William Read Miller

William Read Miller ( born November 23, 1823 in Batesville, Arkansas, † November 29, 1884 in Little Rock, Arkansas ) was an American politician and 1877-1881 Governor of Arkansas.

Early years and political rise

William Miller attended the local schools of his home and then studied law. However, he was allowed only after the American Civil War in 1868 as a lawyer. Between 1848 and 1854 he was employed by the district administration of Independence County. Then he was with a few brief interruptions until 1864 auditor of the state Arkansas. This office he should exercise 1874-1876 again. In 1877 he was elected as a candidate of the Democratic Party as the new governor of Arkansas.

Governor of Arkansas

William Miller began his term of office on 11 January 1877. After a re-election in 1878 he was able to officiate a total of four years. During this time, he campaigned for the improvement of the school system and for new ways to deal with the budget problems. In his time a home for the blind and the Arkansas Industrial University was established. Miller fostered economic recovery and the peaceful coexistence of the races in his country. When it came to Union County on the border with Louisiana to attacks on blacks he sat for their protection a the National Guard. The same was necessary in Scott County, where feuding families provided a blood feud. Governor Miller but was also known that he rarely lifted a death sentence. This earned him the nickname " The Hanging Governor ".

Further CV

After the expiration of his term of office on January 11, 1881 Miller was until 1882 deputy finance minister of his country. At the same time he was president of the Kansas City and New Orleans Railroad Company. In addition, served on the board of several other railway companies. In 1886 he was again Auditor in Arkansas. He died a year later and was buried in Little Rock. William Miller was married to Sarah Susan Bevers, with whom he had seven children.

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