Researching Henry Miller

Born as John Pegge in London, Miller's parents immigrated to Canada where he started acting as a juvenile. He first performed at the Grand Opera House in Toronto in 1878. He played juvenile roles in the Helena Modjeska company and performed with Ada Cavendish in the Adelaide Neilson company. He joined the Augustin Daly company to play in Odette opposite Bijou Heron. They were married February 1, 1883 in New York.

The following season, joined the Madison Square Theatre Company (Broadway theatre in New York City) where he starred with Minnie Maddern Fiske, Agnes Booth and Dion Boucicault. He was one of the original members of the Lyceum Theatre company. He became the leading man in Charles Frohman's stock company in New York City's Empire Theatre in 1893. He performed the starring role in Heartsease with the A. M. Palmer company in Chicago. He made a name for himself touring with Margaret Anglin in William Vaughn Moody's play, The Great Divide.

After 1908, Miller began working as a manager and was responsible for launching the acting careers of Alla Nazimova, Walter Hampden, Laura Hope Crews and Ruth Chatterton. With the backing of Elizabeth Milbank Anderson, who owned the lot at 124 West 43rd Street, he also built and operated Henry Miller's Theatre in New York.

The Millers had three children: Gilbert Miller who would become a major producer on Broadway and in the West End, actor Henry, Jr. (aka Jack Miller, Rube Miller(in silent films)..), and actress, Agnes Miller, who married and divorced actor Tim McCoy.

Miller was born on a ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas. He worked as a water boy for a government project to string a telegraph line from San Antonio, Texas, to Fort Clark when he was 14. He worked for Western Union and other utility companies just starting out as a lineman. In 1886, Miller worked for the St. Louis Municipal Electric Light and Power Company. During this time, he saw an opportunity to organize electrical workers when they came to the St. Louis Exposition in 1890.

Born in Lang-Goens, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Miller emigrated to the United States, in 1868, and lived in New York City. In 1872, Miller moved to Wausau, Wisconsin and worked in the lumber business. He later taught school, worked a merchandise store, and was elected Wausau City Clerk in 1875. In 1878, Miller was elected County Clerk of Marathon County, Wisconsin and served until 1887. He then served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1887 and was a Democrat. In 1890, Miller was elected municipal judge and then was appointed county judge in 1894 and served until 1910. He died in Wausau, Wisconsin.