The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 179 

ALEXANDER MILLER.

Alexander Miller, who has contributed much to the development of industrial
activity and in later years to the development of real estate interests in
Yakima and occupies a prominent position in commercial and financial circles,
was born in Sweden in 1856 and his life illustrates the possibilities for the
attainment of success when one must start out empty-handed. He pursued his
education in his native land and was a young man of twenty-five years when he
crossed the Atlantic and became a resident of Minnesota. He was a practical
miller, having learned the trade in Sweden, and after reaching his destination
he entered the milling business. He continued his residence in Minnesota until
1882, when he made his way to the northwest with Oregon as his destination.
There he took up work in the line of his trade and rebuilt flour mills for W.
L. Ladd, of Portland, and also operated along the same line in Washington.
Watchful of opportunities that would enable him to take a forward step in his
business career, he came to Yakima and in 1887 purchased an interest in the
North Yakima Milling Company, of which he is now a director and the president.
During his connection therewith they were three times obliged to enlarge their
capacity to meet the growing demands of trade. The increased facilities made it
possible for the company to manufacture four hundred barrels of flour daily.
That mill, however, was destroyed by fire in 1914. It was the first roller mill
in the Yakima valley. Since the destruction of the mill the company continues to
conduct a very extensive grain business and their interests constitute a
splendid market for the grain raisers of this section. Mr. Miller also invested
largely in land and is now engaged in the development of several tracts in the
valley. His operations include the erection of the Miller building in 1907 and
an addition in 1911. This is a six-story office building, one hundred by one
hundred and ten feet. It was the first large, modern office building in the city
and in its construction Mr. Miller displayed the spirit of enterprise and
progress which has actuated him at every step in his career. In addition to his
other activities he has become the vice president and one of the directors of
the First National Bank of Yakima. Mr. Miller was one of seven who organized and
constructed the first three miles of the present Yakima Valley Transportation
Company electric city and suburban system, and of which he was a member of the
board of directors. In fact his labors have been a most important element in
advancing the material, social and moral progress of the community.

In 1883 Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Esther Andrews. of
Pennsylvania, who died in the year 1903. In 1907 he was married again, his
second union being with Mrs. Anna (Philips) Adams, a daughter of M. W. Philips,
of Yakima. She passed away in 1913.

Fraternally Mr. Miller is connected with the Masons, taking the degrees of lodge
and chapter, and is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He
is likewise identified with the Commercial Club and with the Country Club, with
the Young Men's Christian Association, with the Episcopal church and with the
republican party-associations that indicate much of the nature of his interests
and the rules that govern his conduct. He has served for two years as a member
of the city council of Yakima and also as a private citizen has contributed in
marked measure to public improvement and to the upbuilding and further
development of city and district. His plans have always been well defined and
promptly executed and his energy has carried him into most important relations.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.