C. A. McMillen
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The Comfort Allen McMillen Family
Comfort McMillen, on of the early pioneers to settle at Murphy, was born in Arkansas, January 29, 1818. He was the son of Lewis and Charlotte Joy (daughter of Comfort Joy of New York). When he was very young, the family went to Illinois to live and there the father died. Comfort McMillen married in 1841 and became converted to the Christian faith the same year. In 1845 he brought his family to old Buckner and camped on Wilson Creek one mile south of Alf Chandler. With him came his wife and six children; Jim Maxwell and wife and two children; Henry Maxwell, wife and 6 children; Lewis Marshall, wife and one child; Jim Williford, wife, and Bill Wiliford. All came overland by ox teams pulling the wagons and driving hers of sheep as they came. The night they camped on Wilson Creek, raiding Indians killed an entire family nearby and they were uneasy about staying. He headrighted 640 acres of land. Game was abundant, including bear and deer but bread was hard to get since he had to travel many miles to buy a bushel of corn that had to be brought home and ground into meal in a small hand mill. Mr. McMillen married Liddie Maxwell, daughter of James Maxwell of Tennessee. Six children were born to the couple - William A., James R., Martha J., and Mary E. lived to be grown. |
Two Pioneer Brothers
Uncle Allen McMillen of Murphy and Uncle Lewis McMillen Both Hale and Hearty One 85, Other 80 -- Uncle Allan and Wife been Married 61 Years Democrat, May 5, 1903 C. A. McMillen of Murphy and Lewis McMillen of Allen, brothers aged 85 and 80 respectively, transacted business in McKinney. Both are pioneer Texans, one having come to the State in 1845 and the other nine years later. Since coming to the State each has continuously resided in Collin county and made it a most exemplary citizen. By dint of industry and frugality they have raised useful families and accumulated ample store around them for their declining years. Both are exceedingly hale for men of their years, and very companionable with their cheery temperament and varied fund of reminiscences of days and people long since passed away and forgotten, save, perhaps, to a pioneer here and there, like themselves, whose days are prolonged beyond the average span of life. Both are ardent friends of Collin's efficient young sheriff, T. M. Beverly, to whom and the Democrat reporter they engaged in an interesting train of reminiscences covering their long career. The following facts were noted which no doubt will prove of interest to our readers: C. A. (Uncle Allen) McMillen was born on the line of Jackson and Perry counties, Ill., near what is now the thriving city of Pinckneyville, Jan. 29, 1818--the same year that state was admitted into the Union. The first 15 years of his life was spent at that place. Leaving Illinois in 1834 he moved to Washington county, Ark., near Fayetteville, where he resided 11 years, and then came to Texas. He arrived in Texas in the Fall of 1845, coming in an ox wagon, and camped on Wilson creek just west of McKinney. This was indeed a sparsely inhabited section then. Texas was a republic and Collin county had not been thought of as an organized county. On Jan. 1 1846 he camped and corralled his stock on what is now the present side of Murphy ad at once headrighted from the Republic of Texas a section of land upon which he still resides. He participated in the election that changed the county seat from Old Buckner to McKinney. However, he did not vote for McKinney, but cast his ballot for Sloan's Grove, known as the old Bob Fitzhugh farm at few miles southeast of McKinney. All his side of the county favored the latter Location, but swollen streams prevented some of them coming up to vote which resulted in the defeat of Sloan''s Grove and choosing of McKinney as the county seat. Around his 11 years sojourn in Arkansas, cluster many tender memories to Uncle Allen. I was in that state that he met and wooed the fair maiden whom he married July 4 1842. For nearly 61 years since, she has made him a devoted wife and the ardent fire of love kindled in his gallant young bosom for her in that long ago still burns with all the ardor of youth. Affection's truest gleam sparkled in the old man's eye at every reference to her name. He also professed religion in Arkansas and joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church there in 1838. For 65 years he has been a faithful communicant of that denomination, at present holding his membership at Caruth [Corinth], which church he helped to organize. Uncle Allen and wife are happily closing their long and eventful lives in their old home in a mile of Murphy, on the land they obtained from the Republic of Texas. There they desire to spend their remaining days and have their bodies laid to rest on the old homestead. Uncle Lewis was also born in Illinois, June 23, 1823. He remained 15 years in Arkansas coming to Texas in 1854. He settled on a farm one mile southeast of Allen and lives in that house which he built on it in 1858. He gallantly served the Confederacy in Bone's Co. Terrell's regiment, which was made up of Fannin county. He joined the Christian church at Allen in 1862. Both Uncle Allen and Uncle Lewis raised large families of children. These old brothers frequently visit and are a great comfort to each other in their companionship. May many more days of health and enjoyment still remain to these grand old patriarchs is the wish of the Democrat and its many readers. |
