# Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician) *Fourth governor of Minnesota (1864–1866)* Stephen Miller (January 7, 1816 – August 18, 1881) was a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)]] who served as the fourth [[Governor of Minnesota]], from January 11, 1864, to January 8, 1866.[^1][^2] He was the first Civil War veteran to hold the governorship of [[Minnesota]].[^1] Before taking office, Miller commanded Camp Lincoln at [[Mankato]] after the [[Dakota War of 1862]]. There, 303 Dakota men convicted of participating in the war were held, and by order of President [[Abraham Lincoln]] Miller supervised the execution of 38 of them.[^3] In his final address to the legislature as governor, he urged adoption of a black suffrage amendment to the state constitution, but it was not adopted.[^4] After leaving the governorship, Miller served one term in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1873 to 1874. He was a presidential elector in 1876 and died a widower and impoverished in Worthington in 1881.[^5] ## Early years and business entrepreneur Miller was born in Carroll Township, Pennsylvania, and was of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. He founded a number of businesses there.[^6] At 42, citing poor health, he left Pennsylvania for Minnesota, following his friend [[Alexander Ramsey]]. Wikipedia reports that the climate there was said to suit him better.[^6] He opened a mercantile business in [[St. Cloud]], and within two years he had become a prominent figure in the state Republican Party.[^6] ## Civil War soldier and leader When the American Civil War began, Miller had no military experience. He enlisted in the [[1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment]] and was appointed its lieutenant colonel.[^7] He served with the regiment in the Army of the Potomac from April 1861 to August 1862.[^7] In August 1862, during the [[Dakota War of 1862]], he was promoted to colonel and given command of the newly raised [[7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment]].[^7] After the war in Minnesota, Miller succeeded Brig. Gen. [[Henry Hastings Sibley]] as commander of Camp Lincoln at Mankato. The 303 Dakota men convicted of taking part in the war were held there awaiting their fate.[^3] Four months later, acting on President Lincoln's order, Miller supervised the mass execution of 38 Dakota men condemned for their part in the war.[^3] The cached record does not give the date of the execution.[^3] Miller was promoted to brigadier general on November 6, 1863. He then resigned from the army and stood for governor.[^8] ## Governor of Minnesota The incumbent governor, Henry A. Swift, at first considered seeking a full term but then withdrew. That left Miller as the only major candidate.[^9] The *Winona Republican Herald* called him "a man of energy, ability and honesty."[^9] He defeated [[Henry T. Welles]] in the [[1863 Minnesota gubernatorial election]].[^9] According to the cached Wikipedia text, Miller's military career and Ramsey's backing assured his victory.[^2] Before his inauguration, Miller asked President Lincoln to approve a national hospital in Winona. The request was refused because the city could not be reached by railroad in winter.[^9] In his inaugural address, Miller stated four goals: a bureau of education, investment in normal schools, an immigration agency, and higher salaries for government workers.[^10] The record in this pack does not establish which of these goals became law during his term.[^10] Miller held office from January 11, 1864, to January 8, 1866. He was the first of several Civil War veterans to serve as governor.[^2] He had no college degree himself, but he pressed for generous appropriations to the [[University of Minnesota]] and to the state normal schools. One of those schools later became [[St. Cloud State University]].[^2] In his final address to the legislature, he called for a black suffrage amendment to the state constitution, and the amendment was not adopted.[^4] The pack does not record which legislators or parties opposed it.[^4] ## Later years and term as state representative Miller did not seek re-election. He was without employment until 1871, when he became a field agent for a railroad company in Windom.[^5] He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from January 7, 1873, to January 5, 1874. He represented the District 38 of that time, which covered all or parts of Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone and Rock counties in southwestern Minnesota.[^11] During that term he chaired the House Public Lands Committee.[^11] In 1876, Miller served as a representative to the Electoral College. He died alone in Worthington in 1881, an impoverished widower.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)* (revision 1377810471, retrieved October 30, 2026), lead — establishes birth and death dates, party, his position as fourth governor and first Civil War veteran governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^2]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Governor of Minnesota* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his term dates (January 11, 1864 – January 8, 1866), Ramsey's support, and his advocacy of University of Minnesota and normal-school appropriations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^3]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Civil War soldier and leader* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his command of Camp Lincoln, the 303 Dakota convictions, and his supervision of the execution of 38 by Lincoln's order. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^4]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Governor of Minnesota* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his unsuccessful call for a black suffrage amendment in his final legislative address. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^5]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Later years and term as state representative* (revision 1377810471) — establishes the Windom railroad post (1871), his 1876 Electoral College service, and his death in Worthington in 1881. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^6]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Early years and business entrepreneur* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his birthplace, his move to Minnesota at 42 following Ramsey, and his St. Cloud business. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^7]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Civil War soldier and leader* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his 1st Minnesota service (April 1861 – August 1862) and his August 1862 command of the 7th Minnesota. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^8]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Civil War soldier and leader* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his promotion to brigadier general on November 6, 1863, and his resignation to run for governor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^9]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Governor of Minnesota* (revision 1377810471) — establishes Swift's withdrawal, the *Winona Republican Herald* quotation, the 1863 result against Welles, and the refused Winona hospital request. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^10]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Governor of Minnesota* (revision 1377810471) — establishes the four goals stated at his inauguration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician) [^11]: Wikipedia, *Stephen Miller (Minnesota politician)*, section *Later years and term as state representative* (revision 1377810471) — establishes his House term (January 7, 1873 – January 5, 1874), the District 38 counties, and his Public Lands Committee chairmanship. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller_(Minnesota_politician)