Senator Warner Miller

Warner Miller served as a Senator from New York in the United States Congress from 1879 to 1887. A member of the Republican Party, Warner Miller contributed to the legislative process during 2 terms in office.

Warner Miller’s service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history. As a member of the Senate, Warner Miller participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of constituents.

Warner Miller (August 12, 1838 – March 21, 1918) was an American businessman and politician from Herkimer, New York. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative (1879-1881) and United States Senator (1881-1887). A native of Hannibal, New York, Miller graduated from Union College in 1860. He enlisted for the American Civil War as a private in the Union Army’s 5th New York Cavalry Regiment. Later commissioned as a first lieutenant, Miller was taken prisoner in 1862 and paroled, after which he received an honorable discharge. Following his military service, Miller became active in the papermaking business in Herkimer, New York. His invention of machines for inexpensively making paper from wood pulp made him wealthy, and he later became active in other businesses, including railroads, insurance, and mining. Miller served in the New York State Assembly in 1874 and 1875. In 1878 he was elected to the U.S. House, and he was reelected in 1880. After serving one full term and one partial, he resigned from the U.S. House in order to accept election to the U.S. Senate. Elected with Elbridge G. Lapham to replace Roscoe Conkling and Thomas C. Platt after Conkling and Platt resigned over a dispute with President James A. Garfield, Miller served one partial term, July 1881 to March 1887. During his Senate service, Miller was chairman of the Senate’s Agriculture Committee. After leaving the Senate, Miller twice ran for governor of New York. He won the Republican nomination in 1888, but lost the general election to incumbent David B. Hill. In 1894, Miller lost the Republican nomination to Levi P. Morton, who went on to win the general election. In retirement, Miller was a resident of Herkimer. He died in New York City on March 21, 1918, and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Herkimer.