The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-03
BUILT SEVERAL RAILROADS
VAS, A FORMER NEW HAVEN NAN
AND WELL REMEMBEREp HERE.

Lived In His Youth on Lyon and Orange
Streets, This City-Old sohoolmates
Here Recall Him to Mind.
Stlvanus Miller, an account of whose
career is given below, is well remem-
bered by not a few New Haveners, as
when a boy he lived in this city, first
on Lyon street and then on Orange
street, near Grove street When living
on the latter street his parents We're
near neighbors of the late Thomas Fl.
Pease, who was for many years lead
ing newsdealer and bookseller of this
city, and whose son, S. G. Pease, the
neWsdealer and bookseller on Church
street, is his successor in business.
When Mr.. Miller's folks lived on Lyon
street the late Professor Ives father of
Mrs Parsons, wife of Professor E. A.
Parsons, was one of their near neigh
bors~ United States Deputy Sheriff
Carr, Assistant Engineer of the Volun-
teer Fire Department Bob Edmondson,
George Olmstead, the jeweler, and his
father, Deacon Olmstead, all deceased,
We're also residents of that immediate
section.
Mrs. Miller, mother Of Silvanus, was
a lady of literary tastes and wrote
articles quite frequently for the Chris
tan Union. She died years ago in
Greenfield Mass. Her husband. father
of Silvanus, was a railroad contractor
and assisted in building the New Haven
and Northampton railroad.
The Springfield Republican of re-
cent date has the following regarding
the son Silvanus:
'Silvanus Miller, a noted builder of
railroads in Guatemala, died of pneu-
monia at the St Cloud hotel in New
York Friday noon and his burial took
place at Deerfield from the home of his
sisters this afternoon. Mr.. Miller was
only forty-five years old; he was ma
tive of Hatfield, where his father and
mother had lived before their removal
to Deerfield a few years ago He went
when young man to Central America,
as a civil engineer, and had become a
leading factor in the development of
Guatemala as a railroad contractor. He
had built several short lines of railway,
and was engaged at the time of his
death in the construction of road
from Port Barrios to Guatemala City.
He had only completed the first half of
this road and was negotiating for funds
to enable him to go on with it, when the
rebellious Guatemalans upset his work
as we'll as their own hopes. 1t is the
most unfortunate time for him to take
his departure, so far as the progress
of Guatemala is concerned; for he had
much to do in developing the present
progressive policy of Barrios.
ut was the custom Of Mr.. Miller to
visit New York and Massachusetts
every year for the benefit Of his health,
and when he came on few weeks ago
he was in broken health, due to the
malarious influences of Port Barrios.
and it was his intention to make his
residence at Guatemala City when ne
returned. He was going back this week,
but on Tuesday evening he dined out
caught a severe cold, and on Thursday,
when a physician was called in, it was
too late-congestion of the lungs had
taken place and could not be checked or
relieved.
"Mr. Miller was man of unusual
and potent qualities; thorough 'engi-
neer and natural master of men and
enterprises He had achieved strong
| position in his adopted country; he was
| friend of the elder Barrios, and was
sincerely appreciated by President Bar
rios, his nephew, who priced Mr.. Mil
| ler's services highly, and regarded him
| as an important ally in the growth of
! Guatemala into a republic as well built
| as his railroads. Mr.. Millers fine Yam
kee character and keen intellect earned
| the place he held, and something of his
| success had been due to the extraordi-
nary social genius Of his wife, a woman
| of exceptional mind and accomplish
| ments. Mr.. Miller's father and mother
some years ago bought one of the fine
old houses on DeerI1eld street, and both
| have since died there. There survive at
| the Deerfleld home the Misses Ellen
| and Margaret Miller, and in Kentucky
| another sister, Rosalie, wife of Profes.
sor Garman, a we'll known teacher in
| science"