New-York tribune., 1922-06-01
Emerson McMillin,
Banker, Dies in NJ.
Home at Age of 70
Consolidaior of Many Public
Utilities Is Victim Of Pneu.
monia; Was Veteran Of
Civil War and Gas Pioneer

Emerson MeMillin. banker, who
specialized In the reorganization and
consolidation Of gas. electric and elee.
tric railway companies. died fTpm
pneumonia yesterday AZ his home. Oar
lington. Mahwah. n. J. He vas sew.
enty-eight years old. the founder OF
Emerson MoMillin & Co.. OF 100 Broad.
way
Mr. McMiln was born in Eviugton,
Ohio. April rs. is44. His father was
manager of iron furnaces in Gallia
County. in tho vicinity Of Ewington,
and before his son had finished with
the district school he was put TO work
a. the furnaces. serving In various ca.
pacities between the ages Of twelve and
sixteen years and keeping up with his
studies IN his odd moments.
When tho Civil War broke out Mr.
NcMillin was only seventeen years old.
but he managed 20 enlist soon after
Fort Sumter was fired on and served
throughout the struggle. He was with
the 18th Ohio Infantry and the I'd West
Virginia Cavalry His FIVE brothers
also we're soldiers. three OF them being
killed. His father was in the service.
too.
interested in Gas After War
His interest in gas properties devel-
oped soon after his discharge from the
army. He entered the employ Of a con-
tractor engaged IN building a gas plant
AZ lronton. Ohio. When the plant was
completed he got work there, and be-
came It's manager.
In 1857 no entered the iron and steel
business and during the next eight
years was president Of several iron
and steel companies in the Ohio Valley.
During this period and for some years
afterward he lived in Columbus, Ohio,
and was one Of the first presidents Of
the Columbus Board Of Trade.
A. the same time he was acquiring
control Of several small gas works IN
the Middle West In 1888 he nego.
tiated the purchase Of the Columbus
COhio) Gas Company. through H. B.
Hollins& CO., Of this city. The follow
ing year. through the same banking
firm. he arranged for the consolids-
tion Of the four gas companies doing
business in St. Louis, No.
He came 10 New York and founded
the hrm which bears his name August
!. 1891. The new firm Immediately
engaged in arranging and financing
mergers Of the public utilities in which
lis head was so keenly interested and
built up n big business in this field.
In 1892 MT. McMilln negotiated the
purchase and consolidated the street
railways Of Columbus, Ohi).
Develops Power Plants
Numerous similar projects were han
died By Mr. McMillin. and, as the use
Of electrical power spread. his firm be
came interested in the development ~
great power plants.
He was chairman Of the board OF d.
rectors Of the American Light e. Trae-
tion Company; president and director
Of the Detroit City Gas Company, the
Grand Rapids. (Mich.,l Gas Light Com
pany. tho ST. Joseph (Mich.) Gas Com
pany, the Southern Light & Traction
Company. the Western Gas Company,
the San Antonio Gas & Electric Com
pany, the San Antonio Traction Com
pany, and vice president and director
Of the Muskegon (Mich) Traction &
Lighting Company.
He was member Of the Lawyers
Club. Engineers Club, Union League
Club, Bankers Club. Army and Navy
Club and National Arts Club Of this
city and Of clubs in Columbus, Ohio,
Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich.