8

3 children born to this marriage

William Jr, after his marriage he settled on a land grant of 400 acres near New Salem, North Carolina. He crossed the Great Smokey Mountains in 1792 and settled on a tract of land in northwestern Tennessee, near Morriston . The site of his dwelling commanded a view of the Clinch Mountains 10 miles north, and the Great Smokey Mountains 40 miles south. The lands are somewhat hilly, but overlook the fertile valley near at hand. There is a cool spring of limestone water on the east and a stream winds down to mingle with other spring streams on there way to the Great Holston river. From "Posterity of William Millikan" by G. T. Ridlon: William Millikan, second son of William Millikan, was born in Chester Co., PA, as early as 1754, was but four years of age when his parents removed to Rowan Co., NC. He married Aug 10, 1776, Eleanor Smith of Guilford Co., NC., and settled on a grant of 400 acres, not far distant from New Salem, where he was employed as farmer, blacksmith, and land surveyor; and some old "land plats" and "field notes", still in the family, show that he was a scientific man.

He crossed the Great Smokey mountains in 1792 and settled on a tract of land in northwestern Tennessee, near Morristown, and the site of his dwelling commanded a view of the Clinch Mountains ten miles north, and the great Smokey mountains forty miles south. The lands are somewhat hilly, but overlook a fertile valley near at hand. There is a cool spring of limestone water on the east and a rill winds down to mingle with other spring-streams on their way to the great Holston river.

His house was built of large chestnut logs, hewed square, and was on the ground plan 20 x 30 feet, two stories, with a large cellar underneath. There were also two porches of two stories on the north and south sides, and the large chimneys were laid up with limestone rock. A spacious building of one room, used for a kitchen and dining room stood near the principal dwelling. Some parts of this house has stood the wear and tear of time more than a hundred years, and may still be seen.

William Millikan, Jr. remained on his farm until the death of his wife, Feb 5, 1837, but spent his last days in the home of his son-in-law, Jesse Howell, where he died aged 84 years. They were buried in the Economy grave yard not a distant from there home but no inscribed monuments mark their place of rest, only rude natural stones. He was a man of enormous size, not weighing not less than 300 pounds. His eyes were blue, his hair rather light, and his complexion fair and rather florid.

Mr. Millikan was not known to have used the land surveyor's instrument after his settlement in Tennessee, but he had a blacksmith's and gunsmith's shop near his house, where he made farm implements and guns, and did some work as a silversmith. A coin silver sleeve button made by him is now owned by John S. Howell, his grandson. He also owns and uses a large arm chair once owned by this William Millikan. The sturdy posts are of sugar wood, nicely turned, and the rungs of the best hickory, the seat is of split white oak. William and Eleanor had thirteen children.

From the book "Jefferson Co., TN Family & History 1792-1996:

William Millikan Jr, second son of William Sr., removed to Jefferson County, Tennessee in 1792. His wife was Eleanor Smith whom he had married in Guilford County, North Carolina in 1776.

William Jr., was a 300-pound blacksmith. He was also a gunsmith, which seems an odd occupation for a pacifist Quaker. Wife Eleanor died in 1837. William Millikan Jr., died in 1838, age about eighty-four. They both are buried at Economy Cemetery in what is now Morristown.

The children of William Millikan Jr., and Eleanor were as follows: David, Eli, Solomon, Elihu, Alexander, William, Samuel, George, Hannah and Eleanor. William and Eleanor's son Elihu Millikan would become on of Jefferson County's early leaders.