Transcribed by: Deb Thormahlen

Extracted from the Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County 1885 – Chapman Bros.

 p. 224

            Thomas Milnes, general farmer, resident on section 21, Clyde Township was born on the same section, march 25, 1861.  His parents were Joseph and Jennie (Mason) Milnes.  The alter was born in the North of Ireland.  She was but six years of age when her parents emigrated from the Green Isle to the United States and settled in Lowell, Mass.  The father was of English descent and their marriage took place in 1860, in Chicago.  The senior Milnes was a farmer and had come, in 1842, to Clyde Township, where his father located a farm on the bank of Little Rock Creek.  He was then about ten years old.  The family was one of the first to make a permanent settlement in Whiteside County.  Joseph Milnes and his wife located immediately after their marriage on the homestead estate, where they reared their family and conducted their affairs until their removal in 1882 to Morrison, where they still reside.  The place is in the possession of the son, who is the subject of this biographical narration.

            Mr. Milnes was brought up on his grandfather’s farm and has all his life been interested in its progressive improvements, interspersed by attendance at school.  He obtained a more entensive education by going to school at Oshkosh, Wis., where he passed two years, and there entered upon a course of commercial study, which he completed at Fulton, in Whiteside County.  After leaving school he returned to agricultural pursuits on the home farm.  Two years later he formed a matrimonial alliance with Carrie E., daughter of Richard and Hannah E. (Knight) Beswick.  Their marriage took place Dec. 28, 1882.  Mrs. Milnes was born Aug. 254, 1861, on section 30, Clyde Township, and was brought up and educated in her native county.  The family now included two children born as follows:  Earl B., Nov. 26, 1883, and Paul E., Feb. 26, 1885.  Mr. and Mrs. Milnes settled after their marriage on the old home place and have diligently prosecuted the interests of general farming.  Mr. Milnes is a Democrat and is present Township Treasurer.