Albert A. Miller, superintendent of the Fort Plain Gas & Electric Company, has been connected with this concern for a period extending over more than forty years, and is one of the best known business men in the village. He was born in the town of Danube, Herkimer county, New York, November 9, 1852, the son of Jerome B. and Louisa (Walrath) Miller, the former a native of the town of Minden, Montgomery county, and the latter of Danube township, Herkimer county. Jerome B. Miller was engaged in the mercantile business for some nine years of his early manhood and later taught school for twenty-four years. Subsequently he retired and made his home in Fort Plain for about forty years prior to his death in January, 1904. Mrs. Miller died in September, 1853, when their son, Albert A. Miller, was less than a year old.
Albert A. Miller was reared and obtained his early education in Fords Bush, Montgomery county, and completed his schooling in the Whitestown Seminary. Almost at once he became interested in engineering work and for four years operated a stationary engine. He worked at the Fort Plain Spring & Axel Works for nine years prior to 1882, when he became connected with the Fort Plain Gas & Electric Company, of which he is now superintendent. The forty-odd years Mr. Miller has been in the public utility business have witnessed an enormous change in the methods used in this field and a great development in the scope of its service. He has ever kept well abreast of the times, however, and is ranked as one of the most experienced and best informed men in his line in the Mohawk valley. Thousands of satisfied customers bear witness to the fact that his company is rendering efficient service at reasonable prices. Like many another successful business man Mr. Miller has not confined his efforts to a single field, nor depended upon his position for his entire income. As he has saved his money and acquired a little capital with which to work, he has made wise investments that have brought him handsome returns in many instances. He has been remarkably successful as a manipulator of stocks, bonds and mortgages and to this activity owes a generous proportion of the competency that he now enjoys. Mr. Miller is, of course, a heavy stockholder in the local gas and electric company.
Mr. Miller was married to Miss Lucy Weller on January 19, 1876. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of Jordan and Maria (Diefendorf) Weller, who are mentioned at length elsewhere in this work in connection with L. M. Weller. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, three sons and a daughter, are all living and by their accomplishments have become a great credit to their parents, who are naturally proud of their children's records. Bertram W. is a private secretary to one of the high officials of the Standard Disk Works of Herkimer and occupies a position of trust and responsibility; Floyd is advertising counsel to the Barter Press Company of Boston; and Charles conducts the Reo garage at Belleville, New Jersey, a suburb of Newark. The only daughter, Miss Ethel L. Miller, is a graduate of the school of domestic science, St. Lawrence University, and is now teaching in the high school at Union Hill, New Jersey.
Mr. Miller has been a member of the Masonic order for fifty years, his affiliations being with Fort Plain Lodge, No. 433, A. F. & A. M., in which he is one of the oldest members in point of length of membership. His connection with the local Methodist Episcopal church likewise covers a remarkably long period and is distinguished by the helpful service he has rendered the church from time to time as one of its prominent lay members. He is interested in all that pertains to civic life ind prosperity, although he has never cared for a public career. His only public office was that of supervisor for the town of Minden, which he held for two years.