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Author: Adina_SDyer
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Classification: biography
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The San Juan Islander, page 1
July 08, 1905
Friday Harbor, Washington
LIME KING AND POLITICIAN
Sketch of Hon. J. S. McMillin in Puget Sound American.
Was Born on a Farm, Received a College Education and Practiced
Law Several Years-Long Prominent in State Politics
_______________________________________________________
A radical change has come over the Puget Sound American in its attitude toward Hon. John
S. McMillin, of this county. During the political campaign last fall it seemed to take
especial delight in "roasting" the gentleman whom it now extols as "the
lime kings and new railway commissioner." In a recent issue it published a fine
picture of him and in connection with it the following article:
"Of all those who hold political preferment in Washington none is more genial and
unassuming than John S. McMillin, of Roche Harbor, industrial king and member of railway
commission. After a residence of twenty-one years in this state Mr. McMillin find himself
one of the wealthiest men of the commonwealth and looked upon generally as one of the self
made millionaires of the west who have secured their riches from the golden pockets of the
earth.
"Mr. McMillin is a genial personality who by his generosity, good will and honesty
has made a host of friends who are willing to swear by him. Their confidence in his
ability is based uponn his business sagacity and conservative, yet liberal business
views.
"From far and near Mr. McMillin is known as the lime king of the northwest. The fact
is his domain in that respect reaches from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, for the
Tacoma and Roche Harbor Line Company, of which he is and always has been president,
operates the largest line quarry west of the Father of Waters. The daily capacity of the
establishment is 1,500 barrels. Besides this the company sells much lime stone. Mr.
McMillin is also president of the Staveless Barrel Company, whose plant near the quarry
has a daily capacity of 4,000 barrels. In addition he is interested in mercantile and
transportation business in connection with his island holdings and has investments in
Alaska and British Columbia mining companies.
"From early youth Mr. McMillin has been allied with political life and his popularity
in that field is attested by the number of times he has held the chairmanship of and
membership in county, state and national republican committees. Mr. McMillin's
schooling in politics was received in Indiana at a time when everybody was a politician
because it was second nature.
"In his college days Mr. McMillin was noted somewhat as an orator, distinguishing
himself in debates in his home college, the Indiana Ashbury university, now DePauw, and in
an intercollegiate debated. In these debates and his profession of law he acquired an
easy grace and convincing delivery that still clings to him.
"Mr. McMillin was born on a farm at Sugar Grove, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, October
28, 1855. He is of Scotch origin, but his father's family hailed from Virginia.
Until young manhood Mr. McMillin attended the country schools and then entered Ashbury
university. Here he took the classical course, graduating in 1876 with a bachelor of
arts. So favorably was the faculty impressed with his scholarship and oratorical
attainments that he was asked to deliver the master's oration when his class received
the degree of master of arts in 1879, and he accepted the invitation. In 1877 Mr.
McMillin married Miss Louella Hiett. They have two sons, Fred and Paul, and one daughter,
Miss Dorothy.
"In Indiana Mr. McMillin practiced law until April, 1884, when he came to Washington.
He was admitted to the territorial bar but did not practice. He became interested in the
manufacture of lime in the Puyallup valley and later acquired an interest in the Tacoma
Lime Company, a Portland corporation, which operated a plant at what is now the town of
McMillin.
"In his investigations of the lime business Mr. McMillin visited the Roche Harbor
lime deposits and two years after arrival in the territory he took over the property, then
developed in a small way by the Roche Harbor Lime Company, and reorganized and
consolidated the concern into the Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company.
"Mr. McMillin's political activity is shown by the fact that he has been a member
of every territorial, county and state convention of the Republican party since 1888. In
1892 he was selected as one of the presidential electors, receiving the highest vote of
any man on the state ticket. In a number of state conventions he was a member of the
committee on platform and resolutions and was chairman of the state convention at Everett
prior to the McKinley campaign.
"He was also selected as alternate delegate to the national convention at Minneapolis
in 1892, and he was a delegate to the national convention at Chicago in 1904. Also he was
a delegate to the county and state conventions preceding this. As a member of the
notification committee he participated in the ceremony attending the notification to
Roosevelt.
"Mr. McMillin plans to take up his residence soon in Seattle, where will be in closer
touch with commission affairs."
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