Fremont McMillen. After spending his early youth in Champaign County, Fremont McMillen made choice of the various vocations and professions and determined to become a farmer, a business in which he had been thoroughly trained as a youth. He has never had any substantial reasons to regret that early choice, since his years of labor have brought him profitable rewards, the esteem of a large community, and ample means for his family and those dependent upon him. Mr. McMillen has one of the fine farms in Champaign Township on Rural Route No. 3 out of Champaign.
Though a resident of Champaign County most of his life, he was born near Logansport, Indiana, June 15, 1856, a son of William and Rosanna (Henderson) McMillen. His parents were both born in Ohio. In 1859 they came to Champaign County and acquired a farm in section 4 of Champaign Township. Here the parents lived out the rest of their useful and honored lives, and both of them passed away in this county. There were nine children, the first, a daughter, dying in infancy; Franklin and Lucinda are also deceased; Susan lives at Logansport, Indiana, the widow of F. Gotchell; Newton, Isabella and Lucretia are all deceased; Joseph lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, and the ninth and youngest is Fremont.
Mr. Fremont McMillen, after arriving at the age of twenty and after completing his education in the local schools, rented the home farm of 110 acres and continued its active ‘management under his control until 1905. In that year he bought another place of 161 acres in the same section, and now has both farms tinder his ownership and management, including 271 acres. It is all in section 4 of Champaign Township. His efforts have been expended most profitably as a general farmer and in the dairy industry. In 1909 Mr. McMillen erected one of the fine country homes of Champaign County, a two-story residence with every modern facility and equipment.
In June, 1888, he married Miss Laura Curtis. They have three children: Ethel, now deceased; Bessie, wife of William Ehler of Rockwell, Iowa; and Nellie, wife of John Schwengel, who occupies the old McMillen farm. Mr. and Mrs. McMillen are active members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican. Mrs. McMillen has been prominent in the Woman’s Club at Champaign, was registrar of the club and for four years was treasurer of its music and drama department.
Mrs. McMillen is a daughter of George F. and Elizabeth (Barnum) Curtis, her father having been a pioneer in Champaign County. Her mother died December 24, 1914. Mrs. McMillen was the oldest in a family of six children, two of them dying in infancy. Her brother Elmer lives in Champaign Township; her sister Elizabeth is the wife of Professor J. Sammes of the University of Wisconsin faculty; and her brother John W. is a farmer in Champaign Township.