Thomas I Milliken

Port Royal Times, November 20, 1884
by David J Beale

IN MEMORIAM--The older we become the more do we outlive the friends and associates of our youth. Although somewhat under fifty years of age, I already feel the importance of Dr. Johnson's remark that "we should keep our friendships in repair," and yet I doubt the possibility of forming as strong attachments in middle life as in early years. I am led to these reflections by a telegram received to day from my cousin John D. Milliken that his sister Mrs. Jane Neely has departed this life. Her father and my mother were brother ans sister, and her mother and my father were sister and brother. Judge Milliken's family and Joshua Beale's family were as warmly attached to each other as any two families in Tuscarora valley. Mrs. Neely visited my home in Delaware and afterwards in Baltimore, and we loved her as a sister. We expected to have her pay us a visit at our new home ere long. No words can express my surprise at the announcement of her death, or my regret at my inability to attend her funeral. A funeral here and important church meetings require the writer's presence in Johnstown all the week. It is well with the deceased friend and kinswoman, for she has gone to be with her Redeemer and to join her father and mother in Heaven. Death is said to be the King of terror and the terror of kings, but it can be diverted of its terrors by all who have an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, who has triumphed over his foe and who "is the Resurrection and the Life." God grant that every reader of your paper may be as well prepared to go hence as was Mrs. Jane Milliken Neely. Mr. Francis Milliken, of Yeagertown, Mifflin county, whose death you announced in the Times, was by birth a Juniatian, and an uncle of Mrs. Neely and of your correspondent. He was also an uncle of Col. A. K. McClure, of Philadelphia. For many years he had been a member of the Presbyterian church in Lewistown, but because of the convenience, he had recently joined in with the Lutheran brethren of Yeagertown, and was made a ruling elder there. Now there remain but three of that large family of children, of whom Francis was the youngest--namely Mrs. Milly Beale, of Tuscarora valley, Mrs. Jane Beale, of Earlville, LaSalle county, Ill, and Mrs. Martha Endslow, of Mifflin county. If I had the time to write it and you had the space to publish it, it would be a labor of love to give some recollections of Madam Anderson, Jacob Smith and John Ludwig of McCulloch's Mills, of James Kennedy, David Naylor, Mrs. Catharine Snyder and others of East Waterford, of Michael Kunkle, David Deen, James Deen, Charles Palm, James and George Jacobs and others who have been called from your midst since I last wrote to you. Let reader, editor, preacher, everybody get ready, for we shall all soon die--go to meet father, mother, husband and wife.

David J. Beale
Johnstown, Cambria Co., Pa. November 11, 1884.

DR. D. B. MILLIKEN DIED AT LANDISBURG
Fomer Juniata Countian Seccumbs to an Attack of Heart Disease at His Home Monday Dec. 14

Dr. D. B. Milliken, one of the oldest and most prominent physicians of the county, died at his home in Landisburg at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon, aged 72 years, 11 months and 14 days. The news of his death both shocked and saddened a wide circle of friends. He had not been well for several weeks, suffering with heart disease, his condition being such that he could not lie down, but was compelled to sit up in a chair. On Monday afternoon his wife, Rev. W. H. Doyer and his son-in-law, Robert Boden were with him. He had been talking with them as usual when he suddenly gasped several times, his head fell back and he was found dead. Thus ending the life of one of Perry county's most worthy and honored citizens.

David Beale Milliken was born near Academia, Juniata county, Pa., January 1, 1833. His parents were Thomas J. and Rachel (Beale) Milliken. The Milliken family was of Scotch Irish descent and was one of the pioneer families of Juniata county, which was a part of Cumberland at the time. Doctor's great-grandfather, Thomas Milliken settled here. Thomas Milliken, father of the Doctor, was one of the leading Democrats of Juniata county in his day and was County Commissioner and Associate Judge of the county. His mother was a daughter of Judge David Beale, of Chester county, Pa.

The subject of this sketch attended the common schools until he was fourteen years of age. His education was completed at Tuscarora Academy, where for five years he was under the tuition of Professor Wilson. In 1850 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Samuel Crawford, in McCoysville, Pa. He attended two courses of lectures besides taking a course of private study under the preceptorship of Dr. Aylette, of the medical department of the University of New York from which celebrated school he graduated in 1854. He at once began practice in Landisburg, where he continued the same with success and honor up until the time of his death--a period of fifty-four years.

November 18, 1862, he was commissioned by Sergeon-General King to care for disabled soldiers of this State in the Army of the Potomac, in general and regimental hospitals. During the last Cleveland administration he was appointed a member of the Board of Pension Examiners for this county. He was a member of the Perry County Medical Society, of which he had been treasurer since 1888, besides having been several times president, and was also a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Society.

He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a Past Grand of Mt Dempsy Lodge, No. 172, IOOF; a director since 1893 of the Duncannon National Bank, and during its existence a director of the Perry County Railroad. In February, 1885, he was a delegate to the meeting of the American Agricultural Association at New Orleans, La.

Mr. Milliken was one of the influential Democrats of Perry county and took and active interest in politics. He was elected to the Legislature for two terms--in 1870 and 1871, and served on several important commitees in the house. He frequently represented his party in State and county conventions and was one of the recognized leaders of his party.

Dr. Milliken was first married May 2, 1855, to Elizabeth, daughter of Neal and Mary McCoy of McCoysville, Pa. Their only child is Emma E. (Mrs. Robert C. Boden) of Landisburg. Mrs. Milliken died February 20, 1856. The Doctor was again married in 1858, to Margaret J. daughter of Daniel & Jane Okeson; she died in 1889. He married in 1891, Rebecca C. Jones, widow of the late David Eaton, who survives.

In the death of Dr. Milliken, the county loses one of its most prominent citizens. His long and honorable career as a physician, combined with his fine personal and social qualities, won for him the admiration and respect of a wide circle of acquaintences.

The funeral will take place tomorros (Thursday). Services at his late residence in Landisburg at 11 o'clock and interment in the Landisburg cemetery.
--Perry County Democrat, Dec. 16.

The Juniata Tribune, Mifflintown, January 26, 1893

Death and Burial of Hon. John D. Milliken
by Rev. D. J. Beale, D.D.

Death in itself is a very distressing event. It is an enemy to the body in that it unpins and dissolves it, and to the soul in that it driyes it out of its earthly tabernacle. Death not only separates us from our earthly relations and friends, but puts a period to all on earth, joys and sorrows, duties and labors. But the living know that they must die and are admonished to so number their days that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom. It is our duty and priviledge to be prepared for the great event. In the case of all who repent of sin, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and live holy lives, death ought to have few, if any, terrors. To saved persons, death is a kind of a birth -- it is the beginning of a new and more enlarged existence. It is a going to our Father's House -- to a banquet in the better land and to dwell with our Redeemer forever.

John D. Milliken was a God fearing man -- a man who had long ago acccepted Christ as his Saviour, had ever since lived in vital union with Him and departed this life at peace with himself, his fellow men and his Maker. Born October 23, 1835 and his entire life was spent in Tuscarora Valley. He was married to Miss Clara J., daughter of Judge Lewis Burchfield, and were honored with eight children, one of whom had passed into the skies before the father.

Mr. Milliken represented Juniata County in the Lower House of the State Legislature in 1881-1882. He was a prominent member . . .

Port Royal Times obituary Wednesday, June 10, 1914

Clara Jane Burchfield Milliken, daughter of Judge Louis Burchfield and Jane McKennan was born May 3rd, 1840 in Mifflintown, where her early life was spent. She was educated in the public schools of Juniata county, and attended the Seminary at Kishacoquillas from which she was graduated at the early age of sixteen, immediately after engagin in the profession of teaching.

On October 23, 1860 she was married to Hon. J. D. Milliken, then a prosperous young farmer of Spruce Hill township. They resided on the old homestead where she spent a very useful life raising her family and ministering to her neighbors when they were in sickness or trouble until his death on January 18, 1893. The past eleven years have been spent in Port Royal.

She was the mother of eight children: Dr. Stewart A. Milliken of Silver City, New Mexico, Surgeon General of National Guards of that State; Mrs. Anna M. Beatty residing with her mother in Port Royal; Millie Beale Milliken who teaches school in Union Hill, N.J.; Thos. I. who died in 1899 in Rockwell City, Iowa; Dr. Louis Burchfield, died in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1905; J. W. Beale, of Douglass, Arizona; Elizabeth Ada (Mrs. C. A. Morton) of Woodcliff-on-Hudson, N.J. and John McKennan who died in infancy. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Only three of the large family of which she was a member survive: two brothers, G. W. Burchfield of Newport News, and B. F. Burchfield, Esq., of Mifflintown, and one sister, Mrs. W. A. K. Neely of Wayne, Nebraska.

She joined the church in her early life and was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church at Academia. She died June 2, 1914 at her home in Port Royal and was laid away beside her husband in the cemetery at Academia, on Friday afternoon, Rev. H. W. Warnshius of the Presbyterian church officiating.

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