Jacob W. Miller

Jacob Welsh Miller ( born August 29, 1800, German Valley, Morris County, New Jersey; † September 30, 1862 in Morristown, New Jersey ) was an American politician of the Whig party. He represented the State of New Jersey for twelve years in the U.S. Senate.

Jacob Miller, (now part of Washington Township, New Jersey ) was born in German Valley, attended the public schools of his home town, then studied the law and was admitted in 1823 to the bar, after which he began practicing in Morristown as a lawyer. In 1825 he married Mary Louisa Macculloch, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. One of their nine children was Lindley Miller, who served as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War and there commanded a regiment of African Americans.

1832 Jacob Miller's political career began with the election to the General Assembly, the lower house of the state Legislature of New Jersey. From 1838 to 1840 he was a member of the State Council, the predecessor of the Senate of New Jersey. Finally, he was in 1840 as a representative of the Whigs in the U.S. Senate in Washington DC elected; six years later he succeeded in re-election so that he could remain until March 3, 1853 at the Senate. During this time, he served as Chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia.