Caption:  Colonel Nicholas Staats Miller was born on March 1, 1819, in the town of Schodack.  In his early years, Colonel Miller received what was called a "good common-school and business education."  When he was 30 years old, he lived in California for two years.  Upon his return to Schodack, he resumed farming and lived with his parents on the family farm.  He received the appointment of colonel in 1864 from the then governor of New York, Horatio Seymour.  In his later years he held the office of town clerk and served on the town board of supervisors.  He represented the Democratic party from Rensselaer County at the State Convention of 1870.