Ada County ID Archives Biographies.....McMillan, Thomas 1865 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 11, 2012, 1:13 am Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher THOMAS McMILLAN, well known in the business circles of Boise as the secretary and treasurer of the Idanha Hotel Company and also as the secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Boise Stone Company, controlling one of the important industrial enterprises of the city, is of Scotch birth, a son of Anthony and Agnes (McFadzen) McMillan, who in the year 1882 came with their family to the new world. Thomas McMillan was at that time a youth of seventeen years, his birth having occurred in Scotland, February 25, 1865. In 1881 an elder son, John McMillan, now prominent in Boise, had crossed the Atlantic. The parents with their other children landed in New York in 1882 and after a few years spent in that state came to Idaho in 1886. They established their home in Elmore county and subsequently removed to Boise, where both the father and mother passed away, the former at the age of eighty-seven years, while the latter had reached the age of seventy-eight. While in the land of hills and heather the father had engaged in sheep raising. He was a representative of the well known McMillan clan of that country. Spending his early youth in Scotland, Thomas McMillan of this review secured a position as a clerk in the Bank of Scotland, Glasgow, but when his parents came to the new world in 1882 he gave up his position and accompanied them across the Atlantic. He did not tarry long in the east but made his way westward to Wyoming, where he became a sheep herder. In 1886 he removed to Idaho and for a quarter of a century was one of the leading sheep men of Boise, becoming president of the McMillan Sheep Company, in which position he remained for many years. He was the founder of that company, which prospered as time passed on, and he finally retired altogether from active connection with the sheep industry in 1917. Indolence and idleness, however, are utterly foreign to his nature and he could not be content without some business interest. At the present time, therefore, he is giving his attention to his duties as secretary and treasurer of the Idanha Hotel Company of Boise and as secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Boise Stone Company. The latter is a big concern of its kind — one of the largest industrial enterprises of the capital, with A. J. Swain as the president and Gus Carlson as vice president. In 1899 Mr. McMillan was one of the builders of the Idanha Hotel and has continued as one of the owners, while for several years past he has been active in the direction and control of the interests of the company. He is likewise a director of the Boise City National Bank. His judgment is sound, his discrimination keen and that his efforts have been wisely directed is indicated in the substantial measure of prosperity which he has attained. Mr. McMillan was married March 16, 1897, to Miss Roxie Corder, who was born and reared in Elmore county, Idaho, a daughter of Obediah Corder, one of the pioneers of that district. They have become the parents of two daughters, Roxie and Irene, both graduates of the Boise high school and now students in the University of California at Berkeley. Mr. McMillan turns to hunting and fishing for recreation. In politics he is a republican where national questions and issues are involved but at local elections supports the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office without considering party ties. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While there have been no spectacular phases in his life, neither have there been any esoteric chapters, his career being that of an energetic business man whose determination and perseverance have enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way steadily upward to success. Additional Comments: Extracted from: IDAHO DELUXE SUPPLEMENT CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/ada/photos/bios/mcmillan40gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/ada/bios/mcmillan40gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb