U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- McMillen, Alcinus Finton (1853-1945) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 869-871, ALCINUS FINTON McMILLEN. The McMillens, or McMillans, as it should be spelled to denote the right descent from Scotch-Irish parentage, were among the early pioneers of Preston county. Robert McMillen, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, arrived about 1790, and patented 500 acres on the river hill near Friendship schoolhouse, in Valley. His cabin stood near the house of William H. Everly. A letter from Robert M. McMillen gives full particulars. He says: "My father, Robert Asbury McMillen, was born at Masontown, Preston county, West Virginia, October 24, 1824, and died at same place October 24, 1874. He was married to Nancy Hartley at Masontown, West Virginia, November 16, 1849. My mother was born at Masontown, West Virginia, December 23, 1826, and died at the same place, October 9, 1901. Their children, five boys and two girls, were: Newton W. McMillen, born August 24, 1850; Alcinus F., born December 4, 1853; Edward W., born November 20, 1856; John L., born August 25, 1859; Robert M., born June 26, 1862; Charlotte Jane, born July 6, 1864; and Emily Bell, born February 16, 1870. "My father and mother were consistent members of the Methodist church. My father was a farmer, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His grandfather, Robert McMillen, came with his father from Ireland to this country when the former was but a child. They settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. This ancestor, Robert McMillen (properly spelled McMillan), fought in the Revolutionary War. His wife, after his death, received a pension for said services. He was one of the first settlers in Preston county. He settled and lived and was buried on what is known as the Everly farm, three and a half miles northeast of Masontown, West Virginia. "My mother's father was Edward Hartley, an Englishman. He was for many years the miller at Masontown, West Virginia, and was buried at that place. "My grandfather, William McMillen, youngest son of Robert, married Sarah Cobun, and settled on the McMillen farm, one mile north of Masontown, where he reared a family and died about fifty years of age." Robert Asbury McMillen was reared and died on the above mentioned McMillen farm, now owned by N. W. and A. F. McMillen. He helped to found and foster the church and other substantial institutions in the district and county. Alcinus Finton McMillen was born at Masontown, West Virginia, December 3, 1853. His education was obtained in the free schools of Masontown and was supplemented by a course of careful training in the State Normal School of Fairmont. Thus equipped, and beginning when twenty years old, Mr. McMillen taught twelve years in the public schools, at Masontown, Reedsville, Kingwood, Rowlesburg, and other places. At the age of thirty-two years he took up the occupation of engineering and surveying. In this profession his work became somewhat extensive. He not only surveyed large blocks of coal and timber lands in Preston and adjoining counties, but also made trips to Virginia, Tennessee and North CaroHna to survey for parties in this county who had timber lands in other states. In all he was a surveyor of lands for Preston county sixteen years and was the first county road surveyor, from 1909 to 1911. March 22, 1887, Mr. McMillen was married to Christie Guseman, of near Reedsville, West Virginia. She was born April 29, 1859, near Dellslow, in Monongalia county. Her father, John W. Guseman, was a descendant of Abraham Guseman, a German emigrant to Baltimore in 1776. John W. Guseman was married to Miss Carrie Snider, daughter of John Snider, of Monongalia county. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. McMillen are as follows: Herbert, born December 25, 1887; Mabel, October 16, 1889; Harry, August 18, 1892; Frank Vincent, January 14, 1899. Herbert is a graduate of West Liberty Normal School and is now a student of West Virginia University at Morgantown. Mabel is a graduate of West Liberty Normal School also, and is now a teacher in the Moundsville public schools. Harry is a student at Fairmont Normal School, and Frank Vincent is in the public schools of Masontown. Mr. McMillen and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is and has been class leader for a number of years. --------------------------------------------------------------------- From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #5907 FULL-NAME: A. F. McMillen BIRTH-DATE: December 4, 1853 BIRTH-PLACE: Preston Co., W.Va. DEATH-DATE: May 6, 1945 DEATH-PLACE: Masontown, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (Christie Guseman McMillen) OCCUPATION: Surveyor and Farmer FATHER: Robert H. McMillen (born in Preston Co., W.Va.) MOTHER: Nancy Hartley (Preston Co., W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Heart Failure / Arterioscerlerotic Vascular Disease INFORMANT: Chas E. Jenkins (of Morgantown, W.Va.) BURIAL: Masontown Cemetery in Masontown, W.Va. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------