Person:James McMillin (1)

About James McMillin

Taken From "History of Wabasha County Minnesota" pages 1145-1146

James M. McMillin (deceased), Lake City, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, June 10, 1812. His great-grandfather, while on the way from Scotland to America, was shipwrecked and picked up by a vessel bound to Philadelphia. Two brothers of this ancestor, who were in company with him, were set down in the same way, one in New York and the other in Canada; and not until after the revolution were mutual discoveries of one another's whereabouts made. The Canadian resident entered the British army, and was made prisoner by the continental soldiers, and placed under guard of his brother; and by conversation they discovered each other's identity. The first mentioned of these brothers settled in Virginia, and was not discovered by the others till later. Samuel McMillin, son of the Virginian Scotchman, served as a soldier in the continental army. Edward, son of the later, married Sarah Reed, and removed to Ohio in the earliest days of that territory, where was born to him the subject of this paragraph. James M. McMillin was reared on a farm in Huntington township, Gallia county, and pursued his father's vocation till 1842. Macinda A., his wife, is a daughter of George and Nancy (Jackson) Stickleman, all of Virginian birth. Mrs. McMillin was born eight months after her husband, in Hottentot, Virginia, and they were united for life December 17, 1833. For six years Mr. McMillin was deputy-sheriff of Whiteside county, Illinois, and was kept constantly traveling in the discharge of his duty. He became a resident of Minnesota in 1862 and was engaged in farming four years in the town of Chester, this county, being postmaster at Bear Valley some time. He also served as justice of the peace during his residence there. The republican party is entitled to the credit of all his public acts. Since 1866 Lake City claimed him as a citizen. On the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding Mr. and Mrs. McMillin celebrated the occasion in a fitting manner, surrounded by their descendents and many old-time friends. They were presented with a handsome sum in gold coin. In religious faith this couple are Universalists. All save two of their children live in the city - the absent one's residence being noted below, the names appearing in order of birth: Alonzo C.; John L.; William Harvey; Samantha J. (Judd); Emma R. (Mrs Alonzo Mathews), Red Wing; Nancy Celestine (Mrs. W. E. Stringham), Fergus Falls, Minnesota. While splitting wood one evening in January 1884, Mr. McMillin received a wound in the left eye from a flying stick, and the sight and substance of the optic were entirely destroyed. He appeared to recover steadily from the shock, although in great pain, but suddenly sank and passed away on the morning of February 17. He had partaken of breakfast with the family, but his system is supposed to have suddenly given away under the strain upon it.

1.   ED: Charles Bent, History of Whiteside County, Illinois: From Its First Settlement to the Present Time (Morrison, Illinois:, 1877),
   p. 150-153.

   Erie township was organized in 1852 ..... The firs annula town meeting was held April 6, 1852, ..... The voters were .... James McMillen, ... The followin officers were elected .... Collector, James McMillen; ...Constable, James McMillin; .... The land upon which the village of Erie stands was entered by James McMillen about 1850, and the old section of the town was laid out soon afterwards by ...., James McMillen, ...

   Accessed 28 Apr 2007, FHL-SLC