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Author: Adina_SDyer
Surnames: McMillin, Lofland, Stafford
Classification: obituary
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties...
Message Board Post:
The Islander, pg 3
December 3, 1896
Friday Harbor, Wash.
A GLOWING EULOGY
Eloquent Tribute to the Memory of a Former New Whatcomite
JOHN KING McMILLIN, father of REV. JOHN B. McMILLIN, late pastor of the Trinity M.E.
church of Whatcom, and Hon. JOHN S. McMILLIN, of Roche Harbor, died at Lafayette, Indiana,
November 10. The old gentleman was well known in New Whatcom and so a few extracts from a
beautiful eulogy, delivered by Rev. G.W. Switzer at the funeral will be gratifying to the
many local friends of the departed and the family:
"JOHN KING McMILLIN was born in Tazewell County, Virginia, September 28, 1807. He
began early to show the strong traits of character that marked his after life. He taught
school, traveled and traded and by industry and frugality managed to buy as his first land
400 acres, now known as the Thull and Price land. January 16, 1838, he was married to
SARAH ANN STAFFORD, Newton, Indiana. To them were born eight children.
After his marriage, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church. His membership the
time of his death was with the church of Romney, where he had placed it while staying with
is son-in-law, JOHN LOAFLAND [sic]. His conversion was to him the beginning of a life
whose development was to partake more and more of the spiritual and less and less of the
earthly. This was the hope of his life. It was this that made his sun set in perfect
tranquility. A golden sunset indeed.
While busy with the cares of life, in the prime of his active manhood, he gave himself
without limit of hours to temporal affairs. Though he was a man of exceeding timidity, yet
he would gather his family and all the members of his household together and kneel before
God in supplication and thanksgiving.
Wherever he was, in Indiana, or Illinois, or on the Pacific coast, his face was toward the
rising sun of his immortality. I cannot pay too high a respect to his character as a
citizen. He had in himself the highest qualities of manhood. Physically he was
conspicuous for a splendid body-erect and noble appearing. He stood a head above his
fellows in general, and in his character he seemed to be as large as his physique. His
bearing was not more lofty than his spirit. I wish I could emphasize the beautiful
symmetry that was present in his life. He was a practical example of moral economics.
Such principles put into every man would leave no bartering for sins."
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