Born in Crawford County, Penn., January 21, 1831. His parents, Abram and Nancy (Ross) Miller, both now deceased, were among the first settlers of the county in which the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Miller emigrated to the State of Iowa and settled in Allamakee county in October, 1856. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to learn the tailors trade and served his fulltime, three years, in the town of Smithfield, Penn. During the time he was working at his trade, by improving his leisure hours, he prepared himself to teach, and on the expiration of his time, commenced teaching in Erie County, Penn., and taught for eight years in the public schools until he came west. At the age of twenty-six years he commenced the study of law, was admitted to practice at Lansing, Allamakee county, in 1859, and continued to practice law in that county until 1868, at which time he removed to Mason City, Cerro Gordo county. In 1861 Mr. Miller received a lieutenant's commission from Adjutant General Baker and recruited for the 1st Iowa Cavalry, and the 5th and 12th Iowa Infantry. The next year he recruited company I, 27th Iowa Infantry and went into the service as captain, serving until June, 1863, when his health became so poor from long continued sickness and exposure, that he was discharged from service. He represented Allamakee county as a member of the Twelfth General Assembly, being in the lower house. He has been quite active in politics since he became a resident of Iowa, and was a delegate to the National democratic convention in 1876, at St. Louis. He has occupied many stations of trust and responsibility of minor importance; was president of the Cerro Gordo County Agricultural Society for four years; president of the board of trade, Mason City ; is now serving his third term on the board of education in Mason City as president; and is grand master of the order of United Workmen for Iowa. In June, 1853, he married Mary E. Burchinal, of Fayette County, Penn. Mr. Miller has a liberal education, obtained through his own exertions without assistance, save diligence and perseverance. He has been successful in his profession; is, and always has been, identified with whatever is calculated to promote the best interests of society, and may be said to be one of the live men of northern Iowa. In religion, Mr. Miller is a Baptist. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and an Odd Fellow since 1852.
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