Daniel F. Miller

As printed in 1905

DANIEL F. MILLER, Sr.

Daniel F. Miller, Sr., was born in Maryland in October, 18 14, his parents removing to Ohio while he was still young. His education was secured principally in the Ohio schools, and at Pittsburg where he attended school when about fifteen years old. For some three years he was a teacher in Alleghenv. and for some three years was engaged in reading law in the ofce of an eminent lawyer of that date. In 1839 he removed from Pittsburg to Fort Madison, where he practiced his profession for twenty years, and then made Keokuk the scene of his professional activities. In 1843 he was elected to the General Assembly and in 185 1 was elected as a member of the national house of representatives, in which he served one term as a memljer of congress. At one time he was elected presidential elector, and was also a candidate for juflge of the supreme court on the Democratic ticket. At one time he was a candidate for the United States Senate anrl was so voted for by the Democrats in the General.Vssembly, but as his party was in the minority was not elected.

During his active career Mr. Miller had one of the largest criminal practices in the state, and his success was marked. He married Rebecca Phillips in 1841. in Pittsburg, and became the father of ten children, of whom only four are now living.

The life of Daxid V. Miller was as op- I)fortune as it was al)le. He was I)om into the world at a season befitting a nature that was adventurous, brave, enduring, loving and great-hearted. He was naturally equipped for a life of difficulties. The pioneer era was comforting to his spirit. and he engaged in it with the enthusiasm of the school boy. I'or half a century he was a commanding figure in Town, and its lawmaking was largely influenced by him, as well as its law-giving ami its literature and morals. He was also a marked figure in its social life. In all of these he was a strong personality and his work was very strengthening in its splendid example to all who cherished intelligent ideals. His heart was pure, his mind grand and intent, and his brain a lexicon and a cyclopedia. It was in literature that Mr. Miller manifested the possession of the Wery highest powers. He was a great lawyer and jurist by profession; and, somewhat of necessity, in his professional work there was a bare hint only of the imaginati\c fault)' that wonlfl have made him famous..Ml his life he had but tnnched on the field of literature because he held to ideals that could not be cherished in any other manner.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.