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 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. They had two daughters.
Career
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. 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. In 1890, the state had a total white population of 190,983, having increased from 2,405 in the territory in 1870. During Miller's two-year tenure, the state government was formed. 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. Miller died in 1908.
Death
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. 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.
