John Gaw Sr. and Hannah (Sutton) Milliken
Page by Robin Leedy with contributions from Gary Milliken and Bob Leathers
Milliken's Opera House in Old Carbon
John Milliken's Livery Stable and Barn in Hanna
Front Street and other Hanna Buildings (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken, Labeled by Bob Leathers)
John G. Milliken (Image from Robin Leedy, 2016)
John Milliken
For Road Supervisor (District No. 2)
John Milliken, Republican candidate for Road Supervisor in District No. 2, is a resident of Hanna where he has lived for a great many years. He is an expert on road matters and as Road Supervisor made an excellent record.
John Milliken is thoroughly acquainted all over the county and especially in the east end. He is familiar with every road in the county and under his direction the people of the county can be assured that road work will be done properly. John G. Milliken (Image from Robin Leedy, 2016)
(back) Agnes, Margaret, William S, Robert (Swat), Anna, (front) Mary, Dorothy, John (father), Jean, Hannah (mother), John Jr. (Abt 1916) (Image from Robin Leedy, 2016)
John Milliken was born in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland to William and Mary Boyd Milliken. On March 24, 1875, at the age of 21, he arrived in the US where he joined his older brother Robert in the coal mining community of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. After threats from the Molly McGuires, the brothers headed west. John settled in Carbon and older brother Robert continued to Rock Springs.
While in Carbon he met and married Hannah Sutton. Hannah came to the US as a young girl with her parents William and Anne Sutton. The family was from Foleshill, Warwickshire, England.
Hannah and John had 9 children. John was a respected man in the county who owned businesses in Carbon and Hanna. He served as the District 2 Road Supervisor, leading the development of key roads across southern Wyoming. (Robin Leedy, 2016)
John and Hannah Milliken (late 1930's) (Image from Robin Leedy, 2016)
Image and notes from Gary Milliken and Union Pacific Coal Company Employees' Magazine
Hanna, John Milliken Livery, Stable and Barn (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
John Milliken’s Livery Stable and Barn - Image and notes from
Gary Milliken and Union Pacific Coal Company Employees’ Magazine
Scene in front of John Milliken’s Livery Stable and barn which was behind the present-day Community Hall. John Thomas is holding the reins of Mr. Milliken’s prized mule, “Maude,” Willie Jones is to his right, Robert Cummings, and Dennis Cummings to his left. Willie Warburton is in the group, to the left of the picture.
A few years ago, Ben Cook, now of Lakewood, Colorado, told of the Halloween when he and some of the other young men of the town dyed Mr. Milliken’s mule black. They then hid in the hay loft to watch Mr. Milliken’s reaction when he discovered the dastardly deed. Needless to say, the young men were in no hurry to disclose their identities. (Photo courtesy of John and Lucy Thomas) (UPCCEM)
1919
1919: John Milliken Twelve-Horse Hitch Grading Hanna Streets (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
1929
John Milliken of Hanna
One reads of the ghost cities of mineral states and shivers and wonders. But the ghost coal town, old Carbon, of which John Milliken is one of the representatives, is---not a ghost city---but a spirit city living in all its romance and liveness in the hearts of those who made its brief day joyful. And few folks who lived in this early town of the Union pacific Railroad can tell its tale better than he.
Born in Ireland on the 22nd day of February, Mr. Milliken was seventy-six years old on his last birthday. Fifty years ago, he came to Wyoming and to Carbon where he began to work in the coal mines. He was married in Carbon forty-seven years ago to Miss Hannah Sutton.
For years the Milliken's managed the Carbon Opera House and dance hall which only recently tumbled down, the last landmark of the town, for ghost coal towns are usually moved and leave little evidence of themselves on the sage hills. Perhaps that’s why their memories remain so green, their physical presence having disappeared.
Mr. and Mrs. Milliken have seven children; Dorothy, at the State University, Laramie; Jean, teaching in Hanna; Mrs. Mary Peterson and Mrs. Margaret Hill of Ogden; Robert, William, and John, all of Hanna. John Milliken of Hanna. (UPCCEM, June 1929)
John Milliken's Opera House in Old Carbon. 1929. (UPCCEM, June 1929)
1930
Mrs. Hannah Milliken
Mrs. Hannah Sutton Milliken, resident of Hanna and one time Carbonite, was born in Nottinghamshire, England, sixty-six years ago. She came to the United States when she was only fifteen months. Her parents settled in Old Carbon, when she was just a young girl. There she met Mr. John Milliken who was a prospector and had been a member of one of the covered wagon trains on the trip West, before the railway came. They were married when Mrs. Milliken reached her eighteenth birthday.
Mr. And Mrs. Milliken kept the Amusement Hall of Old Carbon, the ruins of which are still known as the “Old Carbon Opera House.” It was here that Mrs. Milliken raised her family of nine children of which three boys, William S., Robert S., and Johnny all reside in Hanna. Five daughters are living to fondly remember a fine mother, Mrs. Oscar Peterson, of Los Angeles; Mrs. A.F. Hill, of Ogden; Mrs. H. Challender of Hanna; Misses Jean and Dorothy of Hanna. Another daughter died some years ago.
Mrs. Milliken has twenty-three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She voted when Wyoming was a Territory.
She is a member of the Methodist Church of Hanna to whose service she is constantly devoted. (UPCCEM, Aug. 1930)
1931
Hanna Old Timer John Milliken (UPCCEM, April 1931)
Old Timer John Milliken
Mr. John Milliken, one of Hanna's best-known Old timers, was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland, February 22, 1854. At the age of twelve years, he began work in the flour and grist mills in Ireland. In 1868 he came with his brother to America locating in Florence, Colorado, where he worked in the Coal Creek mines. Seven years later he came to Rock Springs spending the first night in the depot, where he was soon aroused by the firing of shots. The “firer” proved to be a poor shot and the men aimed at (well known in Rock Springs) made a hasty exit around the old Beckwith & Quinn Store. Mr. Milliken then began work for The Union Pacific at the old Sulphur Spring mine starting as a rope runner. However, in 1876 he went to Carbon and first obtained work shoveling snow which was banked higher than box cars. Soon after, Mr. Milliken began driving a mule in No. 1 mine, the only one operated at that time. This mine drowned out two years later, March 17, 1878. Due to the heavy thaws and early spring the water rose in the mine so that the mine could not be worked until the following fall. Grass six inches high was seen in March that year in Carbon. While the mine was closed Mr. Milliken was employed by Stanley Brothers on their ranch. During this summer occurred the total eclipse of the sun when it became so dark that all work branding cattle had to stop and the chickens went to roost.
Returning to Carbon, Mr. Milliken resumed his work in the mine continuing there until the town was abandoned in 1901, when he moved to Hanna. In 1881 he was married in Carbon and is the father of nine children, six girls and three boys. He now has twenty-three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
In spite of his seventy-seven years Mr. Milliken is as active as many men much younger. His fund of tales of the early days in mining camps brightened by his ready wit make him a most interesting conversationalist, although he admits that he would not dare to tell the truth in all these stories. Such characters as Dutch Charlie, Tom Horn and Big Nose George are realities in his memories and cease to be myths as he relives the old days. (UPCCEM, April 1931)
1934
Milliken Family Reunion (UPCCEM, Aug. 1934)
Milliken Family Holds Reunion
A reunion of the Milliken family was held in the Hanna Community Hall recently which was attended by:
Mr. And Mrs. John Milliken, Sr.
Miss Jean Milliken
Miss Dorothy Milliken
Mr. And Mrs. John Milliken, Jr. And daughter.
Mr. And Mrs. W.S. Milliken and family.
Mr. And Mrs. Robert Milliken and family.
Mr. And Mrs. Harry M. Challender and family.
Mr. And Mrs. C.F. Jebens and family.
Mr. Thomas Hudson.
Mr. And Mrs. Leonard Harris.
Grant Harris, and others. (UPCCEM, August 1934)
Milliken, Hannah
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “1883 - 1955; Mother”
Plot: 432
Born: 1883
Died: 1955
Age: 92 y's
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “1883 - 1955; Mother”
Plot: 432
Born: 1883
Died: 1955
Age: 92 y's
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website)
Milliken, John
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “1854 - 1942; Father”
Plot: 432
Born: Feb. 23, 1854
Died: Mar. 18, 1942
Age: 88 y's, 25 d's
Note: John Milliken of Hanna Passes Away - One of Carbon County’s oldest pioneer residents passed away at his home in Hanna on Wednesday, March 18th. John Milliken was a real pioneer, and reached the age of 88 years at the time of his death. Like many of the pioneers who settled in the United States, Mr. Milliken came from the land of the Shamrock, being born at County Down, Ireland, February 23, 1854, his parents William and Mary Milliken. He came to the United States in the fall of 1874, settling in Carbon, which was a frontier coal-mining town. Having learned to mine coal in his native country, he obtained employment in the Carbon mines, working there for six years. Subsequently he developed several business enterprises, staying there until the abandonment of the coal-mining operations in 1902. Like all early residents of Carbon, he was deeply attached to it, and liked to reminisce with the friends who lived there. After leaving Carbon, Mr. Milliken and his family came to Hanna, where he carried on a transfer, livery, and automobile business; he also engaged in ranching and horse raising in the vicinity of Hanna.
On January 19, 1881, Mr. Milliken was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Sutton, who had moved from Illinois to Carbon. Mr. Milliken is survived by his widow, Mrs. Milliken; three sons, John, Jr., W.S., and Robert S. Milliken, all of Hanna; and five daughters, Mrs. Thomas Hudson, Hanna, Mrs. Henry Cheesbrough, Elk Mountain, Mrs. H.H. Challender, Cheyenne, Mrs. Margaret Hill, Paris, Idaho, and Mrs. Oscar Peterson, Reno, Nevada, and to them our sympathy is extended. Mr. Milliken was a kindly gentleman, and had innumerable friends in Carbon County, who will regret his passing. (UPCCEM, May 1942)
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: “1854 - 1942; Father”
Plot: 432
Born: Feb. 23, 1854
Died: Mar. 18, 1942
Age: 88 y's, 25 d's
Note: John Milliken of Hanna Passes Away - One of Carbon County’s oldest pioneer residents passed away at his home in Hanna on Wednesday, March 18th. John Milliken was a real pioneer, and reached the age of 88 years at the time of his death. Like many of the pioneers who settled in the United States, Mr. Milliken came from the land of the Shamrock, being born at County Down, Ireland, February 23, 1854, his parents William and Mary Milliken. He came to the United States in the fall of 1874, settling in Carbon, which was a frontier coal-mining town. Having learned to mine coal in his native country, he obtained employment in the Carbon mines, working there for six years. Subsequently he developed several business enterprises, staying there until the abandonment of the coal-mining operations in 1902. Like all early residents of Carbon, he was deeply attached to it, and liked to reminisce with the friends who lived there. After leaving Carbon, Mr. Milliken and his family came to Hanna, where he carried on a transfer, livery, and automobile business; he also engaged in ranching and horse raising in the vicinity of Hanna.
On January 19, 1881, Mr. Milliken was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Sutton, who had moved from Illinois to Carbon. Mr. Milliken is survived by his widow, Mrs. Milliken; three sons, John, Jr., W.S., and Robert S. Milliken, all of Hanna; and five daughters, Mrs. Thomas Hudson, Hanna, Mrs. Henry Cheesbrough, Elk Mountain, Mrs. H.H. Challender, Cheyenne, Mrs. Margaret Hill, Paris, Idaho, and Mrs. Oscar Peterson, Reno, Nevada, and to them our sympathy is extended. Mr. Milliken was a kindly gentleman, and had innumerable friends in Carbon County, who will regret his passing. (UPCCEM, May 1942)
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website)