William "Uncle Billy" McMillen
Marriages
Sarah E. W. Packard McMillen - March 18, 1860
at Hockinsport, Ohio
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle County Blade page 3 - February 7, 1901
DEATH OF WILLIAM M'MILLEN.
The Blade is pained to announce that William McMILLEN, the patriot, pioneer and patriarch of Red Cliff, died January 30, after an illness of about a week. Mr. McMILLEN had not been in good health for some time, and succumbed to ailments caused by an old army wound, superinduced by pneumonia.
In the passing away of Mr. McMillen the community and the country loses one of those inspiring characters of a former epoch sometimes consdered too rarely found in these modern times.
William McMILLEN was born September 9, 1831, at Ballymea, Province of Ulster, County of Antrim, Ireland, and hence had passed his 69th birthday. When yet a boy he came alone to the United State, and one to witness his intense patriotism and love of his adopted country would never suspect him of being the native of a foreign country.
Deceased was a wagon and carriage maker by trade, and had lived in New York, Ohio and Kansas, respectively, before coming to Colorado. On March 18, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. W. PACKARD at Hockinsport, Athen county, Ohio.
When the Civil war broke out, Mr. McMILLEN was one of the many young men of the country, who although having established himself in business the prospects of which were bright, and having the endearing ties of domestic life to tempt him to remain at home, yet early felt the call to duty and the patriotic impulse summoning him to the front. So on August 19, 1862, he was enrolled as a private in Company I, 116th Ohio Volunteers. His army record is replete with thrilling adventures, valorous deeds, and many hardships. The army did not prove a holiday for him. His regiment was a part of the Army of the Potomac, which encountered many of the hardest battles of the war. Mr. McMILLEN participated in as many as twenty-eight engagements, and was honorably discharged from the service on June 14, 1865. Eighteen of the engagements in which he took part were noted on his certificate. Among the battles in which he fought were the Battle of Richmond, Bunker Hill, Moorefield, Winchester, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Martinsburg, Cedar Rapids, Fisher's Hill, Hatcher's Run, and the storming of Fort Gregg. Mr. McMILLEN experienced the horrors of the famous Libby prison, having been wounded at Bunker Hill and taken prisoner.
After the war he moved from Ohio to Kansas, and from the latter state to Colorado, having settled in Red Cliff in the summer of 1880 as one of the pioneers, where he had since resided.
The patriotism of this old soldier might well be more generally emulated. It was unswerving and unquestioned. "Uncle Billy," as he was familiarly called, always showed his colors. Every national holiday was commemorated by the hoisting of his country's banner at his residence, and the anniversary of the various battles in which he performed valorous deeds for his country and posterity were likewise observed. No one could speak lightly or disparagingly of his adopted country without arousing his resentment.
Mr. McMILLLEN was deeply reverent, and though sometimes hidden by a rough exterior, within his breast there often surged emotions which could not have been prompted except by a truly gentle and devout nature. His devotion to his adopted country, his family, and his reverence for his Creator, won for him the respect and admiration of all acquaintances.
The funeral occurred on last Friday under the auspices of the G.A.R., Rev. D. L. FLEMING of Leadville conducting them. It was in many ways a military burial and the wishes of the departed patriot could not have been better complied with. The church and bier were draped with the national colors and decorated with beautiful flowers, both truly expressive of the character of the deceased. A large assemblage gathered to pay the last tribute of respect to a departed hero.
The deceased was past chaplain of the local G.A.R. post, and the impressive service which he had so many times repeated with so much feeling and reverence was used at the interment. At the time of his death, Mr. McMILLEN was police magistrate and commissioner of deeds of the Town of Red Cliff, and was in the employ of the government as mail messenger at this place. Mrs. McMILLEN, Mrs. William GREINER, Mrs. G. J. DaLEE, Mrs. Sadie HUNTER and Miss Mamie McMILLEN, four daughters, survive him.
