Oliver Milligan, 1838

Transcribed by Janet

OLIVER MILLIGAN, residing on a farm in Section 21, Loyal Township, though now practically retired from active. labor, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Nov. 9, 1838.  is parents, John and Mary (McKendry) Milligan, were farming people, and he remained at home with them until he was fifteen years old, in the meanwhile attending school. In 1853 he came alone to the United States, landing in this country after a voyage of 31 days in a sailing vessel. Locating first in Philadelphia, he went from that city to New Jersey, where he had an uncle who was a farmer, and for whom he worked for six months. Afterwards he worked four years on a truck farm in that vicinity, and then, when 20 years old, came to Wisconsin, locating in Jackson County. There he worked one summer on a farm and the next winter in the woods at lumbering. He logged four winters for William B. Price, going on the drive in the spring and on the rafts in summer. Afterwards he worked on the Hewett farm at Neillsville one winter.

In the spring of 1864 Mr. Milligan enlisted at Neillsville, Wis., in Co. G, Fifth Wis. Vol. Inf. The regiment was sent to Virginia and all the next winter lay in front of Petersburg, engaged for the most part in skirmishing, and helping to take Petersburg in the spring. After the surrender of Lee the men were discharged and Mr. Milligan returned to Neillsville, where he again went to work on the Hewett farm. Five years later, on May 21, 1870, he was married to Henrietta Lyons, a native of Hartford, Washington County, Wis., and daughter of Elijah B. and Phoebe (Hager) Lyons, both natives of Paterson, N. J., who came to Loyal Township, this county, at the close of the Civil war, and here remained. After his marriage Mr. Milligan continued to work for James Hewett, being altogether 19 years in his employ.

He then bought forty acres of wild land in Section 29, Loyal Township, clearing a place on which to build a log house and barn. For some time he had to work out in the winter, remaining on his farm in summer. Like the other early settlers in the locality, he had to carry supplies on his back from Neillsville. He bought two cows and a few years later a yoke of oxen. After working for many winters, he was able to spend all his time on his farm and made faster progress. That place was his home and that of his family for thirty-five years, during which time he succeeded in clearing all his land. Mr. Milligan then sold his farm and bought the Chet Stow place of ten acres near the village of Loyal, in Section 21, Loyal Township, and on this he has since resided, no longer doing hard and laborious work, but having enough to attend to about his place to keep him agreeably occupied. He was formerly a stockholder in the North Star Cheese factory. He and his wife are the parents of seven children, whose record in brief is as follows. William married Grace Payne, and is now living in Oregon. John is in Minnesota. Frank married Eva Chadwick and resides in Loyal. Dolly is now Mrs. Dan Castner, of Loyal, and has five children-Glen, Elva, Claude, Alice and Inez. Hugh, who lives in Loyal Township, married Bertha Stoneberg and has one child, Verlin. Fred, who married Ida Bushman, lives in Stanley, Wis., and has two children-Eugene and Lucille. Harold resides at home.