OBIT: Rush S. McMILLEN, 1913, New Lexington, Somerset County, PA

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Meyersdale Library.
Transcribed and proofread by: Keith Petenbrink.

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McMillen, Rush S.

  Rush S. McMillen, ex-Sheriff and ex-County Commissioner of Somerset County, 
died at his residence near New Lexington at six o'clock Wednesday morning, after 
an illness of several months duration, aged 68 yrs, 6 months and 5 days. Mr. 
McMillen was born in Upper Turkeyfoot Township. He was the older of two sons of 
the late Jacob R. McMillen who served five years as Associate Judge of Somerset 
County and two years in the Pennsylvania Legislature. His younger brother, John 
J. McMillen, who resides at New Lexington survive him. He is also survived by 
his wife and two children Mrs. W. H. H. Baker, wife of chief clerk of the 
Insurance Department at Harrisburg, and Clinton J. McMillen, who resides on the 
home farm. Mr. McMillen descended from Revolution stock, his great-grandfather, 
Jacob Rush, having been a soldier in the war of Revolution. Mr. McMillen was 
reared on his father's farm and in his youth served an apprenticeship in his 
father's tannery. While yet a young man, he taught several terms of school at 
Terra Alta, W. Va., where he married to Melissa Graham, also a teacher, and 
subsequently returned to New Lexington, where he and his brother together 
acquired from their father the old Luddington Tannery which they operated until 
1887, when Mr. McMillen was elected Sheriff of Somerset County. His term of 
Sheriff was punctuated by some stirring eventualities. It was during his term 
that David and Joseph Nicely, who were executed for the murder of Heeman 
(Herman?) Umberger on April 2, 1891, were incarcerated in the Somerset jail but 
were recaptured after each escape. After his term of office expired Sheriff 
McMillen retired to the old Bluebaugh farm in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, one of 
the most beautiful estates in Somerset County, and which he equipped with new 
buildings and inaugurated many improvements. He made a specialty of the best 
registered cattle, among which the imported Swiss were his most favored strain. 
As a breeder he was successful, and besides, the butter from his dairy won a 
wide reputation. In 1908 Mr. McMillen was elected County Commissioner, from 
which office he retired in January 1912. Mr. McMillen was a man of noble type - 
one of Nature's noblemen. He was the soul of honor, whether in public office, or 
in private life, nothing could swerve him from his duty, as he comprehended it. 
He was a broad scholar, with strong intuitions, a well balanced judgment, and he 
was universally popular. Funeral services (were held?) at New Centerville at 
10:30 a. m. Saturday. Somerset Lodges F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. of which Mr. 
McMillen was a member, conducted the ceremonies in New Centerville Cemetery.

Meyersdale Commercial, June 5, 1913