A little over a year ago, one of my Father’s cousins was passing through this area and stopped in to show us a box of old books that had belonged to our ancestors. He said his family members didn’t want the books and would be happy to give them to me. He is related through Arza Clark Millikan (1925-1975) who was the brother of my Grandmother, Margaret Millikan McKinley (1917-2007).

The box contained several early school books that belonged to my Great Grandfathers Alva Boone (1861-1945) & Arza Millikan (1883-1964); as well as my Great Great Grandfather Lewis Elwood Millikan (1855-1949).

In the Forth Grade Reader, there was a fragile 3-page report on the robin, written by Arza. The first paragraph is shown here:

Another item that was in the box with the books was the following program announcing the commencement of the Washington Township, Hamilton County, IN school district. Arza was listed in the program as one of the graduates. He would have been 14, so this was an 8th grade graduation. I don’t know that he went further in school as I have not found a high school graduation record for him.

While we visited, Dad’s cousin would often say “Did you hear the story?…” and start with a question about the family. We had a good visit and talked through many of the family stories. 

He asked “Did you hear the story that we had the old family Bible?” I said I hadn’t & I didn’t know of a family Bible other than the ones I had in my possession. Then reaching the final book in the box, there it was, the old Millikan family Bible! The cover was falling off and many pages were loose.

The title page indicated that the Bible was published in 1849. I wonder if when it was brand new it was given to our ancestor, Clark Millikan (1824-1926) when he married his first wife in 1851? It would have come with the family in the wagon on the trip from North Carolina to Indiana after the Civil War. 

The records pages were lying loose in the front of the Bible. Usually I find them in the center section, between the Testaments. Thankfully they were in pretty good condition and the writing was legible. The handwriting is a pretty close match to Clark Millikan’s.

First the Marriage record page with two entries:  “Clark Millikan to Nancy Adams on 18th of Dec A.D. 1851. Clark Millikan to Lydia Hinshaw on the 4th of Jan A.D. 1855.”

Next, the record of Births:

“Clark Millikan Born April 12th A.D. 1824. Nancy Millikan Wife of Clark Millikan Born 30th of April A.D. 1816. Nancy A. Millikan Daughter of Clark and Nancy Millikan Was Bornd September 30th, 1852. Lydia Millikan Wife of Clark Born 24th of August AD 1833. Louis Elwood Millikan son of Clark and Lydia was Born 10th of October AD 1855. An Infant Born November 19th AD 1857. Flora Ellen Millikan Born June 30th AD 1860. Londa Martisha Millikan Born Oct 2d AD 1862. Martha Alice Millikan Born the 8 mo the 7 A.D. 1864. Anna Florance Millikan Born they 12 mo. the 5th 1869. Lucetty Jane Millikan Born the 12 mo the 19th A.D. 1874.”

A couple of comments on the Births entries—The entries from Clark to Nancy A seem to have been written at the same time. The ink color changes a bit for the next entries. And there is even an entry written in pencil. I wonder if Clark intended to mark Louis’ birth, but realized his mother, Lydia hadn’t been recorded so crossed out the entry to put Lydia first. Also, all other records I have seen have Louis spelled “Lewis.” I have always thought as well that “Londa” was actually “Lunda” Martisha.

Finally, the Death Record:

“Nancy Millikan Wife of Clark Millikan Departed this life October 11th A.D. 1852. An Infant Departed this life December 8th A.D. 1857. Lucetty Jane Millikan daughter of Clark & Lydia Departed this life they 8 mo the 30th 1878.” There were no other entries.

Completing the entries for deaths:  Lydia died Sept. 18, 1917. Flora Ellen died June 2, 1923. Clark died Feb. 1, 1926. Martha Alice died March 13, 1926. Nancy Angeline died April 17, 1926. Anna Florance died Feb. 21, 1945. Londa Martisha died Dec. 14, 1947. Louis Elwood died March 16, 1949.

So there really was a family Bible & Arza Clark’s family did have it. I wouldn’t have known it existed unless that cousin had come by with a box of books. The Bible went back home with him to give to one of his family members.

©MJM 2025