Indiana County in 1817

Indiana County in 1817
Indiana County in 1817

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Daniel McMillen and Sons of Armstrong and Indiana Counties, Pennsylvania

Daniel McMillen was born in 1777 and was a son of John and Mary McMillen whose family was discussed in the last blog post. 
A biographical entry for William McMillen in the History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania by Caldwell on page 474 states that Daniel McMillen was a son of John and Mary McMillen.  John McMillen names Daniel McMillen as his executor in his will and Daniel McMillen is a witness for Thomas McMillen's will.  It is believed that Daniel and Thomas McMillen were brothers.  Daniel and Mary McMillen were living in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County in the 1850 census.  Daniel and Mary both died sometime after 1850.

Daniel McMillen married Mary Reynolds, a daughter of John Reynolds, according to the biographical entry for William McMillen.  She was born about 1785.  John Reynolds' will was written on 6 September 1824 and was probated on 8 January 1825 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania (see will book 1, page 122).  His will names his wife Mary and children.  He leaves his daughter, Mary McMillen, $50.  He signs his name John Runnels.

Daniel McMillen and Mary Reynolds had the following children:

1)  William McMillen (1808-1881) married Elizabeth Cessna (1814-1895). His will names 5 children (Indiana County WB 5, page 144-146).  He also had a son Silas according to census records and the biographical entry for him.
2)  John (born about 1814-died after 1880) and Martha Forster (born about 1833) had 10 children according to census records.
3)  Robert Beatty McMillen (1817-1878) married Catharine Helman (born about 1824-25-died before 1878).  Indiana County deeds name 9 children.
4)  Samuel McMillen (1822-1900) married Elizabeth Juart (1831-1919).  His will names 4 children (Indiana County WB 9, page 440.
5)  James McMillen (1825-1905) and Martha A. Powell (1839-1884) had 6 children according to census records and his obituary.

All of Daniel and Mary McMillen's children, except for their son John, moved to Indiana County.  John remained in Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County.  William, Beatty, and Samuel lived in South Mahoning Township, Indiana County.  James lived in Rayne Township, Indiana County and was in Company F, 74th Pennsylvania Volunteers, during the Civil War.

Beatty McMillen and Catharine Helman were my second great grandparents.  More information regarding their family will be given in a future blog post.