Miller, Josiah, 1828-1870.

Josiah Miller (1828-1870) was prominent in the early history of Kansas. It has been asserted that it was he who proposed the motto which was included on the State Seal of Kansas, but this is not fully documented. His business interests, which contributed to the growth of Lawrence, included the publication of the Kansas Free State (1855-1856) with Robert G. Elliott, original membership in the Lawrence Bridge Company, one-third ownership of the bridge charter across the Kansas River, and corporate partnership in the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad. Miller's political activities were closely associated with the Free State movement in Kansas. He was a member of the first state senate which met in 1861 and he later served in the state senate in 1866. A brief biographical outline follows:

From the guide to the Account Book, April 1, 1855-May 20, 1855, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)

Josiah Miller (1828-1870) was prominent in the early history of Kansas. It has been asserted that it was he who proposed the motto which was included on the State Seal of Kansas, but this is not fully documented. His business interests, which contributed to the growth of Lawrence, included the publication of the Kansas Free State (1855-1856) with Robert G. Elliott, original membership in the Lawrence Bridge Company, one-third ownership of the bridge charter across the Kansas River, and corporate partnership in the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad. Miller's political activities were closely associated with the Free State movement in Kansas. He was a member of the first state senate which met in 1861 and he later served in the state senate in 1866. A brief biographical outline follows:

From the guide to the Cash Book, 185-, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)

Josiah Miller (1828-1870) was prominent in the early history of Kansas. It has been asserted that it was he who proposed the motto which was included on the State Seal of Kansas, but this is not fully documented. His business interests, which contributed to the growth of Lawrence, included the publication of the Kansas Free State (1855-1856) with Robert G. Elliott, original membership in the Lawrence Bridge Company, one-third ownership of the bridge charter across the Kansas River, and corporate partnership in the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad. Miller's political activities were closely associated with the Free State movement in Kansas. He was a member of the first state senate which met in 1861 and he later served in the state senate in 1866. A brief biographical outline follows:

From the guide to the Papers, 1840-1905, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)

Josiah Miller was a pioneer newspaperman in Kansas Territory, an ardent free-soiler, and a public official in formative years of the territory and the state. He was born in Chester District, South Carolina, November 12, 1828, to Robert Hindman Miller and Susannah (McAlily) Miller. Miller graduated from Indiana University in 1851, and afterward from the law school at Poughkeepsie, New York. He married Agnes B. Carlisle on January 3, 1854 at Bloomington, Indiana.

In August 1854, Miller visited Iowa and the Kansas Territory in search of investment and business prospects, settling on Kansas Territory for establishment of a home and a newspaper enterprise. In partnership with Robert G. Elliott, Miller commenced publication of the Kansas Free State on January 5, 1855-the first newspaper published at Lawrence in Kansas Territory. For the newspaper's fierce advocacy of the Free Soil Party, Miller's printing office was destroyed by territorial authorities on May 21, 1856.

In the following year, Miller was elected probate judge of Douglas County, and in 1861 was elected to the first Kansas Senate. He resigned from the Senate to become Lawrence postmaster (1861-1863), was appointed Army paymaster at the rank of major in 1863, and in 1866 was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. Miller died on July 7, 1870 at Lawrence, where he is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

From the guide to the Letter from Josiah Miller (Wyandot Nation, Kansas Territory) to his father and mother, September 10, 1854, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)