Milligan - Joseph
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana - 1893 Chapman Brothers p 119
Honorable Joseph MILLIGAN the gentleman of whom this sketch is written, has been one of the stanch, stable men connected with the financial, social, educational and political world of the State of Indiana. Joseph Milligan was born in Perry, then Cumberland County, PA near Harrisburg, March 3, 1814 and was the son of David and Sarah Wallace Milligan. The father of our subject was from Ireland and came to the US when young. The mother was a native of Bucks County, PA and came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who settled in this country about 1765. When Joseph was but a baby his father settled at Braddock's Fields, the old battleground near Pittsburg. Here he reared his family of 8 children of whom Joseph was the 7th child and only one living. A sister, Mrs. GRAHAM of Kansas died Feb 17, 1 892 aged 84 and one brother, Robert Milligan died about 1887. His brother Thomas was a graduate of Wabash College in the second class from that college in 1839, and for many years was a Trustee of the college. He became a minister and officiated principally in Owen County, Ind where he died in 1876 and there his parents both passed away. The old homestead still remains in the family. Joseph remained on the farm until he was 19 and in 1833 emigrated to Montgomery County, where his elder brother, John had settled in 1830. The latter was the projector of the town of Waveland, as he owned the land and laid out the village. Joseph soon secured a position in a store in Crawfordsville, but remained there only a short time, owing to the proprietor wishing him to handle whiskey, and this he refused to do, and thus early showed those right principles which have marked his career through life. With only $10 in his pocket, but with the happy disposition and faith in himself which characterize the Irish blood the world over, Joseph started down the Ohio. He had a deck passage to Cincinnati and from Crawfordsville he went as far as "The Narrows" of Sugar Creek, a trading point on the creek, and here he spent one year in charge of a store for John Mitchell, who during this time went to New Orleans with two flatboats of pork; he died of cholera while on the trip, on board of the steamer, and was buried on the banks of the river. After closing up these affairs Joseph took one term in Wabash College and then became a merchant. The brother of our subject was engaged in mercantile pursuits near where Joseph lived and offered his young brother a partnership. This was accepted and he went into the store at Jacksonville, where he remained about 4 years and did well, as it was the first store there. On his return to Waveland he and a brother formed a partnership in a store and there he continued until about 1845. During this time he was also buying pork at "The Narrows" which was the head of navigation, and making trips with it to New Orleans. In 1845 our subject went into the same business for himself at Waveland, and kept on enlarging until 1856, when his business had assumed extensive proportions. He then bought goods in New York and Cincinnati and carried on a large trade. At this time he bought a farm in Fountain County and went into partnership with other parties in general merchandising, he supplying the means, and in 1869 he changed his residence to Crawfordsville.
During the war Mr. Milligan bought the Rockport Mills and assisted in furnishing supplies to the soldiers, donated through the Sanitary Commission. At the organization of the First National Bank he became director for two years and prior to 1890 he was its President and still holds his connection as Director. He was the first president of the Crawfordsville & Southwestern RR, now purchased by the Vandalia. His influence secured the right of way and the perfect organization of the road. Mr. Milligan made a trip through Iowa and Kansas and bought 1000s of acres in those states and has since been selling them with great profit.
In 1839, he rode over the country on horseback and visited Iowa City and St. Joseph, Mo; then Milligan's Landing and picked out valuable tracts; he has also handled lands in this state. In 1864 he was elected State Senator on the Republic ticket and served two terms and although not a speaker has made his mark upon the history of the state. His connection with his party has been very active in the past and he was a strong supporter of the war movement. Mr. Milligan was married April 5, 1846 to Miss Janie M. Hawkins, the daughter of Col. Hawkins of Braddock, PA but her death occurred January 25, 1852 when she left one daughter, India J, who died at age 24. Mr. Milligan was married a second time in September 1853, to Miss Harriet Fullinwider (sic -- FULLENWIDER) the daughter of Eleazer and Lavina ALLEN Fullinwider, who had settled near Waveland about 1834. The father was a Kentuckian, although his parents had come from Pennsylvania and the mother's from Virginia, and both parents died in this county 1870 and 1879, respectively. Mrs. Milligan has one sister, Mrs. Hannah TAYLOR, the widow of Rev. Samuel Taylor, a Presbyterian minister of Frankfort and Waveland. Mrs. Milligan was born March 13, 1825 in Shelby Co, Ky and the children of the family are Harry J. who is now an attorney at Indianapolis and a graduate of Wabash College; and Anna ALLEN, a talented young lady who is her father's most valued assistant. Mr. Milligan in early life was a Methodist, but for the past 30 years has been an Elder int he Presbyterian Church. He has been a delegate to the General Assemblies at St. Louis and Saratoga. When the Rev.Thomas Milligan resigned as Trustee of Wabash College, Mr. Joseph Milligan was appointed to succeed him and he has given the college interests much attention. Another important post held by Mr. Milligan was that of President of the Orphan's Home, a county institution and in all of the relations of life he has filled the measure. He is a man of whom the people of the county are proud, for he reflects the best that is in it. - typed by kbz