Lansing Millis
Lansing Millis was born September 3, 1823, in the town of
Lansingburgh , New York, and attended school in the adjoining town of Brunswick
until he attained the age of fourteen. From that time; until the year 1855 he
was engaged in mercantile pursuits as an employee, or on this own account; for,
in 1841, we learn of the first evidence of that ambition which, in after years,
made him the controlling spirit in so many enterprises. Tiring of serving
others as a store-clerk, he purchased his first stock of goods, and established
himself in business in his native town. General business depression and decline
in values caused his failure in 1843, and he found himself, at nineteen years
of age, in possession of nothing but the clothes he wore; for, in accordance
with the laws then in force, his creditors took everything else that had a value;
but during the following five years, by practice of strict economy, he was
enabled to pay every dollar owing at the time of his failure.
While in Boston, buying goods, he was offered and accepted, on April 1, 1855, the position of Boston soliciting agent for the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroads. In August of the same year he became their travelling agent for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Northern New York. In 1857 he became the representative of the Grand Trunk Railway at Concord, New Hampshire, and in the following year was appointed general agent for the same company, with an office at No. 5 State Street, Boston. In May, 1861, he entered the service of the Central Vermont Railroad as the general agent in Boston, serving in that capacity until September, 1873; then as general traffic manager until March, 1877; and, until the time of his death, was general manager through-freight department for the same company. In 1866 he was chosen general agent of the Commercial Express Freight Line; and, upon the organization of the National Dispatch Line in 1866, became its president and general manager; in 1880, president of the Chicago, Boston, and Liverpool Refrigerator Company; and since June, 1884, president of the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad. It will be noted that, during the sixty-second and last year of his life, he filled, in the railroad service, for distinct offices: viz., general freight manager, and the presidency of three other companies.
Some few years since he was advised that his health, which was precarious, would be improved by out-door exercise, he purchased at East Medway a farm, now known as the Oak Grove Farm. He added largely to the original state by purchase of land, and erected some very fine and substantial buildings. His neighbors soon found that the presence of Mr. Millis was most beneficial to their interests, and when it was proposed to incorporate East Medway as an independent town there was marked unanimity in naming it Millis. The present Legislature granted the petition, and February 26th, (1885) Mr. Millis had the great pleasure of being present at the celebration of the birth of the new town. Shortly thereafter, Lansing Millis passed away on April 6, 1885 after being stricken with paralysis of the heart.
Mr. Millis was a gentleman of generous impulses, and a liberal giver to many good causes. He was prominent among the Baptists, and was president of the Baptist Social Union. He was a liberal giver to the fund which relieved the First Baptist church on the Commonwealth Avenue of its debt, and no member of this denomination has contributed more generously of late years to promote its interests. In private life Mr. Millis was a genial friend, a loyal neighbor, and a good citizen, and we record his death with sincere regret.
References:
“In Memoriam, Lansing Millis” (1886) excerpts of tributes from the “Boston Journal” and “Pathfinder Railway Guide.”
While in Boston, buying goods, he was offered and accepted, on April 1, 1855, the position of Boston soliciting agent for the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroads. In August of the same year he became their travelling agent for Vermont, New Hampshire, and Northern New York. In 1857 he became the representative of the Grand Trunk Railway at Concord, New Hampshire, and in the following year was appointed general agent for the same company, with an office at No. 5 State Street, Boston. In May, 1861, he entered the service of the Central Vermont Railroad as the general agent in Boston, serving in that capacity until September, 1873; then as general traffic manager until March, 1877; and, until the time of his death, was general manager through-freight department for the same company. In 1866 he was chosen general agent of the Commercial Express Freight Line; and, upon the organization of the National Dispatch Line in 1866, became its president and general manager; in 1880, president of the Chicago, Boston, and Liverpool Refrigerator Company; and since June, 1884, president of the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain Railroad. It will be noted that, during the sixty-second and last year of his life, he filled, in the railroad service, for distinct offices: viz., general freight manager, and the presidency of three other companies.
Some few years since he was advised that his health, which was precarious, would be improved by out-door exercise, he purchased at East Medway a farm, now known as the Oak Grove Farm. He added largely to the original state by purchase of land, and erected some very fine and substantial buildings. His neighbors soon found that the presence of Mr. Millis was most beneficial to their interests, and when it was proposed to incorporate East Medway as an independent town there was marked unanimity in naming it Millis. The present Legislature granted the petition, and February 26th, (1885) Mr. Millis had the great pleasure of being present at the celebration of the birth of the new town. Shortly thereafter, Lansing Millis passed away on April 6, 1885 after being stricken with paralysis of the heart.
Mr. Millis was a gentleman of generous impulses, and a liberal giver to many good causes. He was prominent among the Baptists, and was president of the Baptist Social Union. He was a liberal giver to the fund which relieved the First Baptist church on the Commonwealth Avenue of its debt, and no member of this denomination has contributed more generously of late years to promote its interests. In private life Mr. Millis was a genial friend, a loyal neighbor, and a good citizen, and we record his death with sincere regret.
References:
“In Memoriam, Lansing Millis” (1886) excerpts of tributes from the “Boston Journal” and “Pathfinder Railway Guide.”