William John & Anderson McMillan's Children

I'll share briefly what I know for the children of William John and Anderson McMillan, from what I've collected from written family history, directories, draft records, marriage records and census records. If anyone has a photograph for any of the nine children of William John and Anderson, I would love to add it to this page.

Mathew Todd McMillan

born about October 6, 1867 Fergus, Ontario died September 17, 1922

Buried at Oakland Cemetery St Paul, MN

Mathew was the oldest Son born in Fergus, Wellington County, Ontario in 1867.

The family history book indicated Mathew was a railroad engineer with the Northern Pacific Railway. On the 1891 directory he was shown as a brakeman for the Great Northern. After that he was consistently shown as an engineer. Directories showed he had worked for other railroads, including the C St P M & O Railway, and the Great Western Railway. Most years it seemed he lived in St Paul, with the longest residence at 903 Watson Avenue. In 1896 and 1898 he worked for the Minneapolis Western Railway and apparently lived in Minneapolis. The 1921 St Paul Directory indicated Mathew had moved to Mankato, Minnesota. In correspondence with the Oakland Cemetery, I found Mathew died in Los Angeles, California in 1922.

Before Mathew became a railway engineer, he fed the fuel of the train. When feeding the fuel on a train in Montana in the 1890s, a large boulder had fallen on the rails, bending them. The engineer sounded a warning, and tried to stop the train. When the warning was sounded, Mathew jumped over a steep bank. The train engine tumbled down the bank killing the engineer. Mathew, luckily, only suffered some minor injuries. Sadly, the engineer was to be married a short time after the accident.

I continue to look for an obituary, and a death record for Mathew. I don't have a physical description for Mathew, which would have shown if there was a WWI draft registration for him, but he may have been too old to need to register. We know Mathew married Hedwig Schumacher July 3, 1893 in St Paul, Minnesota.

Children of Mathew and Hedwig were Albert Schumacher McMillan, Mathew Todd McMillan Jr , and Gilhome William John McMillan.

William John McMillan Jr

born September 14, 1869 Fergus, Ontario died October 29, 1927 Seattle, Washington

ashes were buried at the Catholic Cemetery, Oregon City, OR

This was my Grandfather. He was married to Michaelena Thekla Smith (aka/Schmidt) in St Paul, Minnesota December 24, 1892. Family lore suggests they met when William John went to the James Hill Mansion for a railway meeting. It is said "Lena" answered the door where she was employed as a servant. My Grandmother was born at Gross Zirkwitz, West Prussia in 1874 and they came to Minnesota in 1883. Below a photo of Grandpa and Grandma William John and Lena McMillan when they lived in Montana.

Grandpa was said to have worked as a railroad engineer for a time, but he wasn't able to continue with that due to a loss of hearing. After their marriage they lived for a time in Minneapolis and spent some time in Kalispell, Montana. By 1904 the family was in Gladstone, Oregon and by 1920 William John was living on his own in Alaska where he was a steam shovel operator for the railroad. In the winter he was said to have worked at a cigar store in Alaska.

By 1923, William John was in Seattle where he married again. It's said Grandma tried to destroy her memories of him by disposing of photos of him. Dad was able to save some of those photos from the "burn pile".

We know Grandpa was a large man, almost six feet tall and close to 300 pounds, with an 18 inch neck, and 52 inch chest. No WW I draft record could be found for him which may be due to his age at the time.

William John and Lena McMillan had children as follows: Ellen Valentine McMillan; Annie Catherine McMillan; Veronica McMillan; Michaelena McMillan; William John McMillan III; and Edward Martin McMillan.

Robert Orr McMillan

born May 8, 1871 Fergus, Ontario died December 26, 1960 St Paul, Minnesota

buried at Oakland Cemetery in St Paul, MN

Robert attended the University of Minnesota and obtained a law degree. Directories showed he had worked for a dry goods store, as a traveling agent, and as a lawyer for a short time. He married Agnes Casey August 28, 1903 in Spokane, Washington. He then worked as a railroad conductor out of Montana. It is said he also served 2 terms with the Montana legislature.

I've been unable to find census records for Robert for 1920 and 1930. Also, I've been unable to determine if Robert and Agnes had children.

I did find some newspaper articles where Robert was running for office as a railroad commissioner in the 1920's, but he was apparently unsuccessful in that attempt. I did find Robert served some time in the Montana Legislature.

I do have a brief description for Robert from the WWI draft registration. It showed he was 5' 9" tall, 235 pounds and had grey eyes and brown hair. It was indicated that Robert was slightly crippled in the left foot.

David B (middle name may have been Bradford) McMillan

born about April 20, 1873 at Palmerston or Fergus, Ontario died September 29, 1962 LaCrosse, WI

said buried at Oakland Cemetery, St Paul, MN

A descendent of David's, indicates David had a twin brother at birth who died when they were young. We don't have a name or death information for the twin.

David showed as a bolt cutter, an apprentice, and on most records he was shown as a machinist for the railroad. The WWI draft registration for David, showed he was of medium height and build, had blue eyes and brown hair.

David married Mary Gertrude Murphy in September 23, 1896 in St Paul, Minnesota.

David and Gertrude's children were: Margaret McMillan; Gertrude McMillan; Helen McMillan; Jeanette McMillan; and Kenneth McMillan.

Stewart McMillan

born about September 15,1874 at Palmerston or Fergus, Ontario died August 31, 1946 San Bernardino, CA

said buried at Long Prairie, MN

The family history book indicates Stewart did not work for the railroad. He is said to have attended the St Paul Academy of Pharmacy. On the 1891 directory he's shown as a carrier for the Pioneer Press; in 1894 he's shown as a Druggist; on other directories he's shown as a traveling agent or salesman and on one as a salesman for a necktie company.

Stewart married Bertha Thornquist in Todd County, Minnesota July 15, 1901.

Photo of Stewart and Bertha McMillan

(Photo Courtesy of Paul & Janet Tidemann)

Stewart's WWI draft registration indicates he was of medium height and build, with grey eyes and dark hair. On the 1918 draft record Stewart is living in North Dakota and shown as a travelman (salesman?) for the Fargo Merchantile Co. On the 1910 census the family is in North Dakota and Stewart is a traveling cigar salesman perhaps, for Royal Banner Cigars. The family is in North Dakota in 1920 and Stewart is a traveling printing press salesman. In 1930 they are in Long Prairie, Minnesota and no employment is shown that census year.

Bertha is said to have had a beautiful singing voice, with opera ability, and performed as the star of some programs.

Later in life Stewart was unable to work, and Bertha took in boarders to earn money. Still later, it's said Bertha was a housekeeper for a Hollywood movie actor Edward Russell Hicks aka/ Russell Hicks who had an active film career from 1933 to 1955.

Stewart and Bertha's children were: William McMillan; Irene McMillan; Lois McMillan; and Ellen McMillan.

Arthur McMillan/MacMillan

born February 29, 1876 in Palmerston or Fergus, Ontario died January 12, 1943 Ramsey County, MN

Arthur may be buried at the Oakland Cemetery St Paul, MN

The family history book indicates Arthur attended Macalester College for a short time. In 1894 Arthur shows as a clerk for Westfall & Danegh in St Paul. On the 1899 directory he's shown as a machinist for Patterson & Co; in 1900 he's a collector for R L Polk & Co (they made the directories); in 1902 he's a clerk for Armour & Co. On other directory and census records Arthur's shown as a brakeman for the railroad. The family history book indicates as a conductor for the Minnetonka Short Line.

The WWI draft registration for Arthur shows he was medium height, slender build, and had grey eyes and brown hair.

Arthur married Maude Edna Patterson September 27, 1899 in St Paul, Minnesota. Arthur and Maude's children were: Henry Lester MacMillan; Robert A MacMillan; and daughter Marion MacMillan.

Arthur's family used the "MacMillan" spelling for the name, perhaps due to family lore about Scottish roots. So far, we have no evidence of our own McMillan's having been in Scotland.

Annie McMillan

born about 1878 in Palmerston or Fergus, Ontario died December 29, 1967 in St Paul, MN

buried at Oakland Cemetery in St Paul, MN

Annie attended Mrs Baldwin's School for Girls which was a fashionable finishing school.

The family history book describes Annie to have auburn hair, hazel eyes and a wonderful complexion.

Annie married Grenville Baker March 2, 1904 in St Paul, Minnesota. Grenville and Annie migrated to North Dakota where they had their children. They moved back to St Paul, MN in the 1920's.

A very interesting account for the Baker family is that written by Annie Laurie Baker in 1991.

Children of Grenville and Annie were: Annie Laurie Baker; Dorothy Baker (died 1910); William John McMillan Baker; Stuart Melvin Baker; Marguerite Baker; Robert Orr Baker; Grenville Baker Jr (died 1917); Betty Baker; and Thaddeus Baker.

Ellen MacGregor McMillan

born about 1879 in Palmerston or Fergus, Ontario died September 26, 1923 St Paul, MN

buried at Oakland Cemetery in St Paul, MN

The family history book indicates Ellen Nellie had a beautiful voice and studied music. It is said she won a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, but she was not allowed by her parents to leave home.

The family history book describes Ellen as having merry brown eyes and thick brown curly hair.

It was said William John McMillan did not want his Daughter's to have to work. I did find 2 accounts in St Paul Directories, however. One was for 1899 where a Nellie McMillan was working as a clerk. In 1903 an Ellen McMillan was working as a domestic. I can't be sure if those listings were for our Ellen?

Margaret D McMillan

born March 17, 1885 in Breckenridge, MN died April 14, 1974 St Paul, MN

(Note: Margaret may have actually have been born in 1883.)

buried at Oakland Cemetery in St Paul, MN

The family history book describes Margaret as being especially beautiful with very large brown eyes and coal black hair.

Margaret was considered to be delicate, and she stayed home after the eighth grade.