The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-25
ALVIN N. MILLER DEAD.
A WellKnown Citizen and City
Official Gone.


The intelligence which the MORNING
NEWS conveys of the sudden and unex-
pected death of Mr.. Alvin n. Miller,
superintendent Of the water works, will be
received with regret by the many warm
! friends of the deceased. His death occurred
at 10 o'clock last night at his residence at
| the water works. The remains will be re-
moved this morning to the residence of his
sister, Mrs. Jane A. Symons, No. 1853
| Liberty street, from which they will be
taken after the funeral at 4 o'clock this
afternoon to Laurel Grove cemetery for in-
torment.
Mr.. Miller's death was the result of con-
gestion of the stomach. He was taken sud-
denly ill Friday night, but his case was not
considered alarming. Dr. Harris was called
in on Saturday, and was unremitting in his
two days effort to stay the fatal result, but
the age of the patient and the virulence of
the attack were too much to combat. He
retained consciousness up to 5 O'Clock last
evening. after which he sank into a coma
tose state and death followed five hours
later.
Mr.. Miller's life would make most in
teresting page in the history of Savannah.
He was a native Of New York, and was
about IS years of age. In his younger days
he was fellow apprentice with the late
John Roach, the great ship builder, the
two working together in the same shop,
where they learned the trade of machinist
and foundryman. Mr.. Miller came to
Savannah in the sos, and about 1885 was
superintendent of the Iron Steamboat
Company, which operated n line of
steamboats, between tuis city and
Augusta. Some years later he owned and
operated an extensive foundry and ma
chine shops, which were located on the east
ern wharves. 1t was here that during the
war he constructed a great deal Of ma
chinery and cast ordnance for the con-
federate government. Some of the heaviest
cannons used during the war on the south
Miller After the war he had
large Of Usiaa & Jones' dry docks on
Hutcnison's Island for a number of years,
was afterward port warden for several
years, and when the water works were con-
structed on their present site he superin-
tended the construction and has been super
intendent Of the water works ever siuce,
holding the position, for which he was we'll
fitted by practical training, at the time of
his death. He was an early advocate of
artesan wells, and much credit is due him
thst they were adopted for furnishing the
city water supply.
Mr. Miller acceptably served several
terms as member of the city council. He
was one or the incOrporators Of the Savan-
nah Skidaway and Seaboard Railroad
Company, now the City and Suburban IA /
way, and was one of the members of the
first board Of directors OF the former com
pany
Mr. Miller was a leading member of the
Odd Fellows He was one of the charter
members of Oglethorpe Lodge No. 1, which
was organized In 1912, and was its first
Noble Grand. He was the first Chief Pa
triarch Of Magnolia Encampment which
was organized a year later. The grand
lodge of Georgia was established in the same
year, and Mr.. Miller was its first Grand
Master.
In the heated campaigns between the
wings and democrats in ante bellum days
Mr.. Miller was a conspicuous act n, being
jealous democrat, and generally occupy
ing leading position in parades and party
gatherings
The deceased married a Mrs. McNish, of
this city, but she died several years ago.
He leaves no children. Five brothers aud
tnree sisters survive him, all of whom re-
side in New York except Mrs Symons of
this city.