McMillen (surname)

Books * other Documents

• According to the researcher’s information, Thomas McMillen who was born in 1804 and married Jane was the son of General Thomas McMillen (1778-1852) and Mary (Hoagland?) McMillen. Other children listed include Joseph Warren, Charles, Sarah/Mary Jane, Roxanne, Matilda Lillian, and Martin McMillen. Also, there is a notation indicating Thomas McMillen (1778-1852) was born in Adams Co, PA; came to OH in 1814; and emigrated to Henry Co, IA in 1840. Thomas McMillen died in Iowa. (This information comes from Douglass’ History of Wayne County, OH p. 653)

Cemetery records

• Thomas McMillen b. 1804 d. 7 Jun 1886 bur.Wooster Cemetery (Ohio, Wayne County, Killbuck Township, Wooster) buried in Section 12, Lot 937
• Jane McMillen, wife of Thomas McMillen, b. 1804 d. 25 Feb 1891 bur. Wooster Cemetery (Ohio, Wayne County, Killbuck Township, Wooster) buried in Section 12, Lot 937
• William A. McMillen, son of Thomas and Jane McMillen, b. 1835 d. 1871 bur. Wooster Cemetery (Ohio, Wayne County, Killbuck Township, Wooster) buried in Section 12, Lot 937
• Mary M. McMillen, probable wife of William A. McMillen, b. 1835 d. 1861 bur. Wooster Cemetery (Ohio, Wayne County, Killbuck Township, Wooster) buried in Section 12, Lot 937

Census records

• In the 1860 US Census for Washington Twp, Holmes Co, OH John Manner, age 40, is residing with Thomas and Jane McMillen. Alexander and Sarah are still at home with their parents.

Probate Court

• The Probate Court file (#6866) lists the following heirs of Thomas McMillen who died in 1886:
  • Jane Ann McMillen, widow
  • Laura McMillen, granddaughter, Wooster, OH
  • Edwin McMillen, grandson, Findley (?), OH
  • Sarah L. Shields, daughter, Wooster, OH
  • Martha R. Johnson, daughter, place not given
  • John P. McMillen, son, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Alex M. McMillen, grandson, IL
  • Mary McMillen, granddaughter, IL

Willis & Estates

• William A. McMillen, in his Last Will and Testament, asked that his father, Thomas McMillen, be the guardian for his two children: A. M. McMillan and Edwin S. McMillan (Probate Court file #3826). The will is dated 6 February 1871.

• John T. Shields was the executor of the estate of William A. McMillen. William A. McMillen had a sister, Sarah L. Shields (wife of John T. Shields), and another sister listed as Mrs. John Johnston. In the 1850 US Census for Killbuck Twp, Holmes Co, OH children of Thomas McMillen and his wife Jane were:
  • Jane A. McMillen, age 20, born in OH
  • John McMillen, age 18, born in OH
  • William McMillen, age 15, born in OH
  • Alex McMillen, age 13, born in OH
  • Sarah McMillen, age 10, born in OH

• In the family papers, there is a copy of a will of Thomas McMillen of Henry Co, IA. It is dated 29 June 1851. In the will is the list of heirs.
  • Mary McMillen, wife
  • Julian McMillen, single daughter
  • Mary Jane, single daughter (minor)
  • Joseph Manner McMillen, son
  • Sarah McMillen, daughter, alias Sarah Bucher
  • Roxana McMillen, daughter, alias Roseanna Kister (IA)
  • Henry Hoagland McMillen, son
  • Matilda McMillen, daughter, alias Matilda Kean
  • Charles McMillen, son
  • Thomas McMillen, son
  • Lonette and Laura McMillen, children of Martin McMillen, grandchildren of Thomas McMillen

Vital records

• Thomas McMillen, head of the household was 46 and born in OH. Jane McMillen, wife, was 46 and born in OH.

In the family papers, there is a copy of a will of Thomas McMillen of Henry Co, IA. It is dated 29 June 1851. In the will is the list of heirs.

Mary McMillen, wife Julian McMillen, single daughter Mary Jane, single daughter (minor) Joseph Manner McMillen, son Sarah McMillen, daughter, alias Sarah Bucher Roxana McMillen, daughter, alias Roseanna Kister (IA) Henry Hoagland McMillen, son Matilda McMillen, daughter, alias Matilda Kean Charles McMillen, son Thomas McMillen, son Lonette and Laura McMillen, children of Martin McMillen, grandchildren of Thomas McMillen

Thomas McMillen (1788-1852) was the possible son of Thomas and Jane Masters McMillen. They were possibly married in 1763 in PA.

Returning back to John P. McMillen, I found a biographical abstract of his son, John, in the History of Stark County, OH (1881) on page 805. According to the biographical sketch, John P. McMillen was born in Westmoreland Co, PA in 1775. I believe he married Catherine Moore on 15 Jun 1813 in Jefferson Co, OH. Catherine Moore McMillen was born in Mercer Co, PA. (The marriage is found under the name John Miller and Catherine Moore, vol. 2 p. 27.) John P. McMillen was the son of John McMillen, a native of Ireland. Catherine Moore was the daughter of John Moore, also a native of Ireland. John P. McMillen came to Jefferson Co, Ohio in 1801. John P. McMillen migrated to Tuscarawas Twp, Stark Co, OH in 1829 and moved to Fredericksburg, Salt Creek Twp, Wayne Co, OH in 1846. John P. McMillen died in Fredericksburg 20 January 1851. His wife, Catherine, died 13 Jul 1867. John P. McMillen was an active member of the Presbyterian Church from his 26th year.)

John McMillen, son of John P. and Catherine Moore McMillen, was born 17 Nov 1817 near Richmond, Jefferson Co, OH. He was “eighth child of John P. and Catharine (Moore) McMillen.” The biographical mentions a little later that John P. and Catherine Moore McMillen had 5 children, four of whom grew to maturity. (I am thinking that John McMillen was the 8th child of John P. McMillen and the 5th child of John P. and Catherine Moore McMillen.) The four children who grew to maturity include:

1. Mary McMillen m. Jacob Mandeville, residing in Morrow Co, OH in 1881. 2. Dr. Alexander M. McMillen died in West Lebanon, Wayne Co, OH on 4 May 1875. (His obituary indicates he was born 31 May 1816 near Richmond, Jefferson Co, OH. His father removed to a farm near Greenville, Stark Co, OH in 1829. Dr. Alexander M. McMillen came to West Lenanon, Wayne Co, OH in July 1849 and started to practice medicine.) 3. John McMillen, residing on the homestead in 1881. He married Rebecca Krappensberger on 9 September 1845. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1859.) He died 25 March 1893 in East Greenville, Stark Co, OH. 4. James McMillen, residing in Akron, Summit Co, OH in 1881.

The will of John P. McMillen clearly states that he had three children by his first wife. These were Elizabeth M. Moore, Thomas, and William M. McMillen. Children of his 2nd wife, Catherine, include John (bequeathed the whole of the farm just west of East Greenville, Stark Co, OH); Alexander M. McMillen ($1200); James P. McMillen ($900); and Mary Mandeville ($400). The Last Will and Testament is about 3 pages in length but does not give the whereabouts of his children. His estate papers only include a couple documents, neither of which provides much information. The only land transaction I find for him is dated 18 Aug 1825 where John P. McMillen and George Watson of Jefferson Co, OH are the executors of the last will and testament of William Bailey, late of said county (Jefferson Co, OH). The land is being sold to Adam Bear of Wayne Co, OH.

With further research, I found an abstract of a lawsuit between Alexander M. Millen and John Garves. It is dated 2 March 1828. Hannah McMullen signed her mark. Interesting enough, there is a Hanna R. McMillen buried with John P. and Catharine McMillen in the West Cemetery (old part) found in Salt Creek Twp, Wayne Co, OH. Her dates indicate a birth on 20 May 1806 and she died 2 Oct 1846 at the age of 40 years, 4 months, 12 days. I am not sure how this Hannah ties in with the family (possible daughter or daughter-in-law?). I have not made any connection, yet.

On page 90 of the book, Tombstone Inscriptions & Family Records of Jefferson County, Ohio, there is a mention with the Bacon Ridge Cemetery in Ross Twp, Jefferson Co, OH that the first pastor of the Presbyterian Church was Rev. Wm. McMillen. Included in the list of first members was John. P. McMillen. The first church was organized in 1804 by Rev. George Scott. The first church was replaced in 1820.

In the book, Lawyers of Wayne County, there is a biographical abstract of both Alexander C. McMillan and William McMillen. William McMillen was a resident of Jefferson, Plain Twp, Wayne Co, OH. He practiced law here in Wayne Co, OH in the days of “anti-bellum, or anti-Secession days.” Following the Civil War, he moved to Iowa and died there. I do find him residing in Liberty Twp, Buchanan Co, IA in the 1870 US Census. He was 58 years old and born in OH. He was listed as a farmer at this time.

Alexander C. McMillan was born 1837 in Wayne Co, OH to Thomas McMillan (and Jane). He practiced law in Wooster from 1860-1862 then moved to Pana, Christian Co, IL. He died there.

At this point in the research, you may want to research in Jefferson County, OH (1801-1829 records) and Stark Co, OH (1829-1860s) to see if there is any more paper trail. You may want to consider tax lists, land deeds, cemetery records, church records, or county records for starters.) Also, since William M. McMillen appears to have been a brother to Thomas, you may want to follow his lead in Buchanan Co, IA to see if there is any reference to his parents or siblings in an obituary or other document.

I am unable to prove without a doubt that Thomas McMillen who died in 1886 in Wooster is the son of John P. McMillen. Evidence and previous research done by individuals seem to indicate this is not the case. On the contrary, I have not picked up a paper trail for the Thomas McMillen who is the son of John P. McMillen other than a mention in John P. McMillen’s will.