Daniel F. Miller
Encyclopedia
Daniel Fry Miller a pioneer lawyer, was briefly a U.S. Representative
from Iowa's 1st congressional district
. He is the only person in Iowa history to successfully nullify a congressional election (and thereby force a re-vote, which he won but with little time left in the term).
Born in Cumberland, Maryland
, Miller moved with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio
, in 1816.
After attending the public schools, he taught for several years. Next, he engaged in newspaper work in Wooster, Ohio
.
In 1830, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, where he was employed as a clerk in stores.
After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
in 1839 and commenced practice in what is now Fort Madison, Iowa
, then in Iowa Territory
.
In 1840, he served as member of Iowa's territorial house of representatives.
In 1848, the Whig Party
nominated Miller to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman William H. Thompson
. Thompson was declared the winner by the state's election canvassers, but Miller accused Thompson of absconding with the voting rolls from the election. The U.S. House resolved the contest over two years after it occurred, by deciding that neither Thompson nor Miller was entitled to the seat. That decision forced a special election, which Miller won. Thus, from December 20, 1850, to March 3, 1851, he was the First District's duly elected member of the Thirty-first
Congress.
Following his brief service in Washington, he resumed the practice of law.
In 1856 He served as presidential elector on the Republican ticket. Because Republican frontiersman John C. Fremont
had carried Iowa, Miller became an official elector and his vote for Fremont was counted in the electoral college
. He served as mayor of Fort Madison in 1859, before moving to nearby Keokuk, Iowa
, where he continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election as judge of the Iowa Supreme Court in 1860, losing to George G. Wright
, who would serve an additional ten years on the Court and eventually serve one full term in the U.S. Senate.
Miller was elected mayor of Keokuk, in 1873. He served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives
in 1894.
He retired from active practice in 1895 and moved to Omaha, Nebraska
, where he died December 9, 1895.
He was interred in St. Peter's Cemetery, in Keokuk.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district
Iowa's 1st congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers the northeastern part of the state. The district includes Dubuque, Clinton, Davenport and Waterloo....
. He is the only person in Iowa history to successfully nullify a congressional election (and thereby force a re-vote, which he won but with little time left in the term).
Born in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, Miller moved with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio
Wayne County, Ohio
Wayne County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, and is named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. As of the 2010 census, the population was 114,520. Its county seat is Wooster....
, in 1816.
After attending the public schools, he taught for several years. Next, he engaged in newspaper work in Wooster, Ohio
Wooster, Ohio
Wooster is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Wayne County. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio approximately SSW of Cleveland and SW of Akron. Wooster is noted as the location of The College of Wooster...
.
In 1830, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, where he was employed as a clerk in stores.
After studying law, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1839 and commenced practice in what is now Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a city in and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States. The other county seat is Keokuk. The population was 10,715 at the 2000 census...
, then in Iowa Territory
Iowa Territory
The Territory of Iowa was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1838, until December 28, 1846, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Iowa.-History:...
.
In 1840, he served as member of Iowa's territorial house of representatives.
In 1848, the Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
nominated Miller to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman William H. Thompson
William H. Thompson
William H. Thompson may refer to:* William Hepworth Thompson , English classical scholar and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge*William Henry Thompson , U.S. senator from Nebraska*William Howard Thompson , U.S...
. Thompson was declared the winner by the state's election canvassers, but Miller accused Thompson of absconding with the voting rolls from the election. The U.S. House resolved the contest over two years after it occurred, by deciding that neither Thompson nor Miller was entitled to the seat. That decision forced a special election, which Miller won. Thus, from December 20, 1850, to March 3, 1851, he was the First District's duly elected member of the Thirty-first
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first 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, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
Congress.
Following his brief service in Washington, he resumed the practice of law.
In 1856 He served as presidential elector on the Republican ticket. Because Republican frontiersman John C. Fremont
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
had carried Iowa, Miller became an official elector and his vote for Fremont was counted in the electoral college
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
. He served as mayor of Fort Madison in 1859, before moving to nearby Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
Keokuk is a city in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Iowa and one of the county seats of Lee County. The other county seat is Fort Madison. The population was 11,427 at the 2000 census. The city is named after the Sauk Chief Keokuk, who is thought to be buried in Rand Park...
, where he continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election as judge of the Iowa Supreme Court in 1860, losing to George G. Wright
George G. Wright
George Grover Wright was a pioneer lawyer, Iowa Supreme Court justice, law professor, and Republican United States Senator from Iowa....
, who would serve an additional ten years on the Court and eventually serve one full term in the U.S. Senate.
Miller was elected mayor of Keokuk, in 1873. He served as member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
in 1894.
He retired from active practice in 1895 and moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
, where he died December 9, 1895.
He was interred in St. Peter's Cemetery, in Keokuk.