Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Robert Mill

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Descendants of Robert Mill

Generation No. 1

1. ROBERT² MILL (ROBERT¹ MILNE)^1,^2,^3,⁴ was born 1 November 1803 in Scotland, and died 29 December 1886 in Spangle, Washington. He married (1) MARGARET MCGREGOR 7 December 1834 in Strathdon, Aberdeen, Scotland ⁵. She was born in Scotland, and died 1846 in Ohio. He married (2) ELIZABETH REITHER 20 August 1850 in Wood County, Ohio. She was born 1823 in Prussia, Germany, and died 1888 in Wood County, Ohio.

Notes for ROBERT MILL:
Robert Mill or Milne

Robert Mill and his descendants varied the spelling of their last name from Mill to Milne, Miln, Mills or Mell. The original surname was likely the Scottish name Milne.
According to Scottish heraldry, the Milne family was a Sept or member of the Scottish Clan Gordon. The Gordons moved up to Aberdeen shire from the Lowlands when Robert the Bruce granted lands in Strathbogie to Sir Adam, Lord of Gordon. In 1794 the regiment the Gordons was created with aid from Jane, Duchess of Gordon. The Gordons received many titles including Earl of Huntly in 1149, a marquessate in 1599 and a dukedom in 1684. These titles were passed to Earl of Aboyne and estates passed to the Duke of Richmond, who was later to be Duke of Gordon. The Gordons of Methlic were given the lands of Haddo in 1533 and in 1642 Sir John was made baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles. Further titles were acquired by Sir George, President of the Court of Session, who received the Earldom of Aberdeen in 1682, and the 7th Earl and 1st Marquess, Sir John was Governor-General of Canada and later became Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The Gordons of Kircudbright originated from the Border Gordons and were fierce allies and champions of the Stuarts. They acquired the lands of Lochinvar and Kenmure. The 6th Viscount Kenmure and Lord Lochinvar was executed after the 1715 Rising and the Gordons lost the estates.
Robert Mill was probably born near Saint Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland. This is the location of his christening on 30 November 1805. He married Margaret McGregor (or spelled "McGrgior") on 7 December 1834 in Strathdon, Aberdeen shire, Scotland. Robert and his wife migrated to the United States, arriving in New York on 9 August 1836 abord the Ship Arkwright, sailing from Amsterdam, The Neder lands. They settled first in Ohio. Another account of the Mill Family History it says he came to America in 1837 and which also says he was a ditch digger possibly in Edinburgh, Scotland. This Mill family history written by Laura Mill Helmer, as told to her by her father, Roy Richmond Mill. The other Mill family history account written by Robert Mill's son, William Mills, states that Robert Mill came to America in 1836, he was a weaver in Scotland and farmer in America.
Robert Mill's wife Margaret may have also been called Jean. That is what her grandson, George Marion Wilson, called her in his handwritten genealogy of his ancestors. Robert Mill lived in Richland County, Ohio. The family later moved in 1838 to near Boling Green, Ohio at the Scottish community called Scotch Ridge. It was here that he and his wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Robert Mill is listed among the charter members of the church when it was organized in 1841. His wife was included "and wives". His name was listed as spelling "Milk". Margaret died in Ohio probably in 1846 after bearing three children to Robert Mill. The names of their children are John Mill, Mary Jane Mills and William (Billy) Mills. The only burial grounds then were the Loomis family's area and John Muir's, described in Beers as lying a quarter of a mile west of Scotch Ridge cemetery (in 1880s). A "Miss Mell" is listed as one of those buried there.
Robert Mill's second wife, Elizabeth Reither McAvoy, was born in Prussia, Germany in 1823. They were married 20 august, 1850 in Wood County, Ohio. Elizabeth's first husband, Paul McAvoy died 1 January 1845. Robert Mill had by his second wife, Elizabeth, only one child named George Mill. George Mill/Mell was born on the 23rd of December 1851 in Wood County, Ohio. Elizabeth changed the spelling of her son George Mill to the last name Mell, then gave him to a minister to raise. We don't know the name of the family that raised George. There are no records of Robert Mill owning property in Ohio. Marjorie Mill, who is the great granddaughter of George Mell, and lives in Toledo, Ohio, has searched high and low in Wood County for land records for Robert Mill with no success. The 1850 Ohio Census is recorded: Robert Mill (spelling- Miln), wife Elizabeth, son John, daughter Jane, son William and a Mary age 4 years. The census was for Webster Township, Wood County, dated 25 September 1850. Robert Mill filed an intention of becoming a United States Citizen on 1 Sep 1851 in Wood County, Ohio. He separated from his second wife after a misunderstanding, giving her all of their property.
In 1852 Robert Mill and his son John along with the George Kelloggs emigrated by way of wagon train to Oregon. Robert Mill initially settled and worked on a farm in the Sellwood area near Portland, Oregon. Robert then later filed for a Donation Land Claim and settled on a claim near what is now the town of Damascus, Clackamas County Oregon. Robert Mill gained his U. S. Citizenship, which was awarded to him on 5 Mar 1860 in Clackamas County, Oregon.
Robert Mill's oldest son John traveled in 1852 to Oregon over the Plains, and via Jacksonville, Oregon, arriving in Milwaukie, Oregon on 10 January 1853.
Robert and his son, John, came by different trains. It was probably in 1852 or 1853, since John drove one of the wagons in his train after the journey was under way. One of the men in his train became involved with another woman, who was married. While on a supposed hunting trip the man murdered the woman's husband. The wagon master backtracked and found the husband's body; a trial was held and the murderer was convicted and hung from the upraised tongues of two wagons. John was given the job of driving the woman's wagon on to Oregon. The trip was by way of California and John was under the supervision of Benjamin Brown to Milwaukie, Oregon because he had known the Kellogg family before they left in 1848. The journey was so long and John had grown so much that by the time Robert was reunited with his son, he didn't recognize him.
Robert Mill's daughter Mary Jane Mills and his son William Mills later traveled from Ohio to be reunited with their father in Oregon. Together Mary Jane and William started out from Ohio on 1 February 1857, traveling by way of ocean ship, the Isthmus of Panama and then on the ship Golden Gate. They arrived in Oregon in 1857.
Mary Jane Mills married William C. Wilson in Portland in 1858.
Robert Mill lived with his sons John Mill and William Mills on Robert's land claim in Clackamas County from about 1860.
Robert Mill's daughter, Mary Jane, along with her husband, William C. Wilson, obtained land next to Robert Mill's land, on which they lived from about 1864 until 1871.
William Mills in 1865 married Annlisa Wilson. Annlisa was also the sister of William C. Wilson who had married William Mills' sister, Mary Jane Mills. William and Annlisa Mills then moved to and lived in Bay Center, Washington. William there became a prominent oysterman, farmer and merchant.
Mary Jane Mills and her husband, William C. Wilson, moved to East Portland and later to a farm near Roseburg, Oregon.
Robert Mill then moved about 1876 with his oldest son John and his family to near Pilot Rock, Oregon where John Mill worked for Henry Sturdeman, hauling freight from the Umitilla Landing on the Columbia River. John and Emma's two oldest sons, Roy Richmond Mill and Boone Emanuel Mill were born at Pilot Rock and there they lived until about 1880.
Robert lived with his son John and his family for a short period of time in Klickitat County, Washington.
In 1880 Robert Mill again moved with his son John and his family to near Spangle, Washington. There they secured farmland, and Robert Mill here spent the remainder of his life. Descendants of Robert and John Mill still live and farm the land in this area.
In 1872 John Mill, Robert Mill's oldest son, first came to the Cheney-Spangle area with several other men to look the country over. They traveled by horseback and were lost for several days in the Sprague Lake area. They finally found their way out and camped near what is now the George place. In the fall of 1880 the family loaded their possessions a covered wagon and came to make their home. That first winter they lived in a dugout covered by the canvas of the covered wagon. When they traveled from Oregon, they traveled on the roadbed of the Northern Pacific railroad, on which the ties and rails had not yet been laid. Robert Mill came with them riding a white horse and herding several head of loose stock. At the time he was 77 years old.
John Mill had known Mr. Lee L. Lewis (father of Walker Lewis) in Oregon who had settled here previously and he helped the family locate. The place they chose had already been homesteaded, and John bought out the owner, whose name is unknown. He got the North East one quarter of Section 34. There was a frame house about 16 by 20 on this place, which had an upstairs loft. Robert Mill took up a homestead on the adjoining North one quarter of Section 34, (80 acres). He subsequently gave this 80 to his daughter-in-law, Emma, after he had proved up on it, because she had always been so good to him.
Vance Reynolds (Bud Reynolds father) and the Keatons came with 8 teams of oxen and they moved the house so that it set on the line adjoining the two pieces of property. They mired down in the mud, and later John and Emma cut long poles and pried the house around so they got it lined up properly. They then built an addition on Robert's side of the property for him to live in, so he would be living on his claim and thus fulfill the legal requirements for proving up on his claim. Jack Butler built a double fireplace so that there was a fireplace in each living quarter for the children. When Robert Mill became ill he was moved into the other side of the cabin and quilts were hung up around the bed for privacy. He passed away on December 29, 1886 at the age of 83. Jesse Jones came and prepared the body for burial. Neighbors gathered and Mrs. McDowell (Ralph McDowell's mother) said the prayers for the dead, and he was buried in the Spangle cemetery, in Lot #44. In the summer Rev. J.S. Rhodes of Colfax came to Spangle and conducted a memorial service before a large crowd.
Robert Mill was a devout religious man and a true Scotsman. His brogue was so pronounced he was difficult to understand. He spent many hours reading the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, with the tears rolling down his cheeks.

Notes for MARGARET MCGREGOR:
George M. Wilson, Margeret Mc Gregor's grandson, wrote that his grandmother, first name was Jean.
Marriage Source information:
Robert Milne Parish of Leigh & Margret McGrigor Tillyduke were this day regularly proclaimed for the
first-second-& third time.

From the Family History Center, Scottish Church Records, Individual Search:
Margt. MCGRIGOR
Spouse: Robert MILNE
Marriage
7 Dec. 1834

Additional information Frame 831

Source information
Extracted marriage from record for:
Strathdon, Aberdeen, Scotland
Usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.
Batch number: M112406

Children of ROBERT MILL and MARGARET MCGREGOR are:

2.	i.	JOHN³ MILL, b. 7 July 1837, Richland, County, Ohio; d. 11 October 1912, Spangle, Washington.
3.	ii.	MARY JANE MILLS, b. 29 June 1840, Wood County, Ohio; d. 6 February 1910, Melrose, Oregon.
4.	iii.	WILLIAM MILLS, b. 8 May 1843, Wood County, Ohio; d. 16 June 1915, Vancouver, Washington.

Child of ROBERT MILL and ELIZABETH REITHER is:

iv.

GEORGE³ MELL, b. 29 December 1852, Wood County, Ohio; d. 4 April 1927, Carleton, Michigan.

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