DEATH CAME MONDAY TO OLATHE’S NONEGENARIAN.

Here In May, 1857, and Built First House - Oldest Mason -  Was Last Surviving Charter Member.

Olathe''s nonegenarian and the builder of the first house in Olathe, as well as the husband of the first white woman here and the last survivor among the charter members of the Masonic lodge, was found dead In bed at his home on the Kansas City road, at the edge of Olathe, Monday morning, about five o''clock, by his daughter, Miss Mardie, death having been thought to have occurred probably an hour before as the body was still warm.

Mr. Millikan, lovingly called by everyone, "Uncle Jonathan", came to Olathe in May, 1857. He was a native of Indiana and was born in Monroe county, January 7, 1827, his parents being natives of North Carolina, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Uncle Jonathan was the last of the family Of ten children, eight boys and two girls.

He remained with his parents in Indiana until he was 21 years old, and in 1848 went to Des Moines, la., making the trip of over 400 miles on horse back and alone.

He remained in Iowa three months and returned to Indiana on foot, but In a short time walked back to Des Moines. He then went to Burlington, la., on foot, remained there six weeks, crossed the ice on the Mississippi river and went back to Indiana again, remaining there for the winter. His next expedition was a trip to New Orleans, as an employee on a flat boat. This was in the early 50''s, and after this trip he again went back to his Indiana home then on to Iowa, this time with a team and wagon. In Warren county where a brother resided, they followed teaming for two winters and in the spring of ‘57 he and two others started to Kansas with a team and wagon.

Mr. Millikan reached Olathe in May, ''57 and at that time there were twelve men and one woman here. The young lady had come from the east with her brother, and later she became the wife of Mr. Millikan. She was Miss Emily Whittier of Manchester, New Hampshire, of old New England stock. Her ancestry traced back to English royalty being a fifth cousin of Queen Victoria. Victoria. She was a second cousin of John G. Whittier, the great American poet.

 Mr. Millikan built the first house in Olathe and, although remodeled, It now stands at 109 West Poplar, and is the home of Miss Ada Sykes. When Mr. Millikan came here the old Santa Fe trail was in full operation, the trail passing through his claim which was his home.

Since coming to Kansas he followed farming and stock raising and was very successful, being one of the well-to-do men of the county. Since 1913 he has rented his land.

He was one of the organizers of the Grange and was the first Master of the Olathe lodge, and is the oldest Mason in the county in point of membership, as he was a charter member, and age as well.

 He loved to travel and has made frequent trips to various places throughout the country. He has been to the Pacific coast, and in 1906 went to the Sandwich islands, 2,000 miles from San Francisco.

"Uncle Jonathan" was a man universally loved and respected for his many fine qualities. He was the dean of this community and a grand old gentleman of Johnson county.

The funeral service was held at the Masonic temple Wednesday afternoon at 4: 00 o''clock, in charge of the Masons, of which he was the last charter member. All the honors of the lodge were given as befitted his rank. Rev. L. Martin made a short address.

 Surviving him are his daughter, Miss Mardie, at home, Mrs. I. W. Lyons, Olathe, Mrs. A. A. Troy. Prairie Grove, Ark. and O.W. Whittier, Braddock, Penn.

Olathe Mirror
July 12, 1917
Page 1, Col 1
2^nd Addition, Block 1, Lot 60, N3