John Miller (October 29, 1843 – October 26, 1908) was a bonanza farmer, business man and American Republican politician in North Dakota. He served as the firstGovernor of North Dakota from 1889 to 1891, after it was admitted as a state to the union.
Born in the Finger Lakes region of New York state, Miller had moved to the Dakota Territory in 1878. With a partner he bought thousands of acres of land for what was called bonanza farming: large-scale farming of wheat as a commodity crop on an industrial scale. The Northern Pacific Railroad connected such farms to the populous eastern markets. He became a wealthy partner or owner of three major agricultural companies; the last also provided milling and other services.
Miller was born in Dryden, New York, in 1843 in the Finger Lakes region. He became a farmer there. In the late 19th century, the government sold off large amounts of land at inexpensive prices in the Dakota Territory after extinguishing Native American claims, and Miller joined the thousands of people moving there. So many came from the Northern Tier of states that they established a political and social culture similar to that in New York, the Upper Midwest and New England.
In 1878, he moved to the Dakota Territory with Jeremy W. Dwight and purchased 17,000 acres (69 km²) of land in the fertile Red River Valley land of Richland County. As "bonanza farmers," the two men established the Dwight Farm and Land Company, selling some land as speculators. They became quite wealthy from cultivation of wheat as a commodity crop.
Miller married Addie S. Tucker on February 22, 1882.[1] They had two daughters.[2]
Careeredit
Portrait of North Dakota Governor John Miller, 1880s
In 1888 Miller was elected to the Dakota Territory Council, the territorial legislature. In 1889 Miller participated in the constitutional convention that resulted in North Dakota statehood.[1] In 1889 he was the Republican nominee for Governor of North Dakota. He had no aspirations to the office, but North Dakota Republicans were convinced that he was the only candidate who could unite the party – Miller had developed a reputation for honesty by resisting lobbyists and others who attempted to obtain favorable action from the Council through bribery and other corrupt means. Persuaded that if he did not run the Republicans would lose, Miller agreed to become a candidate.
He won by popular vote in the General Election in 1889.[3] In 1890, the state had a total white population of 190,983, having increased from 2,405 in the territory in 1870.[4]
During Miller's two-year tenure, the state government was formed.[3] After serving his term, Miller declined to run again for re-election or other political office.
He returned to his bonanza farm business, raising wheat and grain on an industrial scale. He organized the John Miller Land Company in 1896.
In 1906 Miller became president of the newly incorporated Chaffee-Miller Milling Company. His partner Herbert F. Chaffee and he arranged for milling flour, and supplied feed and other agricultural services. The company had offices in North Dakota and Duluth, Minnesota.[2] Miller died in 1908.
Deathedit
Miller died in Duluth, Minnesota in 1908. His family accompanied his body as it was returned to his birthplace of Dryden, New York. He was buried in Green Hills Cemetery.[2] In 1910 a granite mausoleum was erected at his gravesite, and his remains were reinterred in it. Miller's wife and two daughters were also later buried here. In 2014 the mausoleum was restored and a plaque was added with Miller's name and title; a United States flag was installed nearby.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abNNDB. . Soylent Communications. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
^ abcdDale Niewoehner, "1st N.D. governor’s mausoleum restored", Pierce County Tribune, October 31, 2014; accessed October 12, 2016
^ ab. National Governors Association. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
^North Dakota State University. . Archived from the original on October 14, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
Further readingedit
William C. Hunter, "John Miller, First Governor of North Dakota," North Dakota History, 1967, Vol. 34 Issue 1, pp 31–45
External linksedit
John Miller's biography from the State Historical Society of North Dakota website
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John Miller October 29 1843 October 26 1908 was a bonanza farmer business man and American Republican politician in North Dakota He served as the first Governor of North Dakota from 1889 to 1891 after it was admitted as a state to the union John Miller1st Governor of North DakotaIn office November 20 1889 January 7 1891LieutenantAlfred DickeyPreceded byArthur C Mellette as governor of Dakota Territory Succeeded byAndrew H BurkePersonal detailsBorn 1843 10 29 October 29 1843Dryden New York U S DiedOctober 26 1908 1908 10 26 aged 64 Duluth Minnesota U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseAddie S TuckerBorn in the Finger Lakes region of New York state Miller had moved to the Dakota Territory in 1878 With a partner he bought thousands of acres of land for what was called bonanza farming large scale farming of wheat as a commodity crop on an industrial scale The Northern Pacific Railroad connected such farms to the populous eastern markets He became a wealthy partner or owner of three major agricultural companies the last also provided milling and other services Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksBiography editMiller was born in Dryden New York in 1843 in the Finger Lakes region He became a farmer there In the late 19th century the government sold off large amounts of land at inexpensive prices in the Dakota Territory after extinguishing Native American claims and Miller joined the thousands of people moving there So many came from the Northern Tier of states that they established a political and social culture similar to that in New York the Upper Midwest and New England In 1878 he moved to the Dakota Territory with Jeremy W Dwight and purchased 17 000 acres 69 km of land in the fertile Red River Valley land of Richland County As bonanza farmers the two men established the Dwight Farm and Land Company selling some land as speculators They became quite wealthy from cultivation of wheat as a commodity crop Miller married Addie S Tucker on February 22 1882 1 They had two daughters 2 Career edit nbsp Portrait of North Dakota Governor John Miller 1880sIn 1888 Miller was elected to the Dakota Territory Council the territorial legislature In 1889 Miller participated in the constitutional convention that resulted in North Dakota statehood 1 In 1889 he was the Republican nominee for Governor of North Dakota He had no aspirations to the office but North Dakota Republicans were convinced that he was the only candidate who could unite the party Miller had developed a reputation for honesty by resisting lobbyists and others who attempted to obtain favorable action from the Council through bribery and other corrupt means Persuaded that if he did not run the Republicans would lose Miller agreed to become a candidate He won by popular vote in the General Election in 1889 3 In 1890 the state had a total white population of 190 983 having increased from 2 405 in the territory in 1870 4 During Miller s two year tenure the state government was formed 3 After serving his term Miller declined to run again for re election or other political office He returned to his bonanza farm business raising wheat and grain on an industrial scale He organized the John Miller Land Company in 1896 In 1906 Miller became president of the newly incorporated Chaffee Miller Milling Company His partner Herbert F Chaffee and he arranged for milling flour and supplied feed and other agricultural services The company had offices in North Dakota and Duluth Minnesota 2 Miller died in 1908 Death editMiller died in Duluth Minnesota in 1908 His family accompanied his body as it was returned to his birthplace of Dryden New York He was buried in Green Hills Cemetery 2 In 1910 a granite mausoleum was erected at his gravesite and his remains were reinterred in it Miller s wife and two daughters were also later buried here In 2014 the mausoleum was restored and a plaque was added with Miller s name and title a United States flag was installed nearby 2 References edit a b NNDB John Miller Soylent Communications Archived from the original on May 6 2021 Retrieved September 2 2012 a b c d Dale Niewoehner 1st N D governor s mausoleum restored Pierce County Tribune October 31 2014 accessed October 12 2016 a b John Miller National Governors Association Archived from the original on October 12 2016 Retrieved September 2 2012 North Dakota State University North Dakota Historical Population Archived from the original on October 14 2021 Retrieved March 14 2022 Further reading editWilliam C Hunter John Miller First Governor of North Dakota North Dakota History 1967 Vol 34 Issue 1 pp 31 45External links editJohn Miller s biography from the State Historical Society of North Dakota website John Miller at Find a Grave National Governors AssociationParty political officesFirst Republican nominee for Governor of North Dakota1889 Succeeded byAndrew H BurkePolitical officesPreceded byGovernors of Dakota Territory Governor of North Dakota1889 1891 Succeeded byAndrew H Burke Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Miller North Dakota politician amp oldid 1128491226, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
