Andrew Miller (North Dakota)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Miller was an attorney and politician
in Iowa
and North Dakota
who served as the North Dakota Attorney General
from 1909 to 1914, and thereafter as a United States federal judge
.
, emigrating to the United States with his parents when he was two years old. His early boyhood was spent in New York
and Vermont
. In 1880 he moved to Chickasaw County, Iowa
, with his parents, and until 1892 followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of that year he read law in the office of A. C. Ripley, at Garner, Iowa
.
He was admitted to the bar in Des Moines, Iowa
, in 1894, and in May of that year he opened an office for general practice at Buffalo Center, Iowa
. In the fall of 1896 he was elected county attorney for Winnebago County, Iowa
, and in January, 1897, moved to Forest City, Iowa
, the county seat of Winnebago county. Miller was elected mayor of Forest City in 1898 and re-elected in 1900. In 1903 he made a failed bid for a seat in the Iowa General Assembly
.
in June 1905. He engaged there in the practice of law, and was appointed assistant Attorney General of the state in 1907, and elected Attorney General of North Dakota in 1908 as a Republican
. He took office in January 1909, serving until January 1915. In 1914 he challenged incumbent United States Senator Asle Gronna
in the Republican primary, but Gronna won and Miller finished third among four candidates. Miller then returned to private practice in Bismarck, North Dakota
until 1922.
President Warren G. Harding
nominated Miller on December 19, 1921, to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
created by 42 Stat. 66. On February 2, 1922, Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate
and received his commission. Among the matters over which Miller presided was a suit alleging fraud against Governor William Langer
, in 1934. Langer was convicted and subsequently removed from office.
Miller served actively for nineteen years, and then assumed senior status
on March 29, 1941, serving in this capacity until his death.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
who served as the North Dakota Attorney General
North Dakota Attorney General
The North Dakota Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the North Dakota state government. The current Attorney General is Wayne Stenehjem...
from 1909 to 1914, and thereafter as a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Early life and Iowa activities
Miller was born in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, emigrating to the United States with his parents when he was two years old. His early boyhood was spent in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. In 1880 he moved to Chickasaw County, Iowa
Chickasaw County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 12,439 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,679 housing units, of which 5,204 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, with his parents, and until 1892 followed the occupation of farming. In the spring of that year he read law in the office of A. C. Ripley, at Garner, Iowa
Garner, Iowa
Garner is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Iowa, United States. The population was 3,129 in the 2010 census, an increase from 2,922 in the 2000 census. -History:...
.
He was admitted to the bar in Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, in 1894, and in May of that year he opened an office for general practice at Buffalo Center, Iowa
Buffalo Center, Iowa
Buffalo Center is a city in Winnebago County, Iowa, United States. The population was 963 at the 2000 census. Its ZIP code is 50424.-Geography:Buffalo Center is located at ....
. In the fall of 1896 he was elected county attorney for Winnebago County, Iowa
Winnebago County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,866 in the county, with a population density of . There were 5,194 housing units, of which 4,597 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, and in January, 1897, moved to Forest City, Iowa
Forest City, Iowa
Forest City is a city in Hancock and Winnebago Counties in the U.S. state of Iowa, and the county seat of Winnebago County. The population was 4,151 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 4,362 population in the 2000 census....
, the county seat of Winnebago county. Miller was elected mayor of Forest City in 1898 and re-elected in 1900. In 1903 he made a failed bid for a seat in the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
.
North Dakota activities
Miller moved to Bismarck, North DakotaBismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
in June 1905. He engaged there in the practice of law, and was appointed assistant Attorney General of the state in 1907, and elected Attorney General of North Dakota in 1908 as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He took office in January 1909, serving until January 1915. In 1914 he challenged incumbent United States Senator Asle Gronna
Asle Gronna
Asle Jorgenson Gronna was an American Senator from North Dakota, and one of the six to vote against the United States declaration of war leading to the First World War. Gronna was a Republican who reflected the attitudes of his region - progressive and isolationist...
in the Republican primary, but Gronna won and Miller finished third among four candidates. Miller then returned to private practice in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
until 1922.
President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
nominated Miller on December 19, 1921, to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
United States District Court for the District of North Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of North Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction is the state of North Dakota. The court is headquartered out of Fargo and has additional locations at Bismarck, Grand Forks, and Minot...
created by 42 Stat. 66. On February 2, 1922, Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and received his commission. Among the matters over which Miller presided was a suit alleging fraud against Governor William Langer
William Langer
William "Wild Bill" Langer was a prominent US politician from North Dakota. Langer is one of the most colorful characters in North Dakota history, most famously bouncing back from a scandal that forced him out of the governor's office and into prison. He served as the 17th and 21st Governor of...
, in 1934. Langer was convicted and subsequently removed from office.
Miller served actively for nineteen years, and then assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on March 29, 1941, serving in this capacity until his death.
Personal life
Miller married Ava Mabel Wing of Iowa on May 28, 1896, and they raised four children.External links
- Andrew Miller Papers, University of North DakotaUniversity of North DakotaThe University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...