of trustees, and frequently spoke at the college's public occasions. Military service In October 1861, Miller joined the military for the American Civil War, enlisting as a private in Company I, 5th New York Cavalry Regiment. He advanced to become the regimental sergeant major, then received his commission as a first lieutenant. On May 25, 1862, Miller was taken prisoner during the First Battle of Winchester. With The Union Army not taking part in prisoner exchanges, Miller was instead paroled by the Confederate States Army at the end of the month. His parole prevented him from returning to military service, so he was compelled to accept an honorable discharge and return to New York. After the war, Miller participated in veterans' activities and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Business career After his military service, Miller was employed at a paper mill in Fort Edward, of which he soon became superintendent. He engaged in a scientific study of papermaking, including a trip to Belgium to observe paper being made from straw. After returning to the United States, Miller organized a company to buy several paper mills in Herkimer, New York, where he began the manufacture of paper from wood pulp on an industrial scale. Miller invented a machine for making wood pulp paper inexpensively. After initial difficulty marketing his machines, other papermakers began to recognize their value and began to purchase them. Miller became wealthy as his invention became the industry standard. In addition to his papermaking business, Miller was involved in several other enterprises. These included serving as president of the Nicaragua Canal Construction Company, a venture to build a cross-isthmus canal in Central America prior to the Panama Canal. In addition, he served as a director of the Industrial and Mining Guaranty Company. After the Spanish–American War, Miller was an original incorporator of a venture in the Philippines, the Philippine Plantation Company. Miller's other ventures included serving on the board of directors of the Traders Fire Insurance Company and the St. Louis, Emporia and Denver Rail Road. Public service career State Assembly A Republican, Miller was a member of the New York State Assembly (Herkimer Co.) in 1874 and 1875. Miller was interested in public education, and introduced an unsuccessful bill that would have resolved an ongoing conflict between the state superintendent of public instruction and the state Board of Regents by eliminating the