Ezra Miller

M, #22, b. 12 May 1812, d. 9 July 1885
Ezra Miller|b. 12 May 1812\nd. 9 Jul 1885|p22.htm|Ezra Wilson Miller|b. 11 Jun 1782\nd. 24 May 1859|p44.htm|Antje-Nantie-Hannah Ryerson|b. 5 Sep 1788\nd. bt 1815 - 1819|p45.htm|Thaddeus Miller|b. c 1760\nd. bt 1830 - 1840|p88.htm|Deborah Webb||p89.htm|George Ryerson|b. c 1750\nd. bt 28 Dec 1807 - 22 Feb 1808|p90.htm|Elizabeth Ellis|d. a 12 May 1802|p91.htm|
  
Reference 2G Grm
Charts Pedigree starting with Jack (representing the grandchildren) - incorporates the branches below - largest chart
Pedigree for John Jewett Garland
Father* Ezra Wilson Miller b. 11 Jun 1782, d. 24 May 1859
Mother* Antje-Nantie-Hannah Ryerson b. 5 Sep 1788, d. bt 1815 - 1819
Birth*12 May 1812 Ezra Miller was born 12 May 1812 at farm near Edgewater, Bergen Co., New Jersey, From Pioneer Settlement to Suburb: a History of Mahwah NJ 1700-1976 by Bischoff & Kahn pg 126.
"Ezra Miller's birthplace was actually not far from Mahwah, being on a large farm near Edgewater in Bergen County. The date was May 12, 1812. His father was of Scotch ancestry and his mother was the only daughter of the wealthy George Ryerson of Pompton, New Jersey." 
He was the son of Ezra Wilson Miller and Antje-Nantie-Hannah Ryerson. 
(Witness) Census18201820Ezra Miller is assumed to be one of the household of Ezra Wilson Miller in the 1820 census, New York, who has Where are they? NOT the family on pg 30 New York City 8th Ward who has 3m0-10 1m10-16 1m45+ 1f10-16 1f26-45 because the family configuration is all wrong. 
(Witness) Census18301830Ezra Miller is assumed to be one of the household of Ezra Wilson Miller in the 1830 census, pg 138, Flushing, Queens Co., New York, who has 2m0-5 (Henry & Wilson) 1m5-10 (unknown) 1m10-15 (Joseph) 2m15-20 (Ezra & Charles) 1m40-50 (Ezra age 47) 1f0-5 (Susan or Mary) 2f5-10 (Harriet & Jane) 1f10-15 (unknown) 1f15-20 (Eliza) 1f20-30 1f40-50 (one of these is unknown the other would be Sarah age 34). 
Marriage*26 May 1841Ezra Miller married Amanda Josephine Miller, daughter of Seth Miller and Maria Couder, on 26 May 1841 second cousins, she lived in Janesville, Wisconsin in the woods while her husband worked as a surveyor. He was "of Flushing", she was "of Westchester Co."1 
Residence*circa 1844 Circa 1844, Ezra Miller resided: moved from New Jersey to New York. It was in 1842 per Cyclopedia of American Biography, but that doesn't fit with Amanda being born in NJ. 
MovedTo*between 1847 and 1850He moved between 1847 and 1850 to Wisconsin from New York.  
Census1850*1850He appeared on the 1850 census as the head of household, pg 287b #826-826, Magnolia, Rock Co., Wisconsin along with Amanda Josephine Miller, Amanda Josephine Miller, Ezra Wilson Miller, Harriet Martha Miller, Jordan Gray Miller, William H Miller and Maria Couder. His info on the census included: Miller, Ezra 37 b.NJ, farmer with $4000 land (wife's mother and brother also living with them). 
Event-Misc*1859Ezra Miller had the following event: he's mentioned in father's probate as being of Janesville, Rock, WI in 1859 at Janesville, Rock Co., Wisconsin. 
Census1860*1860He appeared on the 1860 census as the head of household, pg 99 #806-780, Janesville 3rd Ward, Rock Co., Wisconsisn along with Amanda Josephine Miller, Amanda Josephine Miller, Ezra Wilson Miller, Harriet Martha Miller, Jordan Gray Miller, Franklin Pierce Miller M.D. and Maria Couder. His info on the census included: Miller, Ezra 43 b.NJ postmaster $20,000-$10,000. 
Occupation1863Ezra Miller Engineer, Inventor of The Miller-Janney Railroad Coupler. In his occupation as an inventor, Ezra became interested in improving the existing methods of coupling railroad cars. On this website:
http://www.ironhorse129.com/rollingstock/builders/Appliances/millerhook.htm
there is detailed information on the "hook" he got patented. in 1863. 
MovedTobetween 1860 and 1870He moved between 1860 and 1870 to New York from Wisconsin.  
Census1870*1870He appeared on the 1870 census as the head of household, pg 310 #1252-1471, Brooklyn 3rd Ward, Kings Co., New York along with Amanda Josephine Miller, William H Miller, Maria Couder, Ezra Wilson Miller, Jordan Gray Miller, Franklin Pierce Miller M.D., John Henry Van Kirk and Harriet Martha Miller. His info on the census included: Miller, Ezra 55 b.NJ inventor (no land or personal property). 
Occupation*Ezra Miller Engineer, Inventor of The Miller-Janney Railroad Coupler. 
Deed*1 October 1872 On 1 October 1872 at Mahwah, Bergen Co., New Jersey: From Pioneer Settlement to Suburb: a History of Mahwah NJ 1700-1976 by Bischoff & Kahn pg 126.
"The first of the new families was that of Colonel Ezra Miller. He bought fifty acres of land just east of the Mahwah railroad station on the hillside overlooking the Ramapo Valley. The purchase was made on October 1, 1872 from John and Rhoda Mack, who had earlier acquired part of the land from Peter Bush. Miller later increased his holdeings to 350 acres, and after the turn of the century, this property formed the basis of Cragmere." 
Note*Built magnificent estate in Mahwah, New Jersey. 
Census1880*1880He appeared on the 1880 census as the head of household, ED 5 pg 9 (printed pg 316) #89-89, Hohokus Twnshp, Bergen Co., New Jersey along with Adel A Miller, Amanda Josephine Miller, Ezra Wilson Miller, Caroline Isabelle Rollins, Jordan Gray Miller, Emily Beard and William H Miller. His info on the census included: Miller, Esral (sic) 68 b.NY, farmer. 
Death*9 July 1885Ezra Miller died on 9 July 1885 at Mahwah, Bergen Co., New Jersey, at age 73. 
Burial*13 July 1885He was buried on 13 July 1885 at Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, Lot 20326/9 Secton 103 - Monument reads:
Colonel Ezra Miller
died July 9, 1865
Aged 73 Years.
Biography*He had this bibliographic information: Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889 & edited Stanley L. Klos, 1999. http://www.famousamericans.net/ezramiller/
MILLER, Ezra, inventor, born in New Jersey, 12 May, 1812. He received a good education and became a civil engineer, which profession he followed during many years in New York. In 1842 he moved to Wisconsin and settled in Magnolia, where he was soon elected justice of peace for two terms. In 1852 he was chosen a state senator and served for one term, refusing a re-nomination. The frequent accidents on railway trains by collision led to an endeavor to devise means for their prevention, and he finally invented his trussed platforms, compression buffers, and automatic couplers. These he patented in 1864, and they have since become almost universally adopted by the railway companies in the United States. He also obtained patents for his platform in Europe, and it is now extensively used on the continent and elsewhere. Mr. Miller has also invented other devices that have come into constant use. He has also been active in the militia. In 1833 he enlisted in a company of horse artillery belonging to the 2d New York regiment, and advanced until he reached the colonelcy in 1842. In 1851 he was appointed colonel of the 8th Wisconsin militia, which office he held during his residence in that state. He subsequently settled in Brooklyn. 

Family

 Amanda Josephine Miller b. 1817, d. 28 Oct 1881
Marriage*26 May 1841He married Amanda Josephine Miller, daughter of Seth Miller and Maria Couder, on 26 May 1841 second cousins, she lived in Janesville, Wisconsin in the woods while her husband worked as a surveyor. He was "of Flushing", she was "of Westchester Co."1 
Children 1.Amanda Josephine Miller+ b. 28 Feb 1844, d. 29 Mar 1908
 2.Ezra Wilson Miller+ b. 26 May 1845, d. 12 Apr 1905
 3.Harriet Martha Miller+ b. 26 Aug 1847, d. 14 Apr 1897
 4.Jordan Gray Miller+ b. Jan 1850, d. Aug 1924
 5.Franklin Pierce Miller M.D. b. 31 Dec 1855, d. 17 Oct 1914
Last Edited 22 Aug 2011

Citations

  1. [S98] Samuel Ellis of Ellis Island in NYGBR, C. G. Judith Miner Hine Luedemann Volume 119, Numbers 2, 3 & 4 SLC 974.7 B2n, pg 160, 163.
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