Henry Miller: Cattle Baron of the West

Though he came to America as a penniless immigrant, Henry Miller became one of the nation’s

biggest landowners and helped shape the history of the western frontier. Born Heinrich Alfred

Kreiser, this future cattle baron left his home in Germany at 14 and arrived stateside

in 1846. He eventually moved to California, taking on the moniker “Henry Miller” after

accidentally buying a non-transferrable steamer ticket from a travelling salesman of the same name.

Miller arrived in San Francisco with only six dollars to his name, and worked seven

days a week as a butcher’s assistant before saving enough money to open his own shop.

As settlers poured into California, the enterprising German expanded his business by