Charles Reuben Miller (1870-1928) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Charles Reuben "Charlie" Miller

Born 21 Apr 1870 in Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

Son of William Miller and Jane (Hardy) Miller

Brother of George Miller, Margaret Anne (Miller) Brown, Mariah Miller, William Henry Miller, Arthur Miller and George Russell Miller

Husband of Aramanella Augusta (Brownscombe) Miller — married 26 Aug 1908 in Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada

Husband of Florence Elizabeth (Prichard) Miller — married 29 May 1913 in Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada

Descendants

Father of Dora Eveline (Miller) Tompkins, William Charles Miller, Catherine Bartlett (Miller) Best and John Russell Miller

Died 19 Nov 1928 at age 58 in Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Pat Miller

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Profile last modified 27 Apr 2024 | Created 19 May 2018

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Biography

Charles Reuben Miller was born in 1870 in Owen Sound, Ontario, the second youngest child of William Miller and Jane Hardy. Charles was an accomplished musician and artist. He apprenticed with his father who was the city's Sign, Banner and Flag painter. By age 15 he joined with his brother Harry Miller, age 19, to form Miller Brothers, Painters and Decorators, a business which continued until the death of both brothers. Together they decorated six local churches, many homes in the area and the dining room of the Paterson House, an Owen Sound hotel. By the 1920's they used tube work, a raised relief decoration in plaster, similar to icing designs on a cake. Some of this decoration still exists today.

Charlie, as he was called, also worked as a musician. He played cornet and at age 16 led the Citizens' Own Band, becoming the youngest band leader in Canada.

Charlie Miller and his Cornet

The Citizens' Own Band was a 13-member marching band which performed at many local events, including moonlight cruises on steam boats touring Georgian Bay, various balls held at the City Hall of Owen Sound, winter ice skating parties, promotions for various business and any occasion where the citizens of Owen Sound could be entertained. During the winter of 1889, Charlie took lessons from Herbert L. Clarke, renown cornetist and later member of the John Phillip Sousa Band. But Charlie's days with his beloved horn were numbered. One afternoon in the 1890's when the band was parading down the main street, Charlie suddenly developed an agonizing pain. Clutching his face he wandered off in bewilderment. The disease was tic douloureux, an inflammation of the facial nerve. Six others in Owen Sound developed it. Today the disease is rare and treatable, which was not the case in the 1890's. Charlie, with his usual sense of humor, called the disease "Della Roo." He played his beloved horn for years after he contracted the disease but had to confine his music to more simple pieces.

When the Citizens' Own Band disbanded in May 1901, Charlie became the leader of the 26 member 31st Regimental Band and launched the Miller-McKeen Orchestra. He was performing several nights each week, every season and practicing on other nights. One of the more glamorous venues was the King's Royal Hotel which opened in July 1902. In July 1905 the hotel was formally opened for the season and the Miller-McKeen Orchestra furnished the music.

King's Royal Hotel 1910

In September 1964 his son Bill Miller wrote an article on Charlie Miller's music and decorating careers, the information gleaned from numerous articles and mentions published in Owen Sound papers from the 1880s to the late 1920s.

Charlie Miller in Owen Sound Bands

Charlie was so busy he didn't marry until he was 38. He first married the beautiful Armanella Brownscombe in 1908 in Owen Sound.

Honeymoon photo of Armanella Brownscombe and Charles Miller

The couple had two children, Dora and William. Armanella died as a result of childbirth. Charlie married a second time, a nurse, Florence Prichard, in 1913.

Nurse Florence Prichard

Charlie and Florence had two children, Catherine and John. Charlie mixed his own paints in a shed behind his house, producing the delicate shades that were so in vogue in the early part of the 1900's. Sadly this paint contained lead and years of inhaling the fumes made him very ill. He died in his sleep at his residence November 19, 1928.

Charlie Miller's Former Home

Owen Sound Charlie lived his whole life in Owen Sound. This photolithograph from about 1910 would have been a familiar place. It was the business district. In September 1894 McColl & Lee , merchants on Poulett Street hired the Citizens' Own Band to be the musical entertainment for their GAS LIGHT OPENING of their Fall Millinery Collection. The final OPEN AIR CONCERT for the Citizens' Own Band was held at the corner of Poulett and Division Streets. Owen Sound changed a lot between Charlie's birth in 1870 and his death in 1928, but it was a small city he truly loved.

Poulett Street, Owen Sound, 1910

Sources

Ontario, Canada, Births, 1858-1913, Charles Reuben Miller, born 21 April 1870, Owen Sound, Grey County, father William Miller, mother Jane Hardy
1901 Census of Canada, Owen Sound, Grey, Ontario, William Miller 64, Jane Miller 65, Charles R. Miller 30
Ontario, Canada Marriages 1801-1928 (26 August 1908), Charles Reuben Miller 38, Armanella Augusta Brownscombe 25, Owen Sound, Grey County
Ontario, Canada Marriages 1801-1928 (29 May 1913), Charles R. Miller 43, widower, Florence Elizabeth Joanna Pritchard 30, spinister, Owen Sound
Ontario, Canada Deaths, Charles Reuben Miller, 19 Nov 1928, Uremia, age 58, Place of death, 716 3rd Ave. East, Owen Sound (residence)
Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, CHARLES REUBEN MILLER, born 21 April 1870, death 19 Nov 1928, Greenwood Cemetery, Owen Sound, headstone may be gone
Article by Sun Times staff, Jane Harrison titled "2 Owen Sound home decorators renowned for their unique work"
Article Story of Charlie Miller Record of Early Owen Sound Bands; Widely Known As Decorator published Sat. Sept 19, 1964. Written by his son William Miller The Owen Sound Sun-Times
Grey Roots Museum & Archives, greyroots.com, King's Royal Hotel
Newspapers.com, Times, Owen Sound, Ontario, 13, September 1894, p.5, Fall Millinery Opening
Newpapers.com, Owen Sound Sun, July 21, 1905, p.1, Opening Dance at King's Royal
Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184124754/charles-reuben-miller?_gl=1*zblwcd*_gcl_au*NTgwMzA4NDE4LjE3MDc3NzI3OTU.*_ga*ODQxMjYyOTIwLjE2OTk5MDc0NDc.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*OGVmNjE0OTItZDFjYi00ZjcwLTljMTUtMjA2NGFiYzQwOTZiLjM0MS4xLjE3MTQyMjI3OTkuNTMuMC4w*_ga_QPQNV9XG1B*OGVmNjE0OTItZDFjYi00ZjcwLTljMTUtMjA2NGFiYzQwOTZiLjM0MC4xLjE3MTQyMjI4MDAuMC4wLjA.

Memories: 3

Enter a personal reminiscence or story.

Pat Miller

At the start of WWI Charles published a song "The Boys From County Grey." Another song "The Boys from County Bruce" had the tag line "who are the devils when they get loose." These were patriotic tunes before people understood how bad the war was going to be. I remember the tunes because when I was a child my father played them on the piano. If there were lyrics, we sang along. Charlie was making music long after he was gone.

posted 10 Aug 2018 by Pat Miller [thank Pat]

Pat Miller

During the Owen Sound Fall Fair in 1894 the 12-member Citizens Own Band performed. This was a typical agricultural fair with prizes for best farm animals pies, jams, vegetables etc. Fall Fair Directors were upset because the prize winning cheese disappeared. Bill Miller revealed in 1964 that the cheese was removed by a band member because it appeared at the next band practice at Charlie's house. Even after the 12 men had eaten their fill, there was enough left over for the next practice when beer and crackers were added.

posted 24 Jun 2018 by Pat Miller [thank Pat]

Pat Miller

The Miller Brother's biggest decorating job was Central United Church, with a main floor measuring 60 by 90 feet. They used 1,500 pounds of flat paint mixed by hand. Ten gallons of varnish was used on the woodwork. The church representative warned them of sticky pews. A previous decorator had trouble with the varnish and a boy attending service had to be lifted out of his pants. The brothers completed the job with only one near accident. A can of paint raised to the ceiling on ropes and pulleys broke free. Charlie tried to catch it but it hit the floor and sprayed paint, which was quickly mopped up. Charlie's eldest son, Bill helped with the clean up. (Bill Miller , son and nephew of Miller Brothers, 1964)

posted 24 Jun 2018 by Pat Miller [thank Pat]

Is Charles your ancestor? Please don't go away!