- JOHN S. McMILLAN, residing on section 15, Union Township,
is numbered among the pioneer
- settlers of the county, and is a representative of one of
its honored and respected families. He is a native of Franklin
County, N.Y., born Feb. 14, 1832, and is a son of Charles and
Marian (BROWN) McMILLAN. The father was born July 11, 1800, in
Franklin County, N.Y., and the mother in Lower Canada in 1810,
and their marriage was celebrated in the native county of Mr.
McMILLAN. The family is of Scotch descent, and the religion of
the Scottish people, the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church,
was faithfully adhered to by Charles McMILLAN. In 1833 he removed
with is wife from Franklin County, settling in Seneca County,
Ohio, where he rented and operated a sawmill until 1838. In that
year he continued his journey westward until reaching Wisconsin,
and spent twelve months at what is called the Lyden House. In
the fall of 1839, accompanied by his family, he reached the banks
of the Rock River, which he crossed on a ferry and found himself
in Janesville, then but a mere hamlet. Entering 160 acres of
Government land on the northeast quarter of section 15, in what
is now Union Township, he erected a double log cabin, into which
the family moved and which for many years continued to be their
home. That little dwelling was the abode of hospitality, and
the traveler journeying westward always received a hearty welcome
from our pioneer. Charles McMILLAN loved his life on the frontier
and found great pleasure in the simple mode of living. He made
his home on the original purchase until 1852, when he removed
with his family to the pineries in the northern part of the State,
where he was employed until about 1868, when he returned to his
old homestead, where he spent the succeeding two years. At the
expiration of that time he returned to the lumber camp, but finally
sold out and became a resident of Wood County, where he remained
until 1873. Going on a visit to his son David, who was a resident
of Wautoma, Waushara Co., Wis., he was there taken sick and died.
He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. McMILLAN
survived her husband until Nov. 3, 1886, when she too passed
to her final rest. She was a woman who placed the utmost faith
in the promises and power of Christ, and when the final summons
came was ready to respond to her Master and cross the dark river
to meet the loved one gone before. This worthy couple have now
passed away but their memory will ever be held dear by their
many friends in Rock County. They were representatives of the
noble pioneer, and took great delight in performing an act of
kindness or doing a charitable deed.
- They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living
at this writing in 1889. Sarah A.,
- widow of Edwin MARTIN, who was killed in the late war just
before the surrender of Lee; John S., of this sketch; David H.,
who is residing in Oshkosh, Wis.; Eliza, wife of Alfred HAROLD,
a farmer of Swift County, Minn.; Hannah, wife of A. C. THORP,
a prominent stock dealer of Evansville; Matilda, wife of N. D.
LUCE, a lumber dealer of Wausau, Wis. The deceased member of
the family are Amanda, who became the wife of William RAY and
removed to Missouri, where both died; James, Edward and one child
who died in infancy.
- But few citizens of Rock County have been numbered among
its residents for the long period of
- half a century, but more than fifty years have elapsed since
John S. McMILLAN settled with is parents in Union Township. He
was then a lad of six years, consequently almost his entire life
has been spent in the community where he yet resides. He was
educated in the common schools of the county, and was reared
to manhood on the old homestead, within a half mile of his present
residence. Although the trial and hardships of pioneer life were
many, yet those early days on the frontier were not without their
pleasure, for the early settlers lived not alone for self, but
shared with each other the joys and happiness which came to them.
At the time when the McMILLAN family crossed the river to Janesville
it contained but three log cabins and a little store owned by
Thomas LAPPIN. The grain was hauled to market at Milwaukee, our
subject making his regular trips to mill and selling his wheat
in that city. At one time, on his return, the price of wheat
being so low and his expenses so much, he found that he had $6
less than at starting. This is but one of the few inconveniences
which were endured by the early settlers.
- On the 10th day of October, 1852, Mr. McMILLAN was united
in marriage with Miss Lucretia
- THORP, who was born in Wyoming County, N.Y., July 13, 1836,
and is a daughter of Charles and Betsy (DINSMORE) THORP. In 1846
her parents came to Wisconsin, settling in Kenosha, where the
father died in the fall of the same year. Mrs. THORP afterwards
went to visit her brother, who was living in Boone County, Ill.,
and there became the wife of Peter JOHNSON. Both are now deceased,
the wife dying near Sharon, Ill.
- The domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. McMILLAN was begun on the
old family homestead, where
- they continued to reside until 1855, when the husband purchased
forty acres of land, which formed the nucleus of his present
farm. He is now the owner of eighty acres under a high state
of cultivation, forming one of the best farms in the township.
- They have been blessed with four children, but the eldest,
Charles, died in infancy; Ella is the wife
- of F. B. GLIDDEN, a leading farmer of Hancock County, Iowa;
Alice wedded O. L. RICHARDS, now a retired farmer of Janesville;
and Henry Eugene, who was born Jan. 14, 1866, is in charge of
the home farm. Mr. McMILLAN is one of the leading citizens of
Rock County, and has been identified with many of her important
enterprises. He has not only witnessed but has been an active
participant in the great and rapid changes of the banner county;
has seen the little cabins replaced by substantial and beautiful
residence; the ox teams supplanted by the locomotive and the
palace cars which rival a parlor in splendor; has marked the
rapid growth of town and village, and has aided in the development
of the wild lands into beautiful farms and homes.
- Mr. and Mrs. McMILLAN hold an enviable place in the hearts
of the people of this community,
- and are respected by all who know them. The family are all
members of the First Baptist Church of Union with the exception
of our subject, who, though not belonging to any religious organization,
gives liberally in support of the gospel. Socially he is a member
of Union Lodge, No. 32, A.F. & A.M., of Evansville, and is
regarded as a valued citizen. In politics he is a stalwart Republican,
and has filled various official positions. Thus we have given
the main facts in the life of one of Rock County's oldest pioneers.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 964-965.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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