Member Biography

Biography

Abraham Miller (D1) Philadelphia City 1835-1837 (Whig1) Philadelphia City 1837-1838

Early Life: 

Abraham Miller, born, December 21, 1779; son of potter Andrew Miller; one of the most progressive American potters of his day; member, Franklin Institute; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1829-1830; elected, National Republicans, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1832-1834; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1835-1837; elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1837-1839; died, June 30, 1858 (aged 78); interment, Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia City, 1829-1830.

Elected, National Republicans, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Philadelphia City, 1832-1835. Opposition representatives not identified with the National Republicans or the Anti-Masons were all probably “Bank men,” Democrats who supported the Bank of the United States against attacks by Governor Wolf.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City, 1835-1837.

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City, 1837-1839. The Senate was initially organized by the Whigs who recognized the disputed election of Whigs James Hanna and William Wagner. This was reversed following the end of the Buckshot War with the seating of Democrats Samuel Stevenson and Michael Snyder. The Whigs regained one seat when Democrat Thomas Bell (Chester) was replaced by Nathaniel Brooke, a Whig.

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available. 

Legacy:

Miller, Abraham 1799?-1858 

Abraham Miller, son of Andrew Miller, brother of Andrew Miller, Jr. He appears to have been a partner in his father's pottery business on Zane Street [Filbert]. Andrew, Jr., presumably the elder of the two brothers, was the only son taken into partnership. The city directories list "Andrew Miller k Sons" in 1800 and 1801 only. In all other years of the association, it is listed as "Andrew Miller k Son." This could be an error in recording. 

By 1809, Abraham and Andrew Miller, Jr., were in partnership and Andrew. Sr., apparently having withdrawn from the business, is listed separately. Andrew, Sr., does not appear in the city directories as a potter after 1817. Abraham and Andrew Miller, Jr., are listed together in the city directories through 1824, although Abraham had in fact, taken over the full operation of the family pottery in 1821 when his brother died. "A k A Miller" are included in the 1820 census. 

Andrew Miller. Sr. retained ownership of the family pottery throughout his lifetime. He died intestate in 1826, and the pottery became the property of his two surviving children, Abraham and an unmarried daughter, Rebecca Miller. In 1827 Abraham bought his sister's half of the pottery for $4660. 

Abraham Miller was an exhibitor at the Franklin Institute in 1824, 1825, 1835, 1842, 1843, and 1845. An important potter and a wealthy man. Miller was elected to the Institute's Board of Managers in 1824 and served as a judge on the Committee on Earthenware. 

Mr. Andrew Miller, a potter in the city of Philadelphia, employs thirty-eight men and boys in making small earthen furnaces for family use, manufacturing weekly about one thousand at his Zane Street pottery. By 1840 he was expanding, moving his factory to a new site between Thirteenth and Broad Street on James [Noble] Street in Spring Garden. A published, December 22, 1840, announcement card, which contained the following information: 
ABRAHAM MILLER HAS REMOVED HIS MANUFACTORY From Zane Street to James, near Broad Street, SPRING GARDEN, 

He retained the Zane Street site as a warehouse through 1851. Miller greatly expanded his property holdings during the 1840s. In 1840 he bought a new residence on Spruce Street and throughout the 1840s purchased properties around the new factory. In 1851, he bought property on Callowhill Street south of the pottery, erected new buildings there, and listed the pottery at the Callowhill Street address from 1852 onward. He continued to operate the Callowhill Street manufactory until his death in 1858." 

An indication of Miller's wealth and public prominence during the 1840s is his inclusion in Wealth and Biography of the Wealthy Citizens of Philadelphia in 1845 and in its 1846 counterpart. Memoirs and Auto-Biography of some of the Wealthy Citizens of Philadelphia. The only potter listed in either year, he was said to have assets of $50,000 and it was noted that he made his money in the potting and furnace business; was a member of the State Legislature during the administration of Governor Joseph Ritner; is an honest, respectable, and good citizen. 

Abraham Miller died in July 1858. The "first account" submitted by the executors of his will indicates assets of $93,101.25. In addition to the pottery, he had acquired a substantial amount of stock in various local enterprises, had loans and mortgages out, and owned properties and ground rents around the city. It does not appear that Miller had ever married or had children, but he left generous bequests to various family members, friends, and employees. These included $400 each for potters Charles Boulter and William Henry and $300 for Samuel Stackhouse and Matthias Kochersperger. 

In August, the executors advertised the pottery for sale in Philadelphia. 
CALLOWHILL STREET. POTTERY AND FIRE BRICK MANUFACTORY FOR SALE 
They also advertised in the New York Tribune, the Boston Daily Journal, and the Cincinnati Gazette. 

It does not appear that Miller pottery was a very saleable commodity. The effects of the depression of 1857 may in part explain this. The executors indicated that they closed the pottery in March 1859 and that the last of the "stock of Fire Bricks moulds, machinery, etc." was sold on 11 April 1859. By March of the next year the pottery had evidently still not been sold because the executors paid $2 for "Locksmith for lock k key at pottery" and $5 for "Water rent 1860 at pottery." 
According to Miller's foreman, Charles Boulter, carried on the pottery after Miller's death. It appears extremely un likely that this was the case. No data on Boulter has suggested that he took over the Miller pottery at any time. The accounting of Miller's estate indicates that the pottery was closed between March 1859 and March 1860, and it may have remained so for several years. The next known occupant of the site was the Keystone Fire Brick and Crucible Works, which was at 1330, 1332, and 1334 Callowhill Street by 1867. 

From: Handcraft to Industry: Philadelphia Ceramics in the First Half of the Nineteenth Century pages 72-76. 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Cox, Harold. Senate1790-1869 (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Cox, Harold. 59H.pdf (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

This Week In Pennsylvania Archaeology: The Mysterious Abraham Miller Pottery (twipa.blogspot.com)

Abraham Miller (1779-1858) - Find a Grave Memorial