Benjamin M. Miller, ex-governor; formerly Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama. Member Wilcox Mounted Rifles, 1887-1889. Chairman Democratic Executive Committee, Wilcox County, 1901-1902.; Member Kappa Alph; member Associate Reform Presbyterian Church K. of Philisophy.
Background
Miller was born in Oak Hill, Wilcox County, Alabama, on March 13, 1864, to Review John Miller, Doctor of Divinity, and Sarah Pressly Miller. His father was pastor of the Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at Oak Hill for 31 years.
His mother was a descendant of the Hearst family of Abbeville County, South Carolina.
Education
He entered Erskine College from which he graduated in 1884. He graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1889.
Career
He received his early education in Oak Hill and Camden, Alabama. Upon his graduation from Erskine, he returned to Wilcox County where he served as principal of the Lower Peach Tree Academy until 1887. After graduating from law school, he established a practice of law in Camden.
Miller represented Wilcox County in the Alabama House of Representatives from 1888 to 1889.
He was elected judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Alabama in 1904 and served in that capacity until 1921. Miller was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1921 to 1927.
He sought reelection to the Supreme Court of Alabama in 1926, but was defeated by a candidate supported by the Ku Klux Klan. In 1930, Miller sought the governorship of Alabama.
During the campaign Miller attacked the reforms of the Bibb Graves administration and the political power of the Ku Klux Klan.
Miller"s election as governor was therefeore a blow to the Klan. When Miller was inaugurated as governor on January 19, 1931, the State of Alabama was $20,000,000.00 in debt. Miller considered the reduction of the State"s debt the primary objective of his administration.
After twice calling the Alabama Legislature into special session, Miller was able to secure an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama permitting the collection of state income tax
A state inheritance tax was passed along with budget control act which prohibited the State of Alabama from spending beyond incoming revenues. The salaries of state employees were also drastically reduced.
Most of the study"s findings, however, were not adopted by the Alabama Legislature. Miller was known for his frugality, and he shocked many in Montgomery when brought his personal milk cow from Camden to the Governor"s Mansion.
After leaving the governor"s office in 1935, Miller returned to Camden where he resumed the practice of law.
He died at his daughter"s residence in Selma, Alabama, on February 6, 1944, and is buried in the Camden Cemetery, in Camden, Alabama.
Achievements
Membership
Member Wilcox Mounted Rifles, 1887-1889. Chairman Democratic Executive Committee, Wilcox County, 1901-1902. Member Kappa Alph; member Associate Reform Presbyterian Church K. of Philisophy.
Connections
Married Otis Duggan, September 21, 1892. Children: Benjamin M., Margaret (Mistress Roy Childers).