John M. Millikin

As printed in 1882

JOHN M. MILLIKIN.

Major John M. Millikin, the oldest professional man in Hamilton, and once treasurer of the State of Ohio, was born in Greensboro, Greene County, Pennsylvania, on the lath of October, 1804. He is the son of Dr. Daniel Millikin and Joan Minor. When ho was three-years of age his father removed to the West and settled in Hamilton, being the first physician who permanently took up Ids above here. John M. Millikin received instruction from I)r. Alexander Proudfit, who taught a school here about the time of the second war with Great Britain, and from others, and in 1821 went to Wuslbngington College, in Washington. Pennsylvania, spending a year there, and returning home the last of May, 182o. In that year he began the study of law with Jesse Corwin, in this city, and on the 5th of September, 1827, at

Columbus, ho was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Ohio, and immediately opened an office. Colonel Campbell, who is next junior to him at the bar, did not enter practice till 1835, nor Thomas Miilikin, the next in age, till 1840.

In 1834 the law firm of Miilikin & Bebb was begun by the formation of a partnership between himself and William Bebb, afterwards governor, ana this connection lasted till 1840, when Miilikin retired from practice. In 1829 he was appointed brigade, major and inspector of militia, an office he retained till 1833. January 1, 1841, he was appointed an aid-de-camp by Governor Thomas Corwin, and in 1846 he was a member of the State Board of Equalization. In 1856 he was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and was twice re-elected. He served as president of the board one year.

In 1860 be was appointed a trustee of Miami University.

In this capacity he has served two terms of nine years each, and has been reappointed for the third term. In 1873 he was named by the Secretary of the Interior as one of a commission to proceed to the Indian Territory for the purpose of making a treaty with the Creek Nation for the relinquishment of a part of their territory to the Seminoles. In October, 1875, he was elected treasurer of the State of Ohio, and on tiro loth of January, 1876, entered upon the discharge of the duties of his office. The Republicans renominated him for the same position in 1877, but at the October election the Democrats were in the ascendency, and he was, therefore, defeated. He retired from office on the lath of January, 1878. lie has always been a Whig and a Republican in politics. lie cast his first ballot in 1826, and has voted at all State elections since. His first vote for President was cast in 1823 for John Quincy Adams.

Major Miilikin has always been an important man in local aft airs. He has been president of the County Agricultural Society, president of Greenwood Cemetery Association, president of the Farmer's Club, and other societies. He has an excellent knowledge of local history, and skill in narrating it. He is highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and has frequently been named by them as a suitable man for governor. He resides a little east of Hamilton on a farm which is cultivated according to the true principles of agriculture.

He was married on the 6th of September, 1831, to Mary Greenlee Hough, daughter of au esteemed early cit!7.‘U) of Hamilton, and has had by her four children, who attained full age: Minor, Joseph, Dan, and Mary. Mention is made of them in a sketch of the Miilikin family, on page 185.

As printed in A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.