Andrew Milne (1836 - 1918) and Jane Stringer (1836 - 1922)

Andrew Milne was born 24 Aug 1836 in Dundee, Forfar, Scotland.  He died 17 Sep 1918 in Dysart, Tama County, Iowa, USA. He is buried in Rampton Cemetery, located in Section 9, Monroe Township, Benton County, Iowa, USA.  He was the son of David Milne and Isabella Sampson.  David Milne was born 07 Dec 1797 in Arbroath, Forfar, Scotland, the son of James Milne and Helen Nicoll.  Isabella was born 16 Mar 1795 in Arbroath, the daughter of George Sampson and Isobell Stark. 

Jane Stringer was born 17 Jun 1836 in Caledon,  Ireland (Mullaghmossa Townland); christened on 07 Aug 1836 in Caledon, Ireland (Aghaloo,  County Tyrone, Northern Ireland).  She died in 10 Oct 1922 in Dysart, Tama County, Iowa, USA.  She is buried in Rampton Cemetery, located in Section 9, Monroe Township, Benton County, Iowa, USA.  She was the daughter of John Stringer and Susanna Collins of Caledon, Ireland.

Andrew and Jane were married 15 Nov 1856 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA by Bishop Kelly of St. James Episcopal Church.  They had nine children:
      Sarah M. Milne, b. 1857 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA; d. 1877 Benton County, Iowa, USA.  She married abt. 1875 Daniel B. Scott, b. abt. 1845 in Iowa.  He married secondly 18 Feb 1890 Ellen M. Leat, b. Sep 1867.
+    Susannah A. Milne (1860 - 1949)
+    Isabella Sophia Milne (1862 - 1952)
+    David A. Milne (1864 - 1945)
+    William W. Milne (1866 - aft. 1930)
+    Robert B Milne (1869 - aft. 1930)
+    James M. Milne (1871-1961)
+    George Herman Milne (1875-1964)
+    John Frederich Milne (1875 - 1948)

     David Milne, Andrew's father, was born 07 Dec 1797, christened 17 Dec 1797 in Arbroath, Forfar, Scotland, formerly called Aberbrothick.  He married 1817-1829 Isabella Sampson, who was born and christened on 16 Mar 1795 in Arbroath.  They may have had children during the time 1817-1829, but. if so, those children did not accompany them to the USA.

     David Milne, his wife, Isabella (Sampson), and three sons, David (Aug 1829 - 1910/1920), Andrew and John (abt. 1844 - ?), emigrated to the USA in 1848, and settled in Chicago, Illinois.  He was a sailmaker, according to the immigration record, and business records of Chicago show a David Milne, Sr. and David Milne, Jr. as sailmakers during the time period 1848-1873.  Both David and Isabella died in Chicago, and were buried at the Graceland Cemetery, although no stones are present now.

David Milne and Isabella Sampson (probably married in Dundee) had three children (probably all born in Dundee):
     David Milne (Aug 1829 - 1910/1920)
David Milne married Sarah Jane ---- about 1851 in Chicago.  They had six children 1853-1871: 1) Sarah Isabella (Mar 1853), 2) John (abt. 1854), 3) William Henry (05 Feb 1857, grave in Graceland Cemetery), 4) Robert F. (07 Dec 1862, grave in Graceland Cemetery), 5) Jeannie (abt. 1863), and 6) Minnie E. (20 Jul 1871).  After his brother Andrew's departure to Iowa in 1866, and his parent's deaths in 1870 and 1874, he moved his family to California, appearing in Los Angeles in the 1900 census, and in Contra Costa County (north of Oakland) in 1910.
     Andrew Milne (24 Aug 1836 - 17 Sep 1918) See Above.
     John Milne (abt 1844 - 1850/1860)
John Milne probably died young, as he immigrated with his parents when he was abt. 4 years, but is not in their household in the 1860 census, when he would have been but 16.

Notes for David Milne and Isabella (Sampson) Milne:

1797 Arbroath OPR: Born 7th Dec., Baptized 17th Dec: David Miln, born to James Miln ropemaker and Helen Nicoll - Congregation (church of baptism?).

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957: ship 'Sarah' arr. 8 Jul 1848 from Greenwich Eng:  David Milne (indexed as Melin) 47 sail maker, Isabella Milne 47, David Milne 21, Andrew Milne 12, John Milne 4; 1900 census of son Andrew Milne corroborates that Andrew came to the US in 1848.

Norris's Chicago City Directory 1848-9 (at Chicago Hist. Soc.): Milne, David, sail maker, 79 south Water St. [these are the correct Milnes - the sailmakers - were always in Chicago, not Bloom Twp, where another David Milne located]; Milne, David, Jr., sail maker, 79 south Water St. [this is their first appearance in Chicago - directories go back to 1836]

1852 Chicago City Directory: Milne, David, sail maker, b(usiness) 70 Clark

1860-61 Chicago City Directory: p. 252: Milne, David 298 Hubbard

1866 Edwards Directory: p. 670: 2 David Milnes

1866-7: p. 652 Milne, David

1867-8: p. 683 two David Milnes

1867: two David Milnes, both sail makers, both work at Gilbert, Hubbard & Co.; Hubbard, Gilbert & Co: 205&207 S. Water [on the corner of Wells & Water; Water is now Wacker St.]

1870-71 Edwards Directory: Milne, David sail maker 861 Fullerton; Milne, David, Jr. sail maker 861 Fullerton; Milne, John teamster 861 Fullerton; Milne, John (Neagle & Milne) 341 S. Morgan; Milne, Robert foreman AH Blackall 16 Cass; Milne, William sailor 54 Wesson

1871 Merchants Chicago Census Report: Milne, David, foreman Gilbert, Hubbard & Co., residence 861 Fullerton, 3 males, 4 females, 7 total born Scotland (note: David Sr not seen from 1871 on, retired at age 73, died at 77)

1873 Edwards Directory. p. 677: Milne, David sail maker 929 W. Lake; Milne, John A. plumber 929 W. Lake; Milne, William H. plumber 929 W. Lake; p. 499 has ad for Gilbert Hubbard & Co.

1874-5 Lakeside Directory: Milne, David foreman Gilbert Hubbard & Co. r(esidence) 929 W. Lake; Milne, Henry plumber bds 929 W. Lake; Milne, John plumber bds 929 W. Lake

1882 Lakeside Directory: Milne, David foreman 208 S. Water, house 69 N. Leavitt

1870 census, 8th ward, Chicago, Cook Co., IL, Ancestry.com p. 345 of 576 (1727/2862): Willen, David 68 Scot. occ. is "AH" he is listed as a citizen of the US, and Isabella 71 Scot. [this is the right one]

Chicago Times, June 25, 1874 (microfilm at the Chicago Hist. Soc.): Died, David Milne, Snr., native of Albroth [Arbroath?], Scotland, June 24, aged 77 years. Funeral will take place at 2 P.M., June 25, at 852 West 12th st. Friends are invited to attend. [12th street is now Roosevelt Ave., and 852 is a baseball field on the campus of the Univ. of Illinois, Chicago].

Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, IL: lot N1/2 36 section P: Purchased 10/19/1870 by Alfred Michel & David Milne Sr & Jr. (3/23/21 affadavid shows sole heir of Alfred Michel is Henrietta C. Gillespie Wersen).
10-19-1870 Isabella Milne 74yrs d. 10/14/1870
11-20-1870 Robert Milne (scarlet fever) 7yrs d. 12/7/1862
6-26-1874 David Milne Jr. [sic - actually Sr.] 76yrs d. 6/24/1874
1-7-1885 Cora B. Milne 25days d. 1/7/1885
2-13-1886 Wm H. Milne 29yrs 6 days d. 2/11/1886
2-24-1886 Mary Ann Michael 20yrs 10mo 6days d. 2/22/1886
4-3-1890 Alfred Michael 31yrs d. 6/23/1889
5-23-1904 Henrietta Conrad 72yrs d. 5/21/1904
3-2-1866 Alice Mary Michael 15 days d. 3/1/1886
3-29-1921 Michael Gillespie 55yrs 8mo 27days d. 2/14/1921
1-11-1943 Henrietta Gillespie Wersen 73yrs d. 1/8/1943
[gravesite is devoid of stones, except for an extremely weathered obelisk for Maria Michael d. 2-22-1886]

 

 

Notes for Andrew Milne:

According to a biography published in the 1970's, "On Nov. 15, 1856, Andrew and Jane were united in marriage by Bishop Kelly of the Chicago Episcopal Church. " [St. James Episcopal Church, 65 Huron St., Chicago, IL is six blocks from 79 Water St., where his father and brother David worked as sailmakers.

1860 census, Bloom Tnshp, Cook Co., IL (Dyer Station), film 0,803,169 p. 98: Andrew Mellon 21 Scotland; Jane 23 Scotland; Sarah 3 Scotland & John Muray 17 farm laborer Scotland. (next to David Mellon, farmer).

1870 census, Monroe Tnshp, Benton Co., IA (Luzerne): Milne, Andrew 34 farmer 1650/515 Scotland; Jane 34 Ireland; Sarah 12 IL; Susannah 9 IL; Isabelle 7 IL; David 6 IL; William 4 IL; Robert 1 IA.

History of Benton Co., IA, Western Historical Co., Chicago, 1876, p. 595: "Milne, A., far., S. 3; P.O. Dysart."

1880 census, Benton Co., IA, film 1,254,327: Monroe Twp, 2/35/15/37: Milne (indexed as Milene), Andrew 45 farmer Scotland faScotland moScotland; Jane 44 wife Ireland faIreland moIreland; Susan 19 dau. school teacher IL; Isabella 17 IL; David 16 IL; William 14 IL; Robert 11 IA; James 8 IA; Herman 5 IA; Frederick 5 IA. Next door, William Boyd as a boarder 23.

1895 Iowa census, Benton Co.: Milne, Andrew 58 married Scotland Presbyterian; Jane 57 married Ireland, Church of England; Geo. & John Milne twins 19 Benton Co.

1900 census, Monroe Tnshp, Benton Co., IA: Milne, Andrew Aug 1836 63 44 yrs married Scot Scot Scot came to US 1848; Jane Sep 1835 64 10 ch 8 living Ire Ire Ire came to US 1849; children: Herman Jan 1875; John Jan 1875. (next to James M. Milne)

1910 census, Benton Co., IA; Monroe Twp: #27; Milne, Andrew 73 married 53 yrs; Scot Scot Scot came to US in 1849; Jane 73 10 ch 8 living Ire Ire Ire came to US in 1849; Herman (son) 35 IA Scot Ire.

1915 Iowas Census, Benton Co. (card): Milne, Andrew 78 Monroe TNSHP; Scotland Scotland Scotland married 67 years in US 50 years in IA

Article in the Dysart newspaper historical edition:
"Andrew Milnes Early Settlers of Dysart Area
     Andrew Milne, son of David and Isabelle Milne, was born in Dundee, Scotland on Aug 24, 1836. When he was 12 years old, his parents brought him (with his brother and two sisters) to America, where they settled in Chicago, Ill. His wife, Jane Stringer Milne, daughter of John and Susannah Stringer, was born June 17, 1838 in Collanden, Tyrone County, Ireland (near Belfast). When she was 10 years old, she came with her parents to America, residing temporarily in Brooklyn, New York, going on the following year to make their home in Chicago, Illinois also.
     Andrew was a cooper by trade. He made and repaired wooded barrels which the government purchased to transport salt pork to the army during the Civil War. Jane was an excellent seamstress, whose services were much in demand in the city. On Nov. 15, 1856, Andrew and Jane were united in marriage by Bishop Kelly of the Chicago Episcopal Church. They began married life on a farm in Bloom township, Cook County, Illinois which place is now covered by the city of Chicago Heights. Naturalization papers show that Andrew appeared in Circuit Court in Cook County to renounce his allegiance to Queen Victoria; and on June 23, 1860, he became a citizen of the United States.
     In the fall of 1866, the Milnes with their five children, came by covered wagon and oxen team to make their home in Monroe township, Benton County, Iowa. During the first winter, the family remained with other pioneers in the Vinton settlement, while Andrew cleared the land and broke the sod with walking plow and oxen. He cut wood for hire in the area to support his family, and when the weather was fit, he built a home and farm buildings (including a blacksmith shop) on his 80 acre homestead. He was assisted by relatives, the Ramptons and Boyds, who had earlier settled in the Benton-Tama area. His only brother, John, continued on to locate in California.
     Andrew gradually accumulated land in Benton and Tama counties, some of which is presently owned by grandchildren of the couple. In the early days Andrew supervised his holdings by means of a two-wheeled cart and large work horse, which in later years he exchanged for a shining buggy and fast stepping riding horse. He was an active member of the Dysart Ascalon Masonic Lodge No. 393 AF&AM. On November 1, 1915, they moved to West Wilson Street in Dysart, Iowa to make their home. The following year "MOTOR AGE MAGAZINE" carried a photo of Andrew, now past 80 years of age, driving his first car: a little black Overland Roadster.
     Nine children were born to this union: Sarah Scott, 1857; Susannah Zwilling, 1860; Isabella S. Vaubel, 1862; David A. 1864; William W., 1866; Robert B., 1869; James M., 1872; and the twins, George Herman and John Frederich, 1875.
     On Sept. 17, 1918, Andrew Milne was laid to rest among his relatives in Rampton Cemetery, Monroe township, three and one-half miles northeast of Dysart, Iowa. He was preceded by his parents, one brother and two sisters. His wife, Jane, then moved next door to make her home with her daughter, Mrs. Isabella Vabel. On Oct. 10, 1922, Jane's five sons and son-in-law, Charles Vaubel, carried her to rest beside her husband. Her one son, Frederich, was seriously ill with typhoid fever and was unable to be present.
     The last surviving member of the immediate family, George Herman Milne, made a gift of land north of Dysart for the express purpose of providing a playground for children, a picnic area and golf course for the Dysart community. He was laid to rest in the Dysart Cemetery, southwest of town on August 27, 1864."

Photographs

  Left, Andrew's brother, David Milne (b. Aug. 1829) c. 1884 Cabinet card, marked 'Isabell Milne Vaubel's uncle John or David Milne'.  The photographer is Robinson, 631 W. Lake St., Chicago. Right, Sarah Jane ----, David's wife, probably taken at the same time.  The photographer's imprint is also Robinson, 631 W. Lake St.

  Andrew Milne (b. 1836) Left, a snapshot c. 1915 of Andrew behind the wheel of his black Overland Roadster, which photo was featured in the magazine "Motor Age" in 1916.  Right a snapshot marked ''Lyle's [Vaubel] grandfather, Andrew Milne at Herman Milne farm visiting with Hank Fullgraff, who was a hired man, taken about 1917'

  Above: Threshing scene, a 5x7 albumin print, c. 1890.  This photo was one of a group of Milne and Vaubel photos.  Andrew Milne may be the full-bearded gent sitting in the wagon (see detail at left.

  Possibly Jane Stringer, c. 1885.  This cabinet card is unmarked, except for the photographer, Garns & Co., Philadephia, PA., but this woman bears a strong resemblance to Isabella and Susannah and Susannah Milne, daughters of Jane Stringer. She appears to be 35-45. Therefore, she could have been born 1840ish. She could be Jane Stringer, the mother of Isabella and Susannah, thus the resemblance. Jane had a brother, William, who lived in southern New Jersey, and the nearest large city would be Philadelphia. Perhaps this was taken on a trip to see him and his family, but there is no evidence she ever left IA.
 

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