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Grandfather Says: Remembering Grandfather’s Grandfather

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Original oil painting by: Grandfather’s wife

Grandfather remembers his grandfather, James F. Miller, a man respected and honored as the family’s patriarch.

He sired eight children, one of whom died in infancy; a common occurrence which was accepted stoically, in those days.

Grandfather says Mr. Miller was his mentor. Mr. Miller confided in Grandfather how he had courted his wife, promising her father, brothers and uncle that he would take good care of her, which Grandfather can attest he did.

She was 16.

Mr. Miller, wife Anna, and a great grandchild.

Mr. Miller worked with Henry Ford from the earliest days of what became the Ford Motor Company. Mr. Miller was a foundryman, and together they built the foundry which produced the cast iron parts for the Model T.

Grandfather remembers Mr. Miller telling him about sitting on a street curb with Mr. Ford, wondering at their good fortune as their enterprise prospered.

Later, Mr. Miller broke with Mr. Ford and went to work for William Durant as he built General Motors Corp. by acquiring and integrating several early independent motor car companies. Mr Miller built and managed the Chevrolet Grey Iron foundry in Saginaw, Michigan, for many years.

As he approached GM’s mandatory retirement age 70 — a policy Mr . Miller found incomprehensible — his gray iron foundry was producing the engine blocks for the Allison engine which powered early models of the P-51 Mustang fighter plane during World War II.

Mr. Miller died in 1982, age 99.

James F. Miller

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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian from West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.

Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family

Comments

  1. 1

    RD Blakeslee says

    “Patriarch”

    A much-disdained word, these days.

    In a recent long and ostensibly comprehensive article about loneliness by a purported “expert” in a highly-respected publication , The words “family” and “marriage” do not appear even once!

    http://fortune.com/2016/06/22/loneliness-is-a-modern-day-epidemic/

    Anybody here with common sense detect social blindness in that? The breakdown of the traditional family totally ignored?

    A friend I met standing in line in 1954 waiting to register for a college course, recently sent Grandfather his Christmas newsletter. It was filled with family doings and I answered him: ” As with you and yours, our family spends a lot of time together, these days.”

  2. 2

    Stewie says

    Looks like you have some good genes running in the family RD. Did your grandfather have a formal education in engineering, or did he learn his trade through on the job training?

  3. 3

    RD Blakeslee says

    Mr. Miller did not finish high school. He left home at age 16 and went to work in a foundry, to support himself. After learning the iron casting trade there, he progressed, self-teaching himself how to build and manage a foundry.

    He had a high regard for practical men of attainment. An earlier reference to him here:

    “Actually, Grandfather doesnt know why he builds things so strong. Grandfather went to Michigan State College (now University) on the GI bill. Great-Great Grandfather was general manager of the Chevrolet gray iron foundry in Saginaw, Michigan and he was pleased that Grandfather went to Michigan State, rather than the University of Michigan. Grandfather said Michigan States engineers were more practical. Great-Great Grandfather said he hired a U of M graduate to design a conveyor and it was too fragile and collapsed.”

    https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id46608-grandfather-says-grandfathers-house-and-custom-built-stairs.html

  4. 4

    Steve Schoonover says

    RD, How fortunate that you have such memories and respect for those who “paved the way” for you. My grandfather attained only 6th grade formal education. He learned and loved to read and rarely had to read something more than once to get great understanding. He was the last generation to essentially live off the land, hunting, fishing, farming and cutting mine ties and props for cash when needed. He, his wife and his eight children have all left this earth now. But because of their diligence and willingness to share lessons learned, I, like you, have learned to be content with simple but important things like family, God and perseverance. Thanks for sharing your story with us. Always look forward to your contributions.

  5. 5

    RD Blakeslee says

    Steve, I have written from time to time about blessings. Sometimes they come out of the blue, unexpected…

    This New Years, Eve, there are two: your letter and appreciating the mastery of the human voice – Renee Fleming is singing with the New York Philharmonic on NPR as I write.

    These blessings remind me that virtue and elegance remain in the world.

    Thank you so much.

  6. 6

    RD Blakeslee says

    “…mine ties and props…”

    I take it your Grandfather was an Appalachian, Steve?

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