PORTRAIT AND
BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM
pg 904, 905
JAMES MCMILLEN.
The live stock interests of Cedarville and vicinity recognize a worthy
representative in the subject of this notice, who makes a business of buying and
feeding for the market. His long
experience in the business has resulted in a thorough understanding of all its
details, and there are few men able to operate with better judgment or more
satisfactory results. Mr. MCMILLEN
has spent his entire life in Greene County, in fact, now lives on the place
where he was born. This latter
event took place December 16, 1833.
The subject of this notice is the son of
David MCMILLEN, who came to Greene County accompanied by a number of his
brothers, in 1831. David MCMILLEN,
taking up a tract of land, erected the homestead now occupied by his son, and
after a well-spent life passed to his final rest.
The house which he first built was destroyed by fire in 1858, everything
being demolished except the walls, which were left standing, and from the ruins
James erected the present residence the same year, and lived there with his
mother until her death. It is now a
large, substantial structure, and if no other disaster overtakes it, will remain
for years to come, proof against the ordinary ravages of time. It is situated about three miles from Cedarville, on
Massie’s creek, surrounded by two hundred and forty-four acres of good land,
which David MCMILLEN, with the assistance of his children, redeemed from the
primitive forest. The parental
family consisted of six sons and six daughters, of whom James was the youngest
born. The mother bore the maiden
name of Nancy WRIGHT.
James MCMILLEN grew to manhood on the
pioneer farm, and obtained such education as the district schools of Cedarville
afforded. When a little over
twenty-three years old he was married, January 15, 1867, to Miss M. E., daughter
of Robert and Elizabeth (RICHARDS) MURDOCK.
Afterward Mr. MCMILLEN occupied himself in general farming until becoming
interested in live stock. Originally
he was a stanch Democrat, but of late has been inclined to support the
Prohibition ticket. His religious
beliefs conform to the doctrines of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, of which
his estimable wife is also a member.
To Mr. and Mrs. MCMILLEN was born a family of nine children, two of whom died in early childhood. Fanny, the eldest, completed her studies in Monmouth (Ill.) College, which she attended two years; she is a lady of fine attainments, occupies herself as a teacher, and maker her home with her parents. Frederick is at present a student of Monmouth College, from which he expects to be graduated in due time; Harlan is now attending the Commercial College at Springfield, this State; Homer is his father’s chief assistant on the farm; Clara, an interesting young miss of fourteen years, Clayton and Jason remain under the parental roof. The family occupies a high position socially, and is widely and favorably known throughout the township.
transcribed by Deborah Brownfield Stanley