Milligan Joseph

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Monday, 1 January 1894

The death of Hon. Joseph Milligan which has been expected for several days occurred last night at his home in this city. The bells of the city were ringing out the old year when he passed from this life to his reward. His death was peaceful as his life was good.

The funeral services will be conducted tomorrow afternoon at two o’clock by his pastor, Dr. R. J. Cunningham and his old friend and associate, Dr. J. F. Tuttle. The interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

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. His father was from Ireland, and came to the United States when young. The mother was a native of Bucks County, Pa., and came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who settled in this country about 1765. Joseph remained on the farm until he was nineteen years old and in 1833, he immigrated 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 whisky 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.

His brother 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 four 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 Mr. Milligan went into the same business 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. 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 a director for two years, and prior to 1890 he was its president. He was the first president of the Crawfordsville & Southwestern Railroad, now purchased by the Vandalia. His influence secured the right of way and perfect organization of the road.

Mr. Milligan made a trip through Iowa and Kansas and bought thousands of acres in those states, which have since been selling 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 to the State Senate on the Republican ticket and served for two terms. His connection with his party was very active 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 the age of twenty four years. Mr. Milligan was married a second time in September, 1853, to Miss Harriet N. Fullenwider, the daughter of Eleazer and Lavina Allen Fullenwider, who had settled near Waveland about 1834. The children of the family were Harry J., who is now an attorney at Indianapolis, and a graduate of Wabash College and Anna Allen, who died last spring.

Mr. Milligan in early life was a Methodist, but for the last thirty years was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was 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 gave the college interests much attention. Another important post held by Mr. Milligan was that of president of the Orphans’ Home, a county institution, and in all of the relations of life, he has filled the measure. He was a man of whom the people of the county were proud, for he reflected the best that is in it. -s

= Same Newspaper --

The funeral of the late Joseph MILLIGAN occurred yesterday afternoon at the residence and was very largely attended. The services were opened by the hymn, " Abide with Me," by a choir composed of Miss Maud Cowan; Mrs. CL Thomas; George F. Hughes and AA McCain. Dr. Cunningham then read an appropriate selection from the Scriptures, led in prayer and delivered an appropriate eulogy on the dead and offered consolation to the living. Dr. Tuttle spoke of the deceased in his relations to Wabash College. The choir sang, "In the Shadow of his Presence," and Dr. Burroughs pronounced the benediction. The active pallbearers were CM Crawford; AC Jennison; OM Gregg; Capt. Herron; Prof. JL Campbell and Capt. RE Bryant. The honorary pallbearers were Albert Milligan and Samuel Milligan