Ola Babcock Miller

Eunice Viola "Ola" Babcock Miller (March 1, 1871 – January 25, 1937) was an American politician and the first female Iowa Secretary of State.

Ola Babcock Miller
18th Secretary of State of Iowa
In office
1933–1937
GovernorClyde L. Herring
Preceded byG. C. Greenwalt
Succeeded byRobert F. O'Brien
Personal details
Born(1871-03-01)March 1, 1871
rural Washington, Iowa
DiedJanuary 5, 1937(1937-01-05) (aged 65)
Des Moines, Iowa
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAlex Miller
Children1
Alma materIowa Wesleyan College
ProfessionTeacher

Born in Washington County, Iowa, Miller and her family moved to Washington, Iowa. She went to Iowa Wesleyan College. She taught in rural schools and then married Alex Miller. Their daughter Ophelia (died in 1988) married George Gallup who started the Gallup Poll.

"[W]hen Gallup was a professor of Journalism at Northwestern University, his mother-in-law Ola Babcock Miller ran for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. Her husband had died in office and the nomination was largely honorary and she was not expected to win. Gallup decided to apply his ideas about measuring reader interest to understanding her chances."[1]

Contrary to the above quote, Miller's election was to the office of Secretary of State. Predicting her victory against the odds was Gallup's start in election polling.

Miller was elected Iowa Secretary of State in 1932 as a Democrat. While secretary of state in 1935, Miller started the Iowa Highway Safety Patrol. Miller died in 1937 of pneumonia in Des Moines, Iowa.[2]

Notes

Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Iowa
1933–1937
Succeeded by
Robert E. O'Brien


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