Warner Miller was born on August 12, 1838, at Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. He was the son of Hiram and Mary Ann (Warner) Miller. In 1839, his parents moved to Millertown (now North Pittstown) and later to a farm near Northville, in Fulton County, where Warner grew up.
Miller attended an academy in Charlotteville, in Schoharie County, New York, and for a time taught school near New Brunswick, New Jersey. From here he entered Union College at Schenectady and was graduated in 1860.
Miller began to teach at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute in New York but upon the advent of the Civil War enlisted in the 5th New York Cavalry. His military experiences were varied and brief, as he was captured, paroled, and honorably discharged by September 1862. Not being able to reënter the army, and having lost interest in an academic career, he took a position in a paper-mill at Fort Edward, where he advanced to a foremanship and was sent to Belgium to study a new process for making paper. In 1865, Warner Miller & Company purchased the paper-mill of A. H. Laflin in Herkimer. In his business, he developed new processes for making paper from wood pulp and gained considerable reputation as a leader in the industry. His financial success brought him to public notice and directed him into politics. For many years, Miller was the leading Republican of Herkimer County, and in 1872, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Philadelphia. During the next three years, he served as state assemblyman. In 1878, he was chosen to represent his district in Congress, a position which he held until July 26, 1881, when he resigned to become United States senator. His election to this office came as the result of a split in the Republican party of his state. Miller became the successful candidate of the "Half Breeds, " against the "Stalwarts, " for the seat vacated by Thomas C. Platt. He remained in the Senate until March 3, 1887, being denied reelection because of the political adroitness of Platt, who rather than see Miller triumph over his own candidate, Levi P. Morton, threw his votes to a third candidate, Frank Hiscock. In the Senate Miller served on many committees, at one time being chairman of the committee on agriculture.
In 1884, Miller supported Blaine for the presidency and at the National Convention in 1888, was partly responsible for the nomination of Benjamin Harrison. His ability and service to his party were rewarded in August 1888 by his nomination by acclamation as the Republican candidate for governor of New York. During the campaign which followed, he supported Harrison and spoke frequently on the merits of a protective tariff. It has often been stated that it was due to his opposition to the liquor interests that he lost the election, being defeated by David Bennett Hill, the Democratic candidate, by 19, 171 votes. In 1892, as delegate at large at the Republican Convention, Miller worked for the nomination of Blaine, but he returned to work equally hard for the election of Harrison. In 1894 and 1895, he was an active leader at the state conventions and warmly approved of McKinley in 1896. After this date, he gradually retired from politics, although in 1906, he was chairman of a specialtax commission in New York. He died in New York City.
Miller was elected as a Republican to represent New York's 22nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives, serving from 1879 to 1881.
Miller was particularly nationalistic in his attitudes and strongly favored Chinese exclusion, the development of the merchant marine, and the protective tariff. He also supported the Nicaraguan canal proposals.
Miller had a simple though effective style of oratory which won for him a considerable reputation.
On July 13, 1865, Miller was married to Caroline Churchill.
8 July 1800 - 31 January 1882
4 July 1812 - 2 October 1880
10 July 1841 - 16 January 1903
27 June 1872 - 27 December 1931
1865 - 22 August 1866
29 December 1868 - 26 November 1938
16 September 1870 - 1 January 1925
