NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG4559.AM: George Lorin Miller, 1830-1920
Letter: 1903
Omaha, Douglas County, Neb.: Leader of Nebraska’s Democratic Party; editor of the Omaha Herald
Size: 1 item
BACKGROUND NOTE
A native of New York, George L. Miller began medical practice in his home state, serving for a short time as city physician of Syracuse. After two years in that position, he resigned and moved to Omaha in 1854 at the age of twenty-four. Abandoning medicine for politics, Miller joined with other young men to shape Nebraska’s destiny. He served in the territorial legislature prior to 1860. After serving as clerk at Fort Kearny, Miller returned to Omaha in 1864. In the 1864 election he was defeated decisively in his attempt to become Nebraska Territory’s congressional delegate.
In 1865 Miller started a newspaper, the Omaha Herald, and it became the chief Democratic organ in the state. For the next thirty-five years, he was a leading figure in Nebraska’s Democratic party, sharing influence with J. Sterling Morton. His influence was also felt as he helped “to build Nebraska into a great agricultural state, and Omaha into a great commercial city.”
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one letter dating from 1903. The letter, written by George L. Miller to C. S. Paine, discusses a newspaper article about Miller entitled, “Why He Is the Great Nebraskan.” The article, attached to the letter, attributes Miller’s greatness, in part, to his role in establishing winter wheat as a Nebraska crop.
DESCRIPTION
Letter, George L. Miller to C. S. Paine, 1903
ADDED ENTRIES:
Miller, George Lorin, 1830-1920
Paine, Clarence Sumner, 1867-1916 Wheat — Nebraska
Winter wheat — Nebraska
AIP/ksa 09-1990
11-06-2009 Revised TMM/tmm
