This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Miller, Urschell, Smith, Schwartz, Lentz, Krueckenberg,
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gh.2ADI/4874
Message Board Post:
This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the
insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just
thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE:
I don’t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no
index. I do not want to sell this book. I am typing the biographies from it.
Typed by Lora Radiches:
Surnames in this biography are: Miller, Urschell, Smith, Schwartz, Lentz, Krueckenberg,
CHRISTIAN MILLER. At the time of his coming to the United States, in 1880, Christian
Miller had little else than a public school education and knowledge of the tinner’s
trade as visible assets. He possessed, however, what proved far more valuable to
him, ambition, determination, willingness and a natural talent for the recognition of
every-day opportunities. Making use of these qualities, together with ripened business
judgment, he has become one of the leading business citizens of Fort Wayne, as
president of the firm of Christian Miller & Sons, roofers and dealers in
furnaces and retail hardware. Mr. Miller was born in Germany, September 1, 1861, a son of
honorable parents neither of whom ever left their native land. He received the best
education that his parents could afford and as a youth was apprenticed to the trade of
Tinner, which he followed for a time in Germany. Eventually he became convinced that
greater opportunities awaite!
d him in the United States, and accordingly, at the age of nineteen years, came to this
country and first settled at Toledo, Ohio, where he found employment at his trade, as he
did later at Dayton. In 1881, when twenty years of age, he moved to Huntington, Indiana,
where he established a modest tin and sheet metal shop. From the outset Mr. Miller’s
expert and conscientious workmanship and his promptness and fidelity in living up to the
letter of his contracts attracted business, and he was soon firmly established. The nature
of his work naturally brought him into contact with heating and ventilation, and he began
to accept contracts along this line, and roofing followed shortly thereafter. By 1911 he
felt that his enterprise had outgrown Huntington, and accordingly he moved to Fort Wayne,
where he has since been in the enjoyment of constantly increasing success. In 1925 he
built his own plant and building, the modern and commodious Miller Block, two stories in
height!
, at 1115-17 Broadway, where he retails all kinds of shelf and heavy hardware, and
maintains his furnace showroom and warehouse, roofing, mill working and sheet metal
departments. He is the authorized dealer at Fort Wayne for Majestic furnaces. The same
policy of integrity and straightforward dealing which marked his early business life has
been maintained throughout his career, and no man is held in higher esteem in business
circles. He is a member of the Indiana State Hardware Dealers Association, the Fort Wayne
Building Men’s Association and the Chamber of Commerce, and has several fraternal
connections. A man of enlightened views and progressive spirit, he has been a participant
as a citizen in various civic movements, but has never sought public office. On
May 9, 1888, Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Mathilda L. Urschell, who
was born in Huntington County, Indiana, a daughter of Charles Urschell, who settled in
that county in!
1828, with his parents, and for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits.
To Mr. and Mrs. Miller there have been born four children: Carl V., who is
associated with his father in the firm of Christian Miller & Sons, married Miss Lena
Smith and they have two children, Helen and Kathryn; Waldo H., who is deceased,
married Hannah L. Schwartz, and they had two children, Marguerite B. and Georgianna L.;
Cleo married Allen G. Lentz, and they have two children, Shirley Jane and Kent; and George
C., also a member of the firm of Christian Miller & Sons, married Stella Krueckenberg
and they have two children, George C., Jr., and James A. There are eight grandchildren.
The pleasant family residence is situated at 2188 Bevel Avenue.