Lynn B. Millikan

Name: Lynn Boyd Millikan Birth: 20 Mar 1860 - New Castle, Henry county, Indiana, Death: 1 Aug 1940 - Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana buried AUG 3,1940 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana son of Eli B Millikan and Margaret C. Martindale

married 9 Dec 1891 - Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana Madora Maude Pierson Birth 8 OCT 1869 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana Death 14 AUG 1940 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana buried AUG 26,1940 Crown Hill Cemetery Indianapolis Marion County Indiana daughter of John C. Pierson and Martha Jane Fowler They had:

James Millikan

In according recognition to those who have contributed to the upbuilding of Greater Indianapolis there is special consistency in offering record concerning the life and labors of this well known and honored citizen, who holds position of distinctive precedence as a building contractor and who was done a large and important work in the erection of many of the finest residences and most modern business buildings in the capital city, where he has a position of leadership in his chosen sphere of enterprise.

Mr. Millikan is a native son of the Hoosier commonwealth, having been born at New Castle, Henry county, Indiana, on the 20th of March 1860, and being a son of Eli B. and Margaret C. (Martindale) Millikan, the former of whom was born in Tennessee and the later in Indiana. The father came to Indiana when young and after his marriage he built up an extensive business as a buyer of live stock, which he sold to a meat-packing concern at Cambridge City, this state. Later he located on a farm in Liberty Township, Henry County, where he developed a fine property, and he there continued to be actively identified with agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1883, at the age of sixty-nine years. He was one of the honored and influential citizens of his community was a stanch Democrat in politics, was identified with the lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity at New Castle, and both her and his wife held membership in the Christian Church. Mrs. Millikan survived her honored husband by more than a decade, having been summoned to the life eternal in 1894, at the age of seventy years. Of the five sons of this marriage the subject of this review was the fourth in order of birth, and of the number living.

Lynn B. Millikan was reared to manhood on the homestead farm, to whose work he early began to contribute his quota of assistance, and in the meanwhile availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of his native county. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home farm until he had attained to his legal majority and he then served an apprenticeship of one year and the carpenter’s trade, at New Castle.

In 1882 he came to Indianapolis, where he continued his apprenticeship during the ensuing two years, at the expiration of which, in 1884, he engaged in contracting and building on his own responsibility. His filial devotion was significantly manifested at this time, as he built for himself a modest home and brought his loved and widowed mother to the same. She continued to reside with him during the remainder of her life, and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gracious and gentle influence.

During the first twelve years of his independent operations Mr. Millikan gave his attention principally to the building of houses and then selling the properties thus improved. He disposed of the first house thus erected for $1,100, and it is worthy of record that the last residence which he has built and sold commanded a price of $35,000.

In the exclusive and attractive residence district between Sixteenth and Twenty-fifth streets on Meridian street Mr. Millikan erected sixteen fine houses, and the most of these were sold to person who have established their homes in Indianapolis since 1895.

As a general contractor and builder Mr. Millikan was brought his abilities and energies into most effective play, and he is recognized as one of the most extensive and successful contractors of the city.

In 1906-7 he did more than one million dollars worth of business, and his reputation and work in his chosen vocation far transcends local limitations, as he had not only held large and important contracts in the capital city, but he has also erected many buildings in other cities of the state and has carried out large building contracts for the New York Central Railroad Company in the cities of Buffalo and Albany, New York.

His energy, ambition and initiative power have been the elements through which he has achieved so large a measure of success and prestige, and he has been in the most significant since the architect of his own fortunes, as he came to Indianapolis with financial resources represented in the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars, which he had earned by work on the farm. He is known as a progressive, reliable and honorable business man and as a loyal and public-spirited citizen, takingdeep interest in all that touches the material and civic welfare of his home city.

In addition to residences of the best modern type, including a number erected at great cost, Mr. Millikan has built a large number of the most substantial and modern factory and business buildings in Indianapolis. His own residence, at 1723 North Meridian street, is one of the magnificent homes of that beautiful section of the city.

In politics, while never an aspirant for the honors or emoluments of public office, Mr. Millikan accords a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, and both he and his wife hold membership in the First Baptist Church. He is affiliated with Mystic Tie Lodge No. 398, Free and Accepted Masons; Keystone Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons, and Raper Commandry No. 1, Knights Templar, and the Shrine, besides which he is identified with various civic and social organizations of representative character.

On the 9th of December, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Millikan to Miss Madora Maud Pierson, who is a daughter of John C. and Martha Jane (Fowler) Pierson, both of whom were born and reared in Indiana, being representatives of honored pioneer families of this state. They still maintain their home at 221- N. Meridian street, in Indianapolis, where Mr. Pierson has long been a successful contractor and builder.

Mr. and Mrs. Millikan have one child, - Gaylord Barton. - History of Greater Indianapolis (1910 Lewis publishing company) By Jacob Piatt Dunnpg. 978-9

Lynn B. Millikan came to Indianapolis about thirty-five years ago with a modest capital of $150m representing his earnings and savings chiefly as a farm hand. Some twenty years later his business as a general contractor and builder had reached such proportions as to involved an annual total of $1,000,000 or more. While Indianapolis has been his home during all these years Mr. Millikan's operations have extended over many state, both East and West, and he has attained an undoubted leadership in the building profession in Indiana

This is his native state. He was born at New Castle, Henry county, March 20, 1860, fourth among the five sons of Eli B. and Margaret C. (Martindale) Millikan. His father was a native of Tennessee and his mother of Indiana. Eli Millikan came to Indiana in young manhood and in subsequent years built up a large business as a buyer of livestock representing a meat packing concern at Cambridge City, Indiana. He finally developed a large farm in Liberty Township of Henry County, and was a practical agriculturist until his death in 1883, at the age of sixty-nine. He was a staunch democrat, a man of more than ordinary influence in his home township and county, was a Lodge and Chapter Mason at Newcastle, and he and his wife were active in the Christian Church. His widow survived until 1894, passing away at the age of seventy-two years.

Lynn B. Millikan has always been grateful for his early environment of an Indiana farm, its duties and hard work, interspersed with more or less regular attendance at the district schools.

At the age of twenty-one he entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade at New Castle.

From there in 1882 he came to Indianapolis and continued to work two years as an apprentice. In 1884 he engaged in contracting and building on his own responsibility, showing an enterprise exceeding unusual in men his age, and his work is onlyanother proof that character and energy are more important than financial capital. One of the first products of his work as a building contractor was the erection of a modest home of his own which he built primarily to shelter his widowed mother, who came to Indianapolis and spent her last years with her son.

For the first twelve years Mr. Millikan gave his attention principally to the building of houses upon his own responsibility. He sold them almost as fast as they were completed. The first house sold on this plan brought only $1,100. Some years later he sold another property which he had built for $35,000.

In the exclusive residence district between Sixteenth and Twenty-fifth street on Meridian St. Mr. Millikan erected sixteen fine homes, and in that section may be found some of the best examples of his work as a contractor on private residences.

His business extended to even larger and more important operations in Indianapolis and elsewhere. He handled some of the large building contracts for the New York Central Railway Company at Buffalo and Albany, and the services of his skilled and highly efficient organization have been used in the construction of some of the most substantial factories and business buildings of Indianapolis.

At 1723 North Meridian Street he erected for himself one of the magnificent homes of the city

Mr. Millian has always been essentially a business man and through his work has rendered his chief public service. In politics he is a republican voter merely, is affiliated with Mystic Tie Lodge No. 498, Ancient free and Accepted Masons, Keystone Chapter No. 6. Royal Arch Masons, Raper Commandary, Knights Templar, the Mystic Shrine, he and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church and he belongs to various civic and social organizations.

December 9, 1891, he married Miss Madora Maud Pierson. She is a daughter of John C. and Martha Jane (Fowler) Pierson, both natives of Indiana. Her father for many years was a successful contractor and builder.

Mr. and Mrs. Millikan have one child, Gaylord Barton. - Indiana and Indianans Vol. IV (Indianapolis, Ind.1939) By Jacob Piatt Dunn, General William Harrison Kemper pg. 1783-4

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Lynn B. Millikan