Daniel F. Miller

Who was Daniel F. Miller?

Daniel Fry Miller, a pioneer lawyer, was briefly a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 1st congressional district. He is the only person in Iowa history to successfully nullify a congressional election.

Born in Cumberland, Maryland, Miller moved with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1816. After attending the public schools, he taught for several years. Next, he engaged in newspaper work in Wooster, Ohio. In 1830, he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a clerk in stores. After studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1839 and commenced practice in what is now Fort Madison, Iowa, then in Iowa Territory. In 1840, he served as member of Iowa's territorial house of representatives.

In 1848, the Whig Party nominated Miller to run against incumbent Democratic Congressman William H. Thompson. Thompson was declared the winner by the state's election canvassers, but Miller accused Thompson of absconding with the voting rolls from the election. The U.S. House resolved the contest over two years after it occurred, by deciding that neither Thompson nor Miller was entitled to the seat. That decision forced a special election, which Miller won.