Jacob H. Milliken
Born: May 27, 1820 in Ohio1 or Pennsylvania2
Died: October 20, 1870 in Jasper Co., Iowa
Buried: Lot 206
Married: Maria(h) Hopton June 25 1845 in Monroe Co., Ohio2
Children: Margaret, William H., Joseph, Edward, Minerva, Ida Belle, and Jacob
Parents: Abraham Stiles and Jane Huffy Milliken2
Of Interest
Jacob Milliken is buried at Metz (Mound Prairie). Jacob H. Milliken, husband of M. Milliken, Oct. 20, 1870. His oldest three children are born in Ohio, the next in Wisconsin, the remainder in Iowa.
Census records give his birthplace as Ohio. His son said they came from Pennsylvania. Warranty deed Nov. 1869 shows he bought land just before he died. Joseph J. Hopton was living with the family in 1870, and again in 1880 when Jacob is no longer there.
The Milliken changed to Milligan somewhere along the way and continues in Baxter and surrounding area and in Nebraska. Source:1
Maria(h)(Hopton) Milligan
Birth: December 4, 1824,Greene Co., Pennsylvania1
Died: November 30, 1881 in Jasper Co., Iowa1
Buried: Lot 206 - no stone
Married: Jacob H. Milliken June 25 1845 in Monroe Co., Ohio2
Children: Margaret, William, Joseph, Edward, Minerva, Ida Belle, and Jacob
Parents: William and Isabel Hasty Hopton3
Family Group Sheet: Jacob and Mariah Milliken
Death Notice
Neighborhood News
[Newton Journal Dec 10] Mrs. Milligan, a widow living three miles west of Newton, died on Tuesday morning of last week. She had been a widow for ten years, raised a family of six children, was universally loved and respected, and her death will be mourned by a multitude of Friends. ~ The Weekly Clipper, Colfax, Iowa, December 3, 1881, page 4, column 4.
Of Interest
Maria's brother, Joseph J. Hopton was born 11 Aug. 1831 in Greene Co., PA. After Maria died, he raised the orphaned children. He died 23 January 1891 and is buried in Newton Union cemetery beside another sister, Rachel, and her husband. Rachel Hopton, born 17 June 1819 in Greene Co., PA married James Z. Smith. She died 15 Feb. 1909 in Jasper Co., IA. Source:1
William H. Milligan
Birth: May 7, 1848 in Monroe Co., Ohio2
Died: May 4, 1912 in Mt. Pleasant, Henry Co., Iowa4
Buried: Lot 206
Married: Estella Cordelia Beals on December 31, 1890 in Baxter, Jasper Co., Iowa2 5
Children: Lorane A., Earl S., Pearl H., Herald E., Carl W.6
Parents: Jacob and Maria (Hopton) Milliken
William Milligan Died at Mount Pleasant Hospital
Wm. Milligan, who was sent to Mt. Pleasant for treatment, two weeks ago, died in the hospital Saturday, the 4th. The immediate cause of his death was a cerebral hemmorrhage. He was sixty-one years old. The funeral will probably be held Tuesday. The interment will be made at Metz. ~ The Newton Journal, May 8, 1912, page 1, column 4
Milligan Dead.
Newton News: William Milligan, who was taken to the Mount Pleasant hospital about a month ago, died there Saturday last at 5 a. m., and his body arrived in Newton today noon. . . . He will be buried at Metz. The deccased (sic-deceased) was about 60 years of age. He leaves a wife and a large family of children. He formerly lived at Ira. March 1, 1912, he moved from the old Matilda Hermsmeier farm near Baxter, where he had been living the past year. It is said that brooding over the fact that he lived in the same house where Matilda Hermsmeier was murdered finally destroyed his mind. When before the commission of insanity here he talked about the mysterious murder and seemed to be constantly thinking about it. He believed the home was haunted and was visited of times by the ghost of the murdered woman. ~ Baxter New Era, Baxter, IA., May 9, 1912. 7
NOTE: The obituary has left out the fact that the cause of William's mental problems was being hit on the head by a large branch falling from a tree. This was a very serious injury and he died about three weeks later. The obituary reports the murder of the former owner of the house as if it were a fact, but this was a delusion caused by his head injury.7
Note: Yes he died in a hospital in Mt. Pleasant. But the reason he was there was about 3 weeks before he died he was cutting down trees and a limb fell and hit him on the head. The local doctor did not know what to do to help. The swelling was getting so bad, and the pain was more than william could bear. He heard voices and thought the house where they lived was haunted but it was not. He died a very painful death as to what we know now was a blood clot in the brain.8
1. Original information on this family came from Jane Sherratt
2. World Connect submitted by Michael Milliken
3. World Connect submitted by Nancy Pray
4. His obituary
5. She married Bert Gibson after death of William
6. 1910 U.S. Census, Independence Twp., Jasper Co., Iowa.
7. Contributed by Richard Kenyon
8. Contributed by Teresa Schweinebart