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.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890