Biography of James Millikin
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Page 1005
JAMES MILLIKIN, hardware merchant, Jefferson, is a son of James and a grandson of James Millikin. The latter was born in Ireland, of English parentage, and came to America in early life, with two brothers. He settled in Washington County, Penn., where he married Dortha McFarland, of Massachusetts. Both died in Washington County, Penn., he aged sixty-five years, and she aged about ninety years. Ten of their children became heads of families, viz., Daniel, Mary, James, John, Jacob (farmer near Plain City, Madison Co., Ohio), Samuel, William, Robert, Andrew and Abel. John, Abel and William were farmers. The latter died in his native State. Nine of the family came to Ohio. John located in Richland County, and Abel finally settled and died in Decatur, Ill. Daniel, Samuel, Robert and Andrew all settled in Butler County, Ohio. The three former were practicing physicians, and Robert, who had, joined with his medical skill, a good general knowledge, was also a politician and legislator. Andrew was a professional stock-dealer. James, the father of our subject, came to Madison County, Ohio, in 1830, and bought 600 acres of land for $400. He subsequently bought 1,600 acres more for less than $2 per acre. He was by occupation a surveyor, farmer and stock-dealer, and was more commonly known as Col. Millikin. His stature was large, and he had a strong constitution. He was frugal and industrious, and succeeded well. He possessed the sporting characteristics of the pioneer in general, and devoted considerable time to hunting. He surveyed the original lots of Jefferson in September, 1831, and also laid out the town of Amity, in Canaan Township. He was married, in the year 1800, when only eighteen years old, to Elizabeth Cook. He died aged eighty-six, and she aged seventy-five years. They raised a family of nine children, of whom our subject was born in Washington County, Penn., December 22, 1816, but, from fourteen years of age, lived in Madison County, Ohio. He remained on his father's farm in Canaan Township until 1840, when he married Rachel Cary, a descendant of an early pioneer family of the county. To this union six children have been given. He owns a good farm in Canaan Township, which he cultivated until 1879, when he moved to Jefferson and embarked in the hardware trade. He passed out of the office of County Commissioner in 1881, after having served two successive terms, to which he was elected by both parties, although he is a Democrat.
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