Warner Miller (August 12, 1838March 21, 1918) was an American businessman and politician from
Herkimer, New York
Herkimer is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States, southeast of Utica. It is named after Nicholas Herkimer. The population was 10,175 at the 2010 census.
The town contains a village also called Herkimer. Herkimer County Community ...
. A
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, he was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative (1879-1881) and
United States Senator
The United States Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States House of Representatives, House of Representatives being the Lower house, lower chamber. Together they compose the national Bica ...
(1881-1887).
A native of
Hannibal, New York, Miller graduated from
Union College
Union College is a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the state of New York, after Columbia Co ...
in 1860. He enlisted for the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
as a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
in the
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
's
5th New York Cavalry Regiment. Later commissioned as a
first lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...
, Miller was taken prisoner in 1862 and paroled, after which he received an honorable discharge.
Following his military service, Miller became active in the papermaking business in
Herkimer, New York
Herkimer is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States, southeast of Utica. It is named after Nicholas Herkimer. The population was 10,175 at the 2010 census.
The town contains a village also called Herkimer. Herkimer County Community ...
. His invention of machines for inexpensively making paper from wood pulp made him wealthy, and he later became active in other businesses, including railroads, insurance, and mining.
Miller served in the
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.
The Assem ...
in 1874 and 1875. In 1878 he was elected to the U.S. House, and he was reelected in 1880. After serving one full term and one partial, he resigned from the U.S. House in order to accept election to the U.S. Senate. Elected with
Elbridge G. Lapham to replace
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling (October 30, 1829April 18, 1888) was an American lawyer and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who represented New York (state), New York in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Se ...
and
Thomas C. Platt after Conkling and Platt resigned over a dispute with President
James A. Garfield
James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...
, Miller served one partial term, July 1881 to March 1887. During his Senate service, Miller was chairman of the Senate's Agriculture Committee.
After leaving the Senate, Miller twice ran for
governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has ...
. He won the Republican nomination in 1888, but lost the general election to incumbent
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill (August 29, 1843October 20, 1910) was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891 and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1892 to 1897.
In 1892, he made an u ...
. In 1894, Miller lost the Republican nomination to
Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton (May 16, 1824 – May 16, 1920) was the 22nd vice president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He also served as United States ambassador to France, as a U.S. representative from New York, and as the 31st Governor of Ne ...
, who went on to win the general election. In retirement, Miller was a resident of Herkimer. He died in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
on March 21, 1918 and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Herkimer.
Birth and early life
Warner Miller was born in
Hannibal, New York on August 12, 1838, a son of Hiram Miller and Mary Ann (Warner) Miller. He attended the common schools of
Oswego County
Oswego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 117,525. The county seat is Oswego. The county name is from a Mohawk-language word meaning "the pouring out place", referring to the point at ...
and
Charlotteville
Charlotteville is a village lying on the northeastern tip of Tobago on Man-o-War Bay.
History
The first European settlement on Man-o-War Bay was part of the colony of Nieuw Walcheren established by Jan de Moor, the burgomaster of Vlissingen in ...
Academy, then became a teacher of Latin and Greek at the Collegiate Institute of
Fort Edward, New York.
He then began attendance at
Union College
Union College is a private liberal arts college in Schenectady, New York. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and second in the state of New York, after Columbia Co ...
in
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...
.
In 1860, he graduated with an
AB degree.
Miller maintained a lifelong association with Union College; in 1886, he received the
honorary degree
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...
of
LL.D.
Legum Doctor (Latin: “teacher of the laws”) (LL.D.) or, in English, Doctor of Laws, is a doctorate-level academic degree in law or an honorary degree, depending on the jurisdiction. The double “L” in the abbreviation refers to the early ...
He also served on the board of trustees, and frequently spoke at the college's public occasions.
Military service
In October 1861, Miller joined the military for the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
, enlisting as a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
in Company I,
5th New York Cavalry Regiment. He advanced to become the regimental
sergeant major
Sergeant major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world.
History
In 16th century Spain, the ("sergeant major") was a general officer. He commanded an army's infantry, and ranked about third in the ...
, then received his commission as a
first lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...
. On May 25, 1862, Miller was taken prisoner during the
First Battle of Winchester
The First Battle of Winchester, fought on May 25, 1862, in and around Frederick County, Virginia, and Winchester, Virginia, was a major victory in Confederate Army Maj. Gen. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Campaign through the Shenandoah Valle ...
. With The
Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
not taking part in prisoner exchanges, Miller was instead paroled by the
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
at the end of the month. His parole prevented him from returning to military service, so he was compelled to accept an honorable discharge and return to
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. After the war, Miller participated in veterans' activities and was a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War. It was founded in 1866 in Decatur, Il ...
.
Business career
After his military service, Miller was employed at a paper mill in Fort Edward, of which he soon became superintendent.
He engaged in a scientific study of papermaking, including a trip to
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
to observe paper being made from straw.
After returning to the United States, Miller organized a company to buy several paper mills in
Herkimer, New York
Herkimer is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States, southeast of Utica. It is named after Nicholas Herkimer. The population was 10,175 at the 2010 census.
The town contains a village also called Herkimer. Herkimer County Community ...
, where he began the manufacture of paper from wood pulp on an industrial scale.
Miller invented a machine for making wood pulp paper inexpensively.
After initial difficulty marketing his machines, other papermakers began to recognize their value and began to purchase them.
Miller became wealthy as his invention became the industry standard.
In addition to his papermaking business, Miller was involved in several other enterprises.
These included serving as president of the Nicaragua Canal Construction Company, a venture to build a cross-isthmus canal in Central America prior to the
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal ( es, Canal de Panamá, link=no) is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and divides North and South America. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a conduit ...
.
In addition, he served as a director of the Industrial and Mining Guaranty Company. After the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (clock ...
, Miller was an original incorporator of a venture in the Philippines, the Philippine Plantation Company. Miller's other ventures included serving on the board of directors of the Traders Fire Insurance Company and the St. Louis, Emporia and Denver Rail Road.
Public service career
State Assembly
A
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
, Miller was a member of the
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits.
The Assem ...
(Herkimer Co.) in
1874
Events
January–March
* January 1 – New York City annexes The Bronx.
* January 2 – Ignacio María González becomes head of state of the Dominican Republic for the first time.
* January 3 – Third Carlist War &ndas ...
and
1875
Events
January–March
* January 1 – The Midland Railway of England abolishes the Second Class passenger category, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies follow Midland's lead during the rest of the ...
. Miller was interested in public education, and introduced an unsuccessful bill that would have resolved an ongoing conflict between the state superintendent of public instruction and the state
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs institutions of higher education, including private universities, state universities, and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual col ...
by eliminating the Regents. He also introduced a successful bill to require that drawing be taught in public schools.
U.S. House
In 1878, Miller was elected to the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...
. He was reelected in 1880, and served in the
46th and
47th United States Congress
The 47th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881, ...
es (March 4, 1879 to July 26, 1881).
During his House service, Miller was a member of the committees on
Engrossed Bills, Insurance,
Railways and Canals, and
Ways and Means.
His peers ranked him as among the most effective members of the House.
U.S. Senate
In 1881, Republican U.S. Senators
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling (October 30, 1829April 18, 1888) was an American lawyer and Republican Party (United States), Republican politician who represented New York (state), New York in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Se ...
and
Thomas C. Platt, leaders of the Republican
Stalwart faction, resigned their seats during a dispute with President
James A. Garfield
James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...
, who was supported by the
Half-Breed
Half-breed is a term, now considered offensive, used to describe anyone who is of mixed race; although, in the United States, it usually refers to people who are half Native American and half European/white.
Use by governments United States
In ...
faction, over patronage positions in
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
.
They assumed they would quickly be reelected by the
New York State Legislature
The New York State Legislature consists of the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York: The New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. The Constitution of New York does not designate an official ...
, which would strengthen their position with respect to the patronage dispute.
Instead, the legislature
chose two new senators, Stalwart
Elbridge G. Lapham to replace Conkling, and Half-Breed Miller to replace Platt.
Miller served from July 27, 1881 to March 3, 1887 (the
47th,
48th, and
49th Congresses). His committee assignments included
Agriculture
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...
,
Commerce
Commerce is the large-scale organized system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions directly and indirectly related to the exchange (buying and selling) of goods and services among two or more parties within local, regional, nation ...
, and
Education and Labor.
He served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee in the 48th and 49th Congresses.
In 1887, Miller was a candidate for reelection.
Republicans controlled the state legislature, ensuring that their nominee would win.
[ Platt was determined to see Miller defeated, and supported Stalwart ]Levi P. Morton
Levi Parsons Morton (May 16, 1824 – May 16, 1920) was the 22nd vice president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. He also served as United States ambassador to France, as a U.S. representative from New York, and as the 31st Governor of Ne ...
. A third candidate, Frank Hiscock
Frank Hiscock (September 6, 1834June 18, 1914) was a U.S. Representative and Senator from New York. He served in the United States Congress from 1877 to 1893.
Hiscock was a native of Pompey, New York, and graduated from Pompey Academy. After ...
, was not affiliated with either faction and had little initial support. After 17 ballots failed to produce a nominee, Morton asked his supporters to back Hiscock, thus ensuring that Miller would be defeated. Hiscock won the nomination and went on to win the seat in the vote by the full legislature.
Later years
He ran for Governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has ...
at the New York state election, 1888, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill (August 29, 1843October 20, 1910) was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891 and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1892 to 1897.
In 1892, he made an u ...
. In 1894, Miller was again a candidate for governor, but Platt succeeded in obtaining the Republican nomination for Levi P. Morton, who won the general election.
When International Paper
The International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 56,000 employees, and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.
History
The company was incorporated January 31 ...
was formed in 1898, Miller sold his paper mills to the new concern. In retirement, he was a resident of Herkimer. In 1906, Miller was appointed chairman of a state Special Tax Commission, a panel of legislators and citizens that reviewed New York's tax laws and recommended revisions to the state legislature. He died in New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
on March 21, 1918. Miller was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Herkimer.
Family
In 1864, Miller married Caroline Churchill. They were the parents of four sons and a daughter: Ralph, Max, Burr, Guy, and Augusta. Burr Churchill Miller became a noted sculptor.
See also
References
External links
Retrieved on 2008-10-19
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Warner
1838 births
1918 deaths
Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly
Union Army officers
American Civil War prisoners of war
Union College (New York) alumni
People of New York (state) in the American Civil War
People from Oswego County, New York
Republican Party United States senators from New York (state)
Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)
People from Herkimer, New York
19th-century American politicians