o’clock not a single spark could be seen. The steam engine and most of the machinery was saved without damage. The fire is supposed to have caught from the smoke pipe over the engine and had made considerable progress before the alarm was given.”
The loss was estimated to be $1,500 and Miller had no insurance. He tore down what was left of the old building and planned to put up a larger, more convenient one, in its place. He expected to employ between 20 and 30 hands when it started running again.
A thank you note from Mr. Miller, printed in the same paper (Wednesday, six days after the fire), said, “I take this opportunity to return my sincere thanks to the citizens and members of the fire companies for their generous efforts to save my property of the late fire. Hoping that if they are ever so unfortunate as to be placed in similar circumstances they may receive aid as promptly, and labor to save, as earnestly, as was done in my case.”
The following week, Miller had another notice in the paper respectfully requesting all people who were indebted to him “to settle their accounts at the earliest possible date.” He wanted to rebuild his factory on a larger scale and needed all of the money due him to be able to do so. The same paper said, “Miller & Dart are pushing their furniture factory to completion rapidly.” They planned to purchase a larger engine and “otherwise increase their facilities.” The newspaper already reported at the end of April, “The furniture factory is doing a large business with its increased facilities.”
It was announced on Christmas Eve of the same year that Miller & Dart had dissolved their partnership on December 20. Miller continued the business of manufacturing furniture. Fred Schriner, who had been a finisher at the East Side Furniture Store for several years, purchased that institution. Miller, again, requested those who owed him to settle their accounts as soon as possible so he could pay his debts and carry on his business, “which I cannot do without money.”
I found the following advertisement in the February 4, 1874 Sentinel to be interesting. “A. Miller, at Spring Square Furniture Factory, is offering great inducements to those who contemplate not living always. A full line of coffins, burial cases, and a fine hearse, at Grange prices.”
In April of the following year it was reported that Miller was “having his buildings on Spring Square raised, and intends to put them so far above grade, as to preclude the necessity of again going through the motions.”
By January 1878 his ad said that he would exchange furniture for cord wood at cash prices. He announced on October 30 that he was going to close out all of the furniture he had in stock for the next 90 days at cost on any number of articles that a person wanted to purchase. The ad suggested, “It is a good chance for young married people or those who contemplate matrimony to buy.” This made me wonder if the wood was becoming more difficult to obtain.
Find out next week what 63-year-old Anton Miller did after closing his furniture factory.
— Matt Figi is a Monroe resident and a local historian. His column will appear periodically on Saturdays in the Times. He can be reached at mfigi48@tds.net or at 608-325-6503.
