In Memoriam.

 

Rev. W. W. McMillan, who on April 26th, at 9 o'clock a.m.,  entered into that rest prepared for those who love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, was born on May 13th, 1827, in Selma, Alabama, from which place his parents removed in 1832 to the state of Illinois, when his mother died, and the next spring his father moved from there to Beech Woods, Ohio, when he too was called away by death, leaving the subject of this sketch, with other children, fatherless and motherless.

 

 He, with a sister and brother, then found a home with an uncle, where he remained until of age, spending these earlier years of his life in the manner common in those days working on the farm in summer and availing himself in winter of such opportunities for obtaining an education as the times and place afforded. However limited these may have been they were sufficient under the influence of the Holy Spirit to create a desire for such educational attainments as could only be obtained where the necessary appliances were to be found. In pursuit of this end he, at his earliest opportunity, entered the University of Indiana, from which he graduated with honor in 1853, having completed the full classical course.

 

He having previous to this time not only consecrated himself to the Lord, but also chosen the work of the ministry as his calling, in obedience to the call of his Master shortly afterwards entered on the study of divinity in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Presbyterian church.

 

On his completing here the full course of study and training he was licensed by authority of the church on the 18th of April, 1859, and began his life work. It is due here to say that in all these years of preparatory toil he was almost, if not wholly, unaided and compelled to sustain himself in the earlier years by hard manual labor and later by teaching, but that in this he came into possession of a practical as well as a theoretical education that in after years was esteemed by him of great value.

 

 After his licensure and beginning the work of preaching the gospel he was in a few months called to the pastoral charge of the R. P. congregation in Baltimore, Md., which he accepted and was duly ordained and installed in this charge in December, 1859.

 

In November, 1859, he was united in marriage to Miss M. A. McMunn, of Sharon, Ohio, of and in whom he realized the truth recorded in Proverbs, 18th chapter and 22nd verse, and that not only in his home life but in his public work as well.

In May, 1863, he resigned and was released from the charge of the Baltimore congregation and in July, 1864, having spent the intervening months in supplying vacant congregations, he came west in the interest of the church as a home missionary, and finding, already at that early period, a few members of the church with their families settled in the eastern part of this county he was led and enabled by the help of the Master whom he served to so care for and cultivate this field that in a short time this little handful of Covenanters had grown sufficiently to be organized as a congregation and to call him to become their settled pastor, which he did in 1866, the congregation being known as that of Pleasant Ridge and Olathe, and the church building which was located five miles east of our city was known as the "Cottonwood church;" here he labored faithfully for some five years, attended with difficulties and burdens of whose gravity and weight few, if any,  except himself and she who walked ever by his side were, or ever will be, able to form any correct estimate.

 

In 1871 the congregation, having grown in numbers and financial strength, erected the church now occupied by them on East Lulu street in our city when he with his family removed from their country home near the "Cottonwood church" to the more comfortable residence builded and prepared by him near the church on Lulu street where the family still reside. Here he continued to labor as stated pastor of the congregation until 1885, when, having resigned charge of the congregation, he again engaged in the work of the missionary, and as he in his devotion to the work of the Master endeavored to imitate Him who said "I must go unto other villages and preach the gospel for therefore am I come” . so he found great pleasure in watering these waste places, and many of them have testified to the value of his faithful, tender and fatherly care.

 

As a man noted for his humility and conscientiousness in his application of the word of the Lord to his life as the only rule it is not strange that his very name came to be a synonym for honesty and uprightness.

 

As a minister of Christ in holy things, he evidenced an intelligent conviction, and vivid comprehension of the true import of his commission; as a preacher of the word, while lacking in oratory, yet for clear, logical and forcible presentation of the truth, he not only excelled but had few equals.

 

As a presbyter he was recognized as one of the most valuable and efficient in the department in which the real work is done, the committee room.

 

 As a pastor he was faithful, tender, watchful and praverful; surely no one can call in question his qualifications nor his success while the Olathe congregation stands, as she does, a living witness to the character and results of his labor under God. The Good Shepherd has stamped his work with the divine approval.

 

As a closing testimony to his inmost heart's desire for the best and highest interests of those among whom he had labored so long; when the time came to deliver to them the last message from his divine Master, as their pastor, he chose as the expression of his own heart's deepest feeling, as well as that of the Holy Spirit, the 4th verse of the 3rd epistle of John, “I have no greater joy than to bear that my children walk in the truth."

 

He has finished his course and rests from his labors with the Lord, whom he delighted to honor.

A Friend.

 

Olathe Mirror

May 9, 1895

Page 7, col 4-5

Rev W. W. McMillan died at his home on east Lulu street last Friday at 9 o'clock a. m. with erysipelas and a complication of diseases. The funeral was held at the R. P. church of which deceased had been pastor for about twenty years, conducted by Bev. G. A. Edgar, assisted by Rev. Dodds of Topeka, Dr. Coulter of Winchester, Kansas, and Dr. Trumbrill of Morning Sun, Iowa, after which the remains were laid to rest in Olathe cemetery. A suitable obituary notice will appear next week.