Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 561.
 
THOMAS A. MILLIORN

     One of the pioneers of Lane county is Thomas A. Milliorn, who in the early
'60s took up a government claim on which Junction City now stands. He was born
in Virginia in 1828, the son of John and Mary W. (Lee) Milliorn, both natives of
Virginia. The father was a wheelwright and mechanic by trade and devoted the
principal part of his life to that vocation. The parents resided in Tennessee
for ten years and then went to Missouri, where they remained for five and
one-half years. In their family were ten children, of whom only five now
survive: Thomas A.; William H., of Prineville, Oregon; James Polk, of Junction
City; Eugenia, who is the widow of James Huffman and resides at Seattle,
Washington; and Helen, who resides in Portland and is married and has one child.
     In 1849 Thomas A. Milliorn crossed the plains with a party of friends, his
destination being California. He had previously learned the wagonmaker's trade
and the wagon in which he made the journey across the plains was of his own
construction. On reaching the Golden state he worked for a time at the
carpenter's trade and then in 1850 began mining near the Trinity river. He
continued in this, occupation for only four months, when he bought some mules
and went into the business of "packing" supplies to the mines. This proved to be
a much more lucrative business than mining and during the time he was thus
engaged, which was. until July, 1852, his daily earnings averaged sixteen
dollars. He then removed to Oregon, where be took up a government claim of three
hundred and twenty acres of land near Junction City for his father, who was then
living in Missouri. He took up this claim at his father's request and later on,
in 1852, the father crossed the plains to Oregon and occupied the land which had
been secured for him by the subject of this review. The father continued his
residence on that farm and so successfully did he conduct his farming operations
that he became the possessor of a considerable fortune. Thomas A. Milliorn had
gone to the Powder river to meet his father on his arrival in Oregon and took
with him three thousand dollars with which he purchased cattle and horses. from
the emigrants. There he was joined by the father and together they journeyed
back toward the homestead. He drove the stock to Des Chutes for the purpose of
wintering but all died except three head, and when the son finally returned to
the claim he had given his father he had only ten dollars in money. He then took
up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres for himself, that claim being the
present town site of Junction City.
     Mr. Milliorn has been married twice. His first union was with Eliza K.
Awbrey, a daughter of Thomas N. and Amelia Ann (Grubbs) Awbrey, who were
pioneers of Oregon, the date of their arrival in this state being as early as,
1850. To the first marriage five children were born: Nina A., who is the widow
of D. C. Gore and resides in Eugene, Oregon; Cora L., the wife of W. H. Connors,
of Stanwood, Washington; Frank B., who is married and has two children, Eveline
and Josie, of Prineville, Oregon; and James B. and Sister, both of whom are
deceased. The mother of these children passed away in 1877 and in 1879 Mr.
Milliorn wedded Miss Mary L. Hill, who bore him two children: Effie Gertrude,
the wife of John Blair, of Stanwood, Washington, and the mother of one child,
Merle; and Merle H., who resides with his father in Junction City. In November,
1910, Merle H. Milliorn married Miss Katherine M. Tower, a daughter of Andrew E.
and Helen (Robertson) Tower, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of
Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Merle H. Milliorn has been born a son, Le Verne. Mr.
Milliorn's second wife, Mrs. Mary L. (Hill) Milliorn, is also deceased, having
passed away on the 24th of June, 1910.
     Mr. Milliorn has witnessed the development of Lane county from the
wilderness, having been a resident of the county before either Eugene or
Junction City were founded. He took dinner with Charnell Mulligan on the day
that the town of Eugene was located, he being one of the commissioners appointed
for the purpose of designating the town site. He has always been a stanch
democrat and although a prominent citizen and deeply interested in political
matters he has never aspired to political positions although he served as a
delegate to the St. Louis national democratic convention which nominated Tilden
and Hendricks in 1877. He was offered the nomination to the legislature from
Lane county but refused to accept it. In his fraternal relations he has been for
fifty years a member of the Masonic order, being commander of Eugene Lodge, No.
11, F. & A. M. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land and a comfortable
home in Junction City. On this land is standing about ten million feet of fir
and cedar which is extremely valuable and Mr. Milliorn is one of the heavy
taxpayers of the county. This honored and influential citizen, who has now
arrived at an advanced age, has long and faithfully served the state of Oregon
and particularly the city and county of which he is now a citizen. He is known
throughout Lane county, as his important public career has given him an
extensive acquaintance and by all who know him he is held in the highest esteem.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.