Families - McMillen
Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, Biographical Publishing Co, Chicago,IL 1886, pages 305-306 reads as follows:
Frederick Christianer. Prominent among the professional men of Abingdon, and a gentleman whose interests have been identified with the growth and development of the place, and who has met with success in the practice of his profession, is the subject of this notice, engaged in the practice of dental surgery at Abingdon. Dr. Christianer was born in Ostercappeln, Kingdom of Hanover, Nov. 22, 1829, and is the son of August Frederick and Johana (Obrock) Christianer. His father was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Oct. 4, 1779, and died in 1876, at Beardstown, Ill. His mother was born in the same country, March 6, 1806 and died in 1844 in her native land. The father of Dr. C. married in the year 1826.
Dr. Christianer emigrated from his native land to the United States in 1S44, when but 15 years of age, and located in New York City. Remaining there six months he went to St. Louis, where, after spending six months he came to this State, and located at Beardstown, in 1845. At that place he engaged in the watch-maker and jeweler's trade which he followed for a time, when he removed to Canton, Fulton County, and there studied dentistry. He came to Abingdon in 1856, and engaged in the watch-maker and jeweler's trade to which he added the practice of dentistry. About 1862 he abandoned the former business and since that time has devoted his life exclusively to the practice of his profession, except such time as he was compelled to devote to the various official positions to which he has been elected. For several years he was Town Clerk of Indian Point Township, and was eight years an incumbent of the office of Police Magistrate at Abingdon. For four years Dr. Christianer was County Superintendent of schools, commencing his official career in that capacity in 1879. He has also held the office of City Clerk of Abingdon for 17 years and is the present incumbent of that office. He has also served as School Director for nine years and holds that position at this writing. From the foregoing brief sketch, we see that Dr. Christianer has been a resident of Abingdon for upwards of 30 years, and from the numerous positions of trust he has held, we note that his popularity among his fellow men has been recognized, and that he has always had the best interest of his town and county at heart.
Dr. Christianer was married at Canton, Ill., Dec. 5, 1850, to Miss Jane E., the accomplished daughter of James P. and Mary M. (Kinney) McMillen. She was born in Mercersburg, Pa., May 30, 1827. Her father was born at the same place, June 2, 1793, and her mother was likewise born there Jan. 17, 1803. The date of the marriage of her parents was in January, 1820. Dr. and Mrs. Christianer have been blessed by a family of seven children : James A., born Sept. 6, 1851, is a teacher of music at .Atlanta, Ga. ; Frank, born Aug. 1, 1853, is a teacher of musical Des Moines, Iowa; Mollie, born Oct, 14, 1855, is the wife of A. C. Mount, extensive manufacturer of brooms at Des Moines, Iowa; Belle, born May 10, 1858, is the wife of Curtis Byrom, Postmaster and merchant at Cloverdale, Kan.; Fred, born April 30, 1859, married Nettie Schultz and is engaged in the music business at St. Louis, Mo.; Harry Tell, born Jan. 22, 1862, is single and resides at Des Moines; Lake, born .\ug. 18, 1867, is a student of Hedding College, Abingdon. Dr. Christianer and family are happily possessed of a high order of musical talent, which has been liberally cultivated. Within the family circle they constitute a complete concert party, capable of giving an entertainment that would compare favorably with the performances of professionals. Socially, the Doctor is a member of Abingdon Lodge, No. 184, I. O. O. F., and has been for the past eight years Deputy Grand Master of said Lodge. The Doctor lakes a great interest in the order to which he belongs, and by his industry has contributed much to its prosperity. Politically, he votes with the Republican party.
The sentence "Dr. Christianer was married at Canton, Ill., Dec. 5, 1850, to Miss
Jane E., the accomplished daughter of James P. and Mary M.(Kinney)
McMillen" contains a typo. It should have read "Mary McKinney McMillen."
Also, for anyone researching the family, the McMillen name was
commonly spelled McMullen in the vicinity of Mercersburg, PA and the
McKinney name is often seen as McKinnie.
Contributed 31 May 2016 by Jack Trauth
