SAM H. MILLER STARTED BUSINESS
CAREER |
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| Exactly fifty years ago today, on Aug. 4, 1915, a new store
known as Miller Brothers General Merchandise opened its doors in Flat River at what is now
217 W. Main Street. The store was stocked with wearing apparel, piece goods, notions,
groceries, feed, kerosene and many other items one might expect to find in a general store
of a half-century ago. Delivery service was by horse and wagon until the firm purchased a
Model T Ford truck in 1917. Some of the dependable assistants and clerks were W. Arthur McGraw of Flat River; Nora Lovvorn, now Mrs. Arthur French of Irondale; and Mrs. Harrison (Hattie) Campbell, who now lives in California. Some of the bargains offered on the opening day sale at the new store were: Sugar, 20 lbs. for $1.00; Men's All Wool Suits, $12.50; Domestic, 4c per yd.; and Men's Top Quality Shoes, $3.50. The building had been purchased by I. Miller from Jake and Mary Alper,
former owners of the Jacob Alper Store. Mr. Miller had come from Pennsylvania to locate in
Elvins in the year 1897. With him in the general store were his sons, Sam and Louis. Louis
moved to St. Louis in later years and died several months ago. Sam stayed here where he
got his start and today he is well known as a veteran businessman and civic leader.
Sam was born Sept. 7, 1895, in Greensburg, Pa., and was married July 6, 1919, to Sarah Medalie of St. Louis. They have two sons, Louis and Harold of St. Louis, and six grandchildren. Since retirement from business, Mr. Miller has been devoting much of his time to civic and community projects with a particular concern for the Flat River Chamber of Commerce which he serves as vice-president and director. He was a member of the Beth El Congregation in Flat River until the synagogue closed and is now a member of United Hebrew Temple, St. Louis. Since 1919, he has been affiliated with Elvins Lodge 599, AF & AM, and with Coleman Frazier Post 39, American Legion, Flat River. Mr. Miller is a city councilman and member of the Flat River Lions Club. He was appointed Tourism Chairman of the local Missouri Community Betterment Program -- a program in which Flat River qualified as the first 5-Star City in the State of Missouri. He is a trustee of the Mineral Area Osteopathic Hospital board and served on the Land Procurement Committee for St. Francois State Park No. 35. In looking back over the years, Sam recalls that he left the Miller
Brothers store in Sept., 1917, for military service in World War I. Upon his return in
Jan., 1919, the firm made plans to move into a new location and in late July of that year
were in operation in a modernized store at 329-331 W. Main. After several years of
successful operation the store was destroyed by fire on the afternoon of Jan. 9, 1924.
Before the ashes were cold, plans were being made to rebuild. While the store was being
rebuilt, the owners continued to conduct business in "The Shanty" at the rear of
the lot. The big new store, ready for occupancy in Sept., 1924, was in the location
presently occupied by Miller's 5 & 10 and Rechter Bros. Discount Store.
The Miller Bros. partnership was dissolved in 1935, with Lou taking over the grocery department, named the Modern Food Store; and Sam operating the clothing store, Miller's Ready To Wear. In Feb., 1955, after forty years in the retail business, Sam sold his interests to Famous-Barr Co. and took a much needed rest. Within a few months he became active in the finance field, being a charter member of the St. Francois County Finance Co. and the Lead Belt Loan Co. Mr. Miller's energies and talents in recent years have been almost exclusively devoted to civic and community undertakings. He is grateful for the patronage and good will he has always enjoyed thru the years, and states, "It is and always will be my desire to repay my friends and the public by the small part and interest I have taken to make Flat River a better place to live. God bless you all." Published by the LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Wed. Aug. 4, 1965. |
