Charles Miller (businessman)
| Charles Miller | |
|---|---|
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Miller in 1899
|
|
| Born |
June 15, 1843 Oberhoffen-sur-Moder, Alsace, France |
| Died | December 21, 1927 (aged 84) Franklin, Pennsylvania |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Army New York Army National Guard Pennsylvania Army National Guard
|
| Years of service | 1861-1865 1880-1906 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Commands held |
2nd Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard Division Pennsylvania National Guard Division |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Awards |
 French Legion of Honor (Chevalier). |
| Relations | Joseph C. Sibley (Brother in law) |
| Other work | Businessman |
Charles Miller (June 15, 1843 – December 21, 1927) was a Pennsylvania businessman, philanthropist and Major General of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He commanded the organization now known as the 28th Infantry Division and was a founder of the Galena-Signal Oil Company, which later became part of the Standard Oil combine, and then part of the corporations now known as Texaco and Valvoline.
Charles Miller was born in Oberhoffen-sur-Moder, Alsace, France on June 15, 1843. His family immigrated to the United States in 1855, settling in Boston, New York. Miller began a business career by clerking in stores and working as a sewing machine salesman.
In 1861 he joined the New York National Guard’s Company A, 74th Infantry Regiment. The unit performed guard duty along the border with Canada in Pennsylvania and New York to deter Confederate raids from the north (as happened during the St. Albans Raid). He served until the end of the Civil War, and turned down an Army commission despite having performed well on the competitive examination. Afterwards Miller remained active in the Grand Army of the Republic.
Recognizing the potential of the fledgling oil industry, in the late 1860s Miller moved to Franklin, Pennsylvania and organized the Galena Oil Company in partnership with his brother in law Joseph C. Sibley. This venture, which eventually became the Galena-Signal Oil Company, played a key role in replacing animal-fat based lubricants in business and industry, and grew to become the primary supplier of lubricating oil to the railroad industry. He served as the company president until 1919. Galena-Signal eventually became a Standard Oil subsidiary, and then part of the conglomerates now known as Texaco (1928) and Valvoline (1931).
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