Henry Miller (rancher)
Encyclopedia
Henry Miller was a German-American rancher who at one point in the late 19th century was one of the largest land-owners in the United States.
as Heinrich Kreiser, he immigrated to New York City
in 1846, where he worked as a butcher. He came out to California in 1850 under the name Henry Miller, a name borrowed from the non-transferable steamer ticket he had purchased from a friend in New York.
Miller built up a thriving butcher business in San Francisco, later going into partnership with Charles Lux, also a German immigrant and a former competitor, in 1858. The Miller and Lux company expanded rapidly, shifting emphasis from meat products to cattle raising, and soon became the largest producer of cattle in California and one of the largest landowners in the United States, owning 1400000 acres (5,665.6 km²) directly and controlling nearly 22000 square miles (56,979.7 km²) of cattle and farm land in California, Nevada
, and Oregon
.
The Miller and Lux Corporation was headquartered in Los Banos
, on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley
. Miller played a major role in the development of much of the San Joaquin Valley during the late 19th century.
At the time of his death, Miller's estate was appraised at some US$
40 million dollars, somewhat less than during his prime. The Miller and Lux Corporation did not long survive his death, though his grandson George Nickel reorganized the holdings and became a large farmer and land developer. Some of his descendants continue to farm in the area around Los Banos and to operate as farmers and land developers in Bakersfield
and Kern County.
Biography
Born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as Heinrich Kreiser, he immigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1846, where he worked as a butcher. He came out to California in 1850 under the name Henry Miller, a name borrowed from the non-transferable steamer ticket he had purchased from a friend in New York.
Miller built up a thriving butcher business in San Francisco, later going into partnership with Charles Lux, also a German immigrant and a former competitor, in 1858. The Miller and Lux company expanded rapidly, shifting emphasis from meat products to cattle raising, and soon became the largest producer of cattle in California and one of the largest landowners in the United States, owning 1400000 acres (5,665.6 km²) directly and controlling nearly 22000 square miles (56,979.7 km²) of cattle and farm land in California, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
The Miller and Lux Corporation was headquartered in Los Banos
Los Banos, California
Los Banos is a city in Merced County, California, near the junction of State Route 152 and Interstate 5. Los Banos is located southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 35,972 at the 2010 census, up from 25,869 at the 2000 census...
, on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. Miller played a major role in the development of much of the San Joaquin Valley during the late 19th century.
At the time of his death, Miller's estate was appraised at some US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
40 million dollars, somewhat less than during his prime. The Miller and Lux Corporation did not long survive his death, though his grandson George Nickel reorganized the holdings and became a large farmer and land developer. Some of his descendants continue to farm in the area around Los Banos and to operate as farmers and land developers in Bakersfield
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
and Kern County.
External links
- Monterey County Historical Society: The California Cattle Boom, 1849-1862
- Oregon History Project: Henry Miller, cattleman
- Taper, Bernard. The King of Ranchers American Heritage Magazine. August 1967, 18(5)
- Article on Miller family history
- Guide to the Miller & Lux Records at The Bancroft Library
Further reading
- Treadwell, Edward F. (2005) The Cattle King: A Dramatized Biography of Henry Miller, Founder of the Miller and Lux Cattle Empire. Great West Books.