Henry Peter Miller, a member of the board of city commissioners at Topeka, was born in Germany, June 13, 1868. He spent the early years of his life in his native land and there received his education. In 1883, at the age of fifteen, he accompanied his parents, George and Katherine (Christman) Miller, to the United States. The family came directly to Kansas, upon their arrival in this country, and located at Topeka, where they have continued to make their home. George Miller died in 1905, and his wife is still living in Topeka.

Henry P. Miller's first occupation in his adopted city was as an apprentice in a bakery, but he abandoned this work and applied himself to the barber's trade, and for a number of years conducted a barber shop near the Santa Fe depot at Topeka. During this time he served for several years as one of the vice-presidents of the Barber's Union, and in 1895 was elected national president of this union. The following year, at a convention held at Evansville, Ind., he was honored by an unanimous reëlection to the office of president. Mr. Miller also served for one term as vice-president of the Society of Labor and Industry. In April, 1908, he was elected councilman on the Democratic ticket, from the second ward of Topeka. When the city adopted its present form of government by commissioners, in April, 1910, he was elected city commissioner on the non-partisan ticket, and was given the largest number of votes by his fellow citizens of any candidate for commissioner. At the primaries, of the twenty-six candidates for these offices, he received five hundred and thirty-four more votes than any other one man, and at the election following, six hundred and thirteen plurality was given him over any of the eight nominees. In April, 1911, he was reëlected, receiving again the highest number of votes over all other candidates at both the primary and the election. As a commissioner he was placed in charge of the electric lights and waterworks, and in this position he is rendering capable and satisfactory service to the city as a member of its governing body. Mr. Miller is a Scottish Rite Mason.

Mr. Miller's marriage to Miss Ida Ertel, a native of Dickinson county, Kansas, occurred June 22, 1897. They have three children, Florence Katherine, Cora Pauline, and William Peter. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are both members of the Christian church of Topeka.