John Riley McMillen and Mary Azuba “Dottie” Huffman The following pioneer story is extracted from the book: Courage Enough , MonDak Family Histories. Sidney, Richland County, Montana. Bicentennial Edition. Copyright, 1975. USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. Transcriber’s note: Information enclosed by [-] is material I have added for genealogical purposes and clarity. Submitted by Lorene Frigaard JOHN R. and MARY McMILLEN [John Riley McMillen and Mary Azuba “Dottie” Huffman] By Lester McMillen John R. McMillen, his wife Mary A. “Dottie” and two children arrived in the Sidney area in late March 1907 from Edina, Missouri. They traveled to Mondak, by rail bringing their personal belongings, furniture, machinery, two horses, a cow, and Towser, the dog. From there they crossed the Missouri River on the ice just ahead of the spring breakup. That first summer the family lived in a log house on the Bert Betty ranch east of Sidney. Soon a homestead was staked between what was later known as the Girard and Brorson communities, approximately thirteen miles northwest of Sidney. There were no fences then. Logs were cut by the Yellowstone River and hauled to the new homesite. In the spring of 1908 a one-room house with a frame kitchen lean-to was constructed, some farming started, and a garden planted. J. R. had first come to Montana in 1901 and worked for the Anaconda Copper Company, Anaconda, at the age of twenty-two. There he met Mary A. Huffman. They were married September 18, 1902. A son, Lester, was born November 25, 1903. Preferring farming to the unhealthful conditions of smelter work, the family returned to Missouri and farmed there one year, but J. R. yearned to own his own farm the homestead way in the West’s last frontier. Before leaving Missouri a daughter, Ethel, was born October 25, 1906. She is now Mrs. Fred Franz, Sidney. Shortly, most of the land had prospective owners established. Letters to Missouri had brought J. R.’s mother, Cora, and stepfather, J. R. Erickson, and his sister, Hattie, and husband, L. D. Sissel, to file on land. They joined the McMillen farm on the north, Wolf Holmgren was on the east, Ed Pearce to the south, and a cattleman Charley Lovering, joined on the west. Soon other neighbors and families close by were Bill Howard and sons, Ells, Purse and Purny, Hans Nelson, Bert Coon, Gene Ogie, Walter Webb, Charles Gardner, Clyde Kendall, Ira Albin, Harry Norton and Archie Kirkland. To live and stay on the land required the effort of the whole family. J. R. had the complete cooperation of his wife, Dottie. She was an able helpmate, a very good cook, and a loving wife and mother. She also served as a teacher in the absence of a school in that early day. This writer remembers the lessons taught which ranged from the persuasive use of the hand and strap, to pedagogy, and not to be neglected were stories from God’s Word, the Bible, all from a mother who prayed and who feared and loved the Lord. A third child completed the family when Mildred, now Mrs. Earl Johnson of Brorson, was born in the log house February 12, 1910. Through the efforts of Mrs. Mac and her children, a large garden provided for the table and stocked a fruit and storm cellar for winter. Eggs were preserved in waterglass for use when the hens stopped laying because of the cold weather. To supplement the budget, J. R.’s early experience in a meat market came in handy. They made extra money by selling and delivering the butchered product, and poultry was fancy dressed for the holiday trade. At one time J. R. raised and sold registered hogs as far west as the coast. As many as twenty cows were milked in addition to the other farm work. In time the farm size was increased to two and one-half sections. John R. and wife kept up with the times and with world and local events by means of rural telephone, phonograph, radio and daily papers, as they became available. One rule strictly followed was to pay cash or do without for anything that wasn’t a dire necessity. He learned right quick not to co-sign notes, and all his business was done in a business-like way; all of which contributed to the land’s staying in the McMillen family. In 1911, J. R. bought a two-cylinder Maxwell car from Ira Ailing. Of course it had right-hand drive, carbide lights, a squeeze honk horn and no front doors. It was believed he was the first in the rural area to own an automobile. Because of the early death of Mr. McMillen’s father, he received no formal school education beyond the third grade. Consequently he determined that his children should receive at least grade and high school instruction. In the fall of 1912 a two-room house and lot was purchased in Sidney. The first conveyance was a one-horse buggy and grey mare. On Monday morning early Mother Mac drove to town and home on Friday even after school, an example of sacrifices in those early days. A little later the one-room Midway School was established close to the farm home. There the McMillen children completed their grade school and when it was time for high school they stayed in town and “batched.” In the summer of 1943 John R. suffered a severe heart attack and was told he probably would not live longer than six months. An auction was held in due time and Mr. and Mrs. McMillen moved into a home in Sidney, and the farm was taken over by son Lester and his family. Rest and not giving up paid off, and before long J. R. began to be active. He bought and rented eighty acres under irrigation. During the housing shortage of World War II days J. R. bought, repaired and sold houses. He was given high priority on building materials which made this possible, and received letters of commendation from the government for his effort On a vacation trip that took them through Idaho in 1947 the McMillens bought a new home in Caldwell and they, together with their granddaughter, Helen Levno, and J. R.’s mother, Cora Erickson, moved at once. While there he again bought, built, and sold property, making his expenses as he went. Mr. McMillen never took or received any government payments, social security or otherwise, during his lifetime. His mother, Cora Erickson, passed away on November 16, 1954 at the age of ninety-three years. Another pioneer of covered wagon experience and a grand Christian lady, she will be remembered by those who knew her for the good she did in the Sidney area. While in Idaho, J. R. and Dottie took full advantage of the great outdoors they loved so much by camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and collecting rocks. Mrs. McMillen’s health began to fail in the summer of 1957 so they moved back to Sidney. She passed away that fall in November at the age of 76 years. Her children and grandchildren will remember how flowers and soil yielded to her cre. When she sat down it was with needlework or to write letters; her imaginative mind and busy hands created beautiful things from nature; she loved her friends and they loved her. She left beautiful handwork and crafts for her children and their children, and most of all—wonderful memories. Both of these pioneer folks were active in civic and community affairs, with such duties as serving on school boards and acting as 4-H leaders. Five years later at the age of 82 years, “Mac” married Ada Varner on January 2, 1962. They lived happily at their home south of Sidney until his death. J. R. was active to the day he passed away, February 16, 1970, at 90 plus years. ______________________________________________