(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
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John Franklin Miller was born on November 21, 1831, at South Bend, Indiana. He was the eldest son of William and Mary (Miller) Miller. His father was of Swiss stock, which had established itself in Virginia in search of religious freedom as early as 1800. On the mother's side, he came of Scotch ancestry, identified with American affairs as early as the War of 1812, in which his grandfather served as colonel.
Miller's boyhood was spent in South Bend where he entered the academy at the age of fourteen, devoting his summers to work on the farm. In 1848, he became a student in the Hatheway Mathematical and Classical School in Chicago and a year later returned to South Bend, where he began to read law with Judge Elisha Egbert. His law studies were continued in the State and National Law School at Ballston Spa, New York, and in 1852 the degree of LL. B. was conferred upon him.
Miller was admitted to the bar and opened his first law office in South Bend in partnership with Joseph Defrees. When ill health made a change advisable Miller joined the emigrants bound for California by way of Nicaragua. In March 1853, he arrived in Napa where his legal ability won him much prestige and a partnership with Judge John Currey of San Francisco. Six months after his arrival in California he was made county treasurer, an office which he held for two years. In 1855 ill health again forced him to make a change, and he returned to South Bend. Here affiliating himself in his profession with Norman Eddy, he continued his practice until 1861, when he became a state senator and was with one exception the youngest member of that body.
With the opening of the Civil War Miller resigned his seat in the legislature, and on August 27, 1861, received his commission as colonel of the 29th Indiana Volunteers. He was wounded in the battle of Stone River and again at Liberty Gap, Tennessee, in both instances distinguishing himself by his ability and courage. On January 5, 1864, he was made brigadier-general of volunteers, and later, following the battle of Nashville, in which he had been in command of a division, was brevetted a major-general "for gallant and meritorious services. " At the close of the war, he was offered a colonelcy in the United States army, but declined and returned to California. For the next four years, he served under appointment from President Johnson as a collector of the port of San Francisco, refusing reappointment to accept the presidency of the Alaska Commercial Company. For a period of twelve stormy years, beginning with its incorporation in 1869, he led this very active organization in its program of control of the fur industry of the Pribilof or Seal Islands. In spite of strong competitors, who fought the monopoly of the Alaska Commercial Company with bitter opposition, this company paid into the federal treasury more than twice the amount expected under the agreement and apparently complied scrupulously with the stipulations of its contract. Miller served as a member of the California state constitutional convention of 1878-79. He died in Washington, D. C. , in March 1886. His body was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery, San Francisco, but in 1913 was removed to Arlington Cemetery, Virginia.
Miller's eminence in his profession, coupled with his active interest in political affairs, led to his election as United States senator from California (Republican) in 1880, in which capacity he served until his death. He is chiefly known for the active part he took in the anti-Chinese legislation which reached its culmination during his term of office. His name is closely linked with the successful effort to modify the Burlingame Treaty with China and also with the Exclusion Bill of 1882.
(This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)
In 1857, during this period of residence in South Bend, John married Mary Chess of Pennsylvania. One son and one daughter were born of the marriage.
