Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 487
JAMES C. MILLIMAN

James C. MILLIMAN (Portrait), real-estate dealer, of Logan, Iowa, who is well known throughout Harrison County, where he is held in high esteem, is made the subject of the following sketch, which touches here and there upon his eventful life.

He is the son of Francis and Emily (HUNT) MILLIMAN, and was born January 28, 1847, in Saratoga County, N. Y. The father, in his early life, was a farmer, and followed that occupation in Saratoga County, for about twelve years, after which he was Deputy Sheriff, and Constable for some years. After leaving these offices, he was engaged in a foundry and axe factory, but in February, 1865, arrived in Harrison County, Iowa. He was always an energetic, painstaking gentleman, who aimed to earn a livelihood by honorable callings. Two years after his coming to the county, he was elected as a member of the Board of Supervisors, serving from 1867 to 1871.

When he first came to the county, he settled in LaGrange Township, and after residing there three years, removed to Jefferson Township. In 1882, he moved to Logan, where he died in April, 1883.

The mother of our subject, who was the first wife of Francis MILLIMAN died April 28, 1849, in New York, and when seven years of age, James C. commenced to earn his own living. He went on farm and worked for his board and clothes for four years, during which time, no doubt, his young heart missed the kind admonition of a mother, but he kept battling away, as best a youth of his age could, doing farm and other work until he enlisted in the Union Army. The first wages he had received prior to that was $5 per month. His first enlistment dated March, 1864, during which time he participated in the siege of Petersburg at Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864, where he was shot through the elbow joint, by reason of which his arm had to be amputated. After receiving this wound, he realized the fact that he was a young man, and in any thing but a flattering position in which to begin life. Consequently, seven days after receiving his wound, he applied for a discharge, but could not obtain it until the proper surgeon had passed upon his case, which delayed it until December 28, 1864, after which he went to New York, and two weeks later with his father and four brothers�Henry S., Wilson, Ambrose B. and William W., started for Harrison County, Iowa. His oldest brother, Henry, having been in this county, since 1852, coming with Judge Stephen King, became a settler of Harrison Township. Henry had been a soldier in the First Nebraska Regiment, enlisting at Omaha Neb., and serving three years. After his discharge, he resided in Harrison County, until the spring of 1879, when he removed to Hamilton County, Tex., where he now resides.

When our subject came to Harrison County, he attended the State University, at Iowa City, for two years, after which he taught school two years, and in the autumn of 1868, was elected to the office of County Recorder, on the Republican ticket. He took that office January 4, 1869, and served eight years, after which, in company with A. L. HARVEY, he established the Harrison County Bank in a building which had been occupied by Mr. HARVEY'S real-estate office, commencing business, September 1, 1876, and continuing until April 1, 1879, when Mr. MILLIMAN sold his interest to A. W. FORD. For the next four years our subject was employed looking after has landed interests, and December 26, 1884, opened a real-estate and abstract office, in company with Almor STERN, at first occupying a frame building, which was superseded in the summer of 1889, by their present substantial brick office.

Mr. MILLIMAN was married November 20, 1870, to Ettie R. STERN, daughter of Jacob T. and Millicent B. (FLETCHER) STERN. By this union two children were born�Maude E., October 11, 1871, and Edith R., May 25, 1881.

Our subject mourned the loss his wife, the mother of the above children, who died January 14, 1883, and was buried in the Logan Cemetery. January 13, 1886, Mr. MILLIMAN married Della S. RICE, daughter of Silas and Elenor S. (TAYLOR) RICE. This marriage union has been blessed by three interesting children�Elenor, born October 8, 1886; Hattie A., January 15, 1888 and Bernice R., July 19, 1889.

Politically, Mr. MILLIMAN has always been identified with the Republican Party and may be considered a stalwart, who can give a reason for his political belief. In their religious relations both he and his wife are members of he Presbyterian Church.

It may be added in this connection that Mr. MILLIMAN was a candidate against Hon. L. R. BOLTER, for the office of State Senator in 1886, and those who were active in that campaign, say that our subject, (who ran ahead of his party ticket) conducted one of the most honorable campaigns known in Iowa politics.

Among the many beautiful homes in and about Logan, none surpasses that of our subject. His spacious, two-story frame residence, standing on the summit of a high bluff, over looking the town, with a commanding view of the Boyer Valley, is nestled within one of the most charming natural groves found in Western Iowa. To the north and west of his residence the grove has been converted into a semi-park, and cleared of all under growth. This place is used for public gatherings, including the annual camp meetings of various denominations, upon which occasions from five to ten thousand people are given the liberty to find quarters beneath its welcome shade.

In reviewing his man's life, one finds the true spirit of loyalty and manly uprightness, to a prominent degree; no man stands higher in the estimation of his fellow-citizens than he of whom we write. In his father's family there were five sons who shouldered their muskets in defense of the old flag, which had been assailed by traitorous hands; and all received marks lasting in their character, which will go with them through life, but especially is this true of our subject, who carries about with him a perpetual remainder of that terrible conflict known as the Civil War as an "empty sleeve."

It matters not how many years hence this memoir may be read, it will stand as an excellent example for any youth, who may chance to read it, showing as it does, how an orphan boy, who early in life lost an arm in his country's service, battled against adversity ( single-handed, in the true sense of the word) and achieved the fondest hope of his earlier years�the possession of a beautiful, as well as valuable home, which has been the prime object of his life. Whether one meets Mr. MILLIMAN in business relations, in public circles, or around his home fire-side, he is the same, plan, companionable man, who is a lover of his home and appreciates its hallowed surroundings.

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