Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Millisack, John Wesley 1827 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 9, 2013, 1:15 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JOHN WESLEY MILLISACK John Wesley Millisack is one of the venerable citizens of Wapello county, now living with his daughter Mrs. McCarroll at the age of eighty-seven years. He was one of a large family and was born in Leesville, Carroll county, Ohio, August 4, 1827, his parents being Jacob and Sarah (Holms) Millisack. The father was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1800. His parents were in humble circumstances. The father died when the son was but five years and he was reared by his mother in a home where it was necessary to practice the strictest economy. In early life he was apprenticed to a hatter and learned the trade. After the death of his mother, which occurred when he was nineteen years of age, he removed to what was then the far west, his destination being Indiana. Finally, however, he settled for a short time at Smithfield, Ohio, where he worked at his trade, making his home with a good old Quaker family, where refined and uplifting Christian influences made deep impress upon his life. In 1820 he removed to Leesville, Carroll county, Ohio, where he began business on his own account in the line of his trade in 1821. He was then married to Miss Sarah Holms, who was born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 21, 1700, their wedding being celebrated on the 12th of July, 1821. They lived happily together as husband and wife for sixty-three years and reared a family of ten children. Mrs. Millisack passed away on her eighty-fifth birthday, the 21st of June, 1884. After several years devoted to work at his trade Jacob Millisack turned his attention to merchandising. He made stage trips once or twice a year to Philadelphia to buy goods and in the course of years so capably and successfully did he manage his commercial interests that he amassed a very comfortable competence and retired to a farm near Leesville in 1845. At length, several of his children having come to Iowa, he sold his home in Ohio and removed to this state in 1864. He was one of the pioneers in the anti-slavery movement at Leesville, Ohio, becoming actively identified with that work in 1834. He was also an early advocate of temperance and of woman suffrage, thus taking an advanced stand upon many questions which are still agitating the public thought. At his own home he entertained William Lloyd Garrison, Parker Pittsburg, Wendell Phillips, Stephen and Abby K. Foster, Frederick Douglas and others. He retained his mental faculties unto the last, spoke of his earthly life as at an end and called by name his wife, his eldest daughter and others of the departed ones as present at his bedside to meet him on the shores of the spirit land. He passed away so quietly that there was not a movement of limb, a gasp or change in the expression of the countenance which at all times bore a pleasing composure. He left a request that he be buried cheaply and inexpensively, as the poor are buried, and that the money which might have gone for interment and funeral services be spent upon the poor. The details of his request were carried out by his friend Major A. H. Hamilton, and thus passed on a good man, whose life was ever actuated by high and honorable purposes. Unto him and his wife were born the following named: Martha, Thomas O., John W., Wilbur F., Jeremiah, Isaac, Mary, Jacob C., Phoebe, William P. and Edward S. John Wesley Millisack resided at the place of his birth until he had reached the age of forty-four years, when he came to Wapello county, Iowa. Here he has since made his home, covering a period of forty-three years. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, he worked on the farm and in his father's store until his marriage and then started out upon an independent business career. He has led a busy and useful life and as the result of his industry, careful management and enterprise he has become the owner of valuable property, still owning one hundred and fifty acres of land in Ashland. About two years ago he sold the farm of one hundred and forty-two acres upon which he had long made his home, but he still retains the ownership of one hundred and fifty acres in Washington township, where at one time he owned and cultivated about three hundred acres, all of which was acquired through his own efforts. In 1852 Mr. Millisack was married to Miss Catharine Overholt, who was born in Ohio in 1832 and died in Washington township, this county, April 7, 1909. They became the parents of six children, including Mrs. McCarroll, with whom Mr. Millisack now resides. His fraternal relations are with the Masons, and he holds membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery. He and his people were spiritualists. In politics he is a progressive but for many years supported the republican party. He has held various township offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow citizens, who have ever found him most loyal to the trust reposed in him. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb