Mecosta County MI Archives Biographies.....Milner, Jonathan October 28, 1817 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 April 18, 2009, 1:07 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

JONATHAN MILNER, came to Big Rapids in 1870, and formed an association with 
Col. J.O. Hudnutt and B. M. 

Hanks in the Falcon Planing Mill.  Four years later he sold his interest to 
his partners, and devoted his 

attention exclusively to an apiary which he had gradually been establishing 
near his residence.  The 

seasons proving favorable, his careful and skilled management brought its 
reward, and his apiary soon 

numbered 400 colonies of bees, which he continued to manage, with satisfactory 
success, until 1879.  In 

June of that year he purchased the site of the building where he has since 
carried on his transactions, and 

proceeded to erect a suitable structure for the consummation of his plans.  
The mill is comparitively new, 

is 50 x 130 feet in size, and is fitted with the best modernized machinery for 
turning out first-class 

products in its line.  Mr. Milner is skilled in his business, and carries on 
transactions amounting 

annually to aboout $8,000.  He employs a number of hands, and does planing, 
matching, re-sawing, molding, 

etc.  The peculiar situation of the Eagle Planing Mill is eminently 
advantageous to managing its shipments, 

having a side track of the D.L. & N. railroad on its west side, and a branch 
of the G.R. & I, road on the 

east side of the building.

Mr. Milner was born in Yorkshire, Eng., Oct. 28, 1817.  His parents, Thomas 
and Rebecca (Longhorn) Milner, 

emigrated to the United States in August, 1818, and purchased a farm near New 
Castle, Del.  The son was a 

student at school and his father's farm assistant until he was 16 years old, 
when he went to Wilmington and 

learned the carpenter's trade.  He was married in that city, June 10, 1843, to 
Minerva Daidy.  They had one 

daughter, elizabeth, now deceased.  The mother died in Wilmington, April 6, 
1846.

In the spring of 1850, Mr. Milner came west to Milwaukee, Wis., and was 
engaged by John Lapoint as manager 

of a sash and door factory, and later with Smith McVicker.  Two years 
afterward he remove to Allegan Co., 

MI., where he was interested in lumbering until 1854.  In that year he entered 
the sash and door factory of 

Messrs. Krouse and Kellogg at Kalamazoo, as manager, where he continued until 
he came to Big Rapids.

Mr. Milner formed a second matrimonial relation in Allegan County, Nov. 5, 
1854, with Loretta M., daughter 

of John and Melissa Barnes.  She was born in Orleans Co., N.Y., March 9, 
1831.  They have four children:  

Charles H., eldest son, is a druggist at Big Rapids; George W., second son, is 
in his employ as clerk; 

Thomas J., and Mary E., are the younger children.

Mr. Milner is deeply interested in the educational affairs of Big Rapids, and 
is a member of the Board of 

Education.

We take pleasure in presenting the portrait of Mr. Milner in this work.

Additional Comments:
1883 Portrait & Bio Album of Mecosta Co.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/bios/milner591nbs.txt

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