The MacMillan Homestead

years ago, it was so well built that after the fire the house was rebuilt, using the original walls which were left standing. This house, which has been the home of the descendants of David McMillan for 125 years, is still a landmark in the state, beautiful for situation, located on land neither flat nor hilly, the whole presenting a prospect difficult to excel whether considered from the standpoint of a home in which to live, or a farm for cultivation. David and Nancy Wright McMillan had twelve children whose record has been preserved in a larger family history. This sketch will be confined to the family of James, who was the eleventh child of David and Nancy Wright McMillan. James was the first of the children to be born in Ohio, December 16, 1833. Here this youngest son of the family lived for nearly 80 years in the home in which he was born, and was privileged to see his children’s children, and his most cherished dreams realized. As this record is intended for the immediate descendants of James MacMillan, and apart from a very few now living, he is as much a mythological character to the vast majority of his descendants today as David, his father, was to those who were living two generations ago, it seems appropriate for the sake of those who may be interested in knowing what manner of persons their forebears were, that what is now known be recorded. Unfortunately, a likeness of David McMillian has not been preserved, but we do have pictures of his son, James. In fact, we have pictures taken at various periods of his life. We have several family traditions about him. As a young man, he was regarded as rather worldly, and though a farmer, he wore tailor- made clothes. His shoes were made of the finest leather. This at a time when other farmers in the community were content to wear brogan shoes and hickory shirts. We know that he was partial to thoroughbred high-stepping horses, and had the latest in buggies and carriages. We know, too, that he was a wide-awake business man, who before the financial crash in 1873, was one of the richest men in Greene County, Ohio. In addition to his farm, he owned bank stock and city property. In later life, he was known as “Sheep Jim MacMillan” and at one time owned more than 1,000 head of blooded Merino sheep, pastured on his own lands or raised on shares with surrounding farmers. On one occasion during the Civil War he delivered at Xenia, Ohio, a load of wool 20

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