Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 568
WILLIAM M. MILLIMAN

William M. MILLIMAN, of the firm STERN & MILLIMAN, real estate, loan and abstracting, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., December 11, 1844, and is the son of Francis and Sally E. (HUNT) MILLIMAN, and is the sixth child in a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters. The father was a molder by trade and was also Deputy Sheriff and Constable of his home county for many years. He emigrated with his family, except our subject, to Harrison County in 1865.

William W. attended the district schools of the old Empire State, where he received a good business education. When nine years of age he left home, and lived with his, uncle Arden FRAKER, a farmer, with whom he remained until he enlisted as a member of Company D, Seventy-Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, enlisting November 8, 1861, and served three years, one month and five days, receiving honorable discharge at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., December 13, 1864. During his service he participated in the battles of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Va., was in the seven days' fight in front of Richmond, the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, was in front of Petersburg, and was transferred under Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley, and was at Winchester September 19, 1864, where he received a wound in the left hip, which laid him up for about one month; he was also at the battle of Cedar Creek, one month after he had been wounded, which was the last engagement which he was in. This completes an army record of which the children who shall come after him will look back upon with admiration and pride, knowing as they will, by the reading of this sketch, that their sire took part in many of the greatest battles of the Rebellion.

After coming out of the service he returned to his home in New York, and for one year followed agricultural pursuits, working by the month until November, 1865, when he entered Eastman's Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and took a course, graduating in February, 1866, after which in a short time he went to Jackson, Mich., where he was engaged in a hardware store, remaining two years, and in March, 1868, we find him in Harrison County, Iowa. Having some means at the time, he bought stock, but finding that the climate did not agree with his rheumatic troubles, he returned to Michigan, resuming his old position in the hardware store. October 5, 1870, he was united in marriage to Mary A. RUSSELL, who is the youngest child of a family of seven children. Her father was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and died in Michigan, December 3, 1879. The mother was born October 26, 1809, in Dutchess County, N. Y., and is still living.

After our subject was married he follow the occupation of book-keeping for twelve years in Jackson, Mich., in the employ of the WITHINGTON & COOLEY Manufacturing Company. He returned to Harrison County, July 25, 1884, and immediately entered upon his duty in the office in which he is now engaged.

While in Jackson, Mich., he represented the Fifth Ward as Alderman for four years, and since living in Harrison County has been Treasurer of the incorporation of Logan, five years, being the present incumbent, as well as President of the School Board, of which he has been a member for five years.

Our subject belongs to Fuller Post, No. 38, G. A. R., of which he is now Adjutant. He is a member of No. 50, A. F. & A. M. and Chapter No. 3, and Comandery No. 9 of the Masonic order at Jackson, Mich.

Mr. and Mrs. MILLIMAN are the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters, all living--Ina E., born February 7, 1872; Ella L., January 9, 1874; Walter R., March 6, 1876; Mabel H., October 14, 1878; William W., Jr., July 18, 1882; and James C., Jr., April 11, 1885.

Politically, Mr. MILLIMAN is an outspoken Republican, believing as he does, that prior to, and after the Civil War, including that great struggle, that is party proved itself of the best type ever know in American politics.

Mr. and Mrs. MILLIMAN attend the Baptist Church, of which she has been a member for over twenty years.

In reviewing this man's life, one scarcely knows what course to pursue, to recount in brief detail his checkered and eventful career. Considering that he is less than forty seven years of age, his personal history is one replete with events of more than ordinary interest. Having been bereft of his mother, the best friend a boy ever has, at so young and tender an age, in consequence of which he was thrown out on his own resources, to map out his future, unaided by the kind counsel of a mother, it is evident that he possessed sterling qualities, or he would not be the honorable and successful man he is today. He well remembers how hard he worked when a slender boy, at peeling hemlock bark and hauling the same to the tan yard in New York State, as well as hauling logs at the age of fifteen, the year before he threw his young patriotism, out of the regular course of events, found his way into the Union Army, where he wore the loyal blue, and was known to be the youngest soldier in his regiment, being Sergeant of his company. Notwithstanding his age he was never sick a day during the three years or more of his army life, except the time when he was wounded.

His business qualifications, and social qualities, have made him an efficient and popular man in the various communities in which he has lived.

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