MAUD MINERVA (SEESHOLTS) McMILLEN

Maud Minerva (Seesholts) McMillen gravestone
(Photo by Vernon B. Paddock)

B. June 4, 1877 in Saint Paul County, MN
D. December 26, 1934 in Antioch, Lake County, IL
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  • Father: Edgar Lewis “Edward” Seesholts born September 28, 1849 in Quincy, Adams County, IL, son of John Seesholts and Sarah Seesholts; married Sarah Minerva Wheelock on December 30, 1872 in Lake County, IL as her second husband; Edgar died March 18, 1926 in Grays Lake, Lake County, IL (See section pertaining to Edgar Lewis “Edward” Seesholts buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Mother: Sarah Minerva (Wheelock) Seesholts born March 7, 1850 in Hainesville, Lake County, IL, daughter of Ethelereda (Briggs) Wheelock; married (1) Dwight L. Gillmore on March 7, 1866 in Lake County, son of Benjamin Parker Gillmore (1809-1862) and Mariam Saviah (Harper) Gillmore (1814-1897) and divorced on April 19, 1869 in Lake County, IL; married (2) Edgar Lewis “Edward” Seesholts on December 30, 1872 in Lake County, IL; Minerva died May 1, 1937 in Elgin, Kane County, IL (See section pertaining to Sarah Minerva (Wheelock) Seesholts buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Husband: Willis John McMillen born February 6, 1873 in Abilene, Dickinson County, KS; married Maude Minerva Seesholts on February 16, 1897 in Lake County, IL; Willis died August 5, 1944 in Capron, Boone County, IL (See section pertaining to Willis John McMillen buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery)
  • Children:
    1. Leila (McMillen) (Faulkner) Osborne born December 10, 1900 in Grays Lake, Lake County, IL; married (1) Wesley Faulkner (1898-1980); married (2) Samuel Roscoe Osborne on February 24, 1981 in Hillsborough County, FL; last residence in Riverview, Hillsborough County, FL; Leila died October 2, 1994; Leila and Wesley are buried in Hillsboro Memorial, Cemetery, Brandon, Hillsborough County, FL

According to the Tampa Tribune (Tampa FL) Wednesday, October 5, 1994, page 28:

“LEILE OSBORNE, 93, of Brandon died Sunday in Brandon.  A native of Grayslake, Ill., she was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Riverview.  She is survived by four nieces, Ann Kakacek of Antioch, Ill., Doris Hauser of Lakeland, Avis Sybrandy of Atlanta and Ruth Tonigan of Aberdeen, S.D.  Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, Brandon.”

  1. James Willard McMillen born October 22, 1902 in Grayslake, Lake County, IL; Navy Veteran (1941-1945), Lieutenant Commander; married Virginia Phyllis Morley (1903-1984) in 1926, daughter of John James Morley (1866-1940) and Nella Ina (Soule) Morley (1872-1959); last residence Antioch, Lake County, IL; James died January 27, 1984 in Lake Forest, Lake County, IL; James and Virginia’s bodies were cremated

According to the Antioch News (Antioch IL) Monday, January 30, 1984:

“James W. McMillen – James W. McMillen, 81, of Antioch, died Jan. 27 at Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest.  He was born Oct. 23, 1902 in Grayslake and had lived in the Antioch for over 47 years.  He graduated from Libertyville High School and was a graduate of the University of Illinois Class of 1924 with a degree in engineering from the School of Mining.  He was on the wrestling team and was captain of the University of Illinois football team in 1923, playing on that team with “Red” Grange, and was All American in football that year.  He played professional football with the Chicago Bears from 1924-1928, was a professional wrestler for 26 years from 1924-1950 and was a referee for the Illinois Athletic Commission from 1950-1958.  He served at Lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy for four years from 1941-1945 as a physical training instructor and welfare and recreational officer in the South Pacific Theatre, serving in Noumea and New Caladonia, and also serving as a senior shore patrol officer.  He operated a concrete products business in Antioch from 1945-1958 and served as mayor of Antioch from 1952-1958.  From 1958-1962, he was a field engineer in northern Illinois for the Illinois Dept. of Conservation in supervision and development for parks, conservation areas and access areas.  From 1962-1965, he was assistant supervisor of parks (field operations) for the State of Illinois and from 1965-1969 was supervisor of parks and memorials for the Illinois Dept. of Conservation.  From 1969-1978, he served as an engineer for the Lake County Forest Preserve District.  He was a member of the Rising Sun Masonic Lodge 115 AF & AM in Grayslake for over 52 years, Springfield Consistory 32nd Degree, the Anser Shrine Temple 748 and the Lake County Farm Bureau.  He was a former member of the Antioch Fire Dept. and Antioch Rescue Squad, the Antioch Township High School Board, the Antioch Lions Club, and the State Bank of Antioch Board of Directors.  In 1969, he was honored as Antioch’s first V.I.P. at St. Peter’s Church in Antioch.  On August 15, 1926, he was united in married to Phyllis Morley in Waukegan.  Survivors include his wife, Phyllis; one son, James John (Diana) of Farmington, Mo.; one daughters, Phyllis Ann (John) Kakacek of Antioch; one sister, Leile (Sam) Osborne of Florida; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.  Funeral services were held Jan. 30 at the Strang Funeral Home in Antioch with the Rev. Theodore Bessette of St. Igantius Church of Antioch officiating.  Interment was private.  Donations in his memory may be made to the Antioch Rescue Squad.”

  • Siblings:
    • John Jerome Seesholts, born July 16, 1875 in Minnesota; married Eva St. Clair Parmely (1876-1957) on February 16, 1896 in Sumner, Bremer County, IA, daughter of Ellsworth M. Parmely (1819-1913) and Mary Jane (Stewart) Ware Parmely (?-1924); John died February 17, 1945 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, KS; buried in Wichita Park Cemetery and Mausoleum, Wichita, Sedgwick County, KS
    • Edgar H. “Eddie” Seesholts, born December 26, 1890 in Kansas; married Lorelle Hatch (1893-1968); Edgar died October 16, 1934 in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL; Edgar and Lorelle are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL

Additional Information:

According to the 1880 U.S. Census for Township No. 126 North, Range 44  West, Stevens County, MN the household members were:

“Edward Seesholth (sic), age 30, married, occupation: farmer, born in Illinois, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Maryland; Menerva (sic) Seesholth, age 30, wife, married, born in Illinois, parents born in New York; John Sheesholth, age 5, son, single, born in Minnesota; Maud Seesholth, age 3, daughter, single, born in Minnesota; Howard Williams, age 21, servant, single, occupation: works on farm, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in West Virginia; Frank Graham, age 22, servant, single, occupation: works on farm, born in Canada, parents born in Canada; John Seesholt, age 68, father, widowed, born in Pennsylvania, parents born in Pennsylvania; Ephalinda Whelock (sic) age 52, mother in law, widowed, born in New York, parents born in New York.”

According to the 1900 U.S. Census for Grays Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“Willis McMillen, head, born February 1873, age 27, married for 3 years, born in Illinois, father born in New York, mother born in Illinois, occupation: farmer; Maude McMillen, wife, born June 1877, age 22, married for 3 years, 0 children born, 0 children living, born in Minnesota, parents born in Illinois.”

According to the 1910 U.S. Census for Grays Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL the household members were:

“Willis McMillen, head, age 36, married once for 13 years, born in Kansas, father born in New York, mother born in Illinois, occupation: mason – stone and brick work; Maude M. McMillen, wife, age 32, married once for 13 years, 2 children born, 2 children living, born in Minnesota, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Illinois; Leila M. McMillen, daughter, age 9, single, born in Illinois; James W. McMillen, son, age 7, single, born in Illinois.”

According to the 1920 U.S. Census for Grays Lake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL living on Westerfield Ave., the household members were:

“Willis McMillen, head, age 46, married, born in Kansas, parents born in New York, occupation: bricklayer – own business; Maude McMillen, wife, age 43, married, born in Minnesota, parents born in Illinois; Leila McMillen, daughter, age 19, single, born in Illinois; James McMillen, son, age 17, single, born in Illinois.”

According to the 1930 U.S. Census for Grayslake Village, Avon Township, Lake County, IL living on Westerfield Place, the household members were:

“Willis, J. McMillen, head, age 58, married at age 23, born in Kansas, father born in New York, mother born in Illinois, occupation: mason – foundations platering; Maude N. McMillen, wife, age 53, married at age 19, born in Minnesota, father born in Ohio, mother born in Illinois; Sarah M. Seesholts, mother-in-law, age 80, widowed, born in Illinois, parents born in New York.”

According to the Chicago Tribune (Chicago IL) Thursday, December 27, 1934, page 18:

JIM M’MILLEN’S MOTHER DIES OF HEART AILMENT

   “Mrs. Maud McMillen, 57 years old, mother of James McMillen, former University of Illinois football star and now a prominent professional wrestler, died yesterday at her home in Antioch of a heart ailment, from which she had been suffering for some months.  Funeral services will be held in Antioch this afternoon at 2 o’clock and burial will be in Fort Hill cemetery, near Volo.  Besides her son Mrs. McMillen leaves her husband, Willis; a daughter, Mrs. Wesley Faulkner of Grays Lake, and her mother, Mrs. Sarah Seesholts.”

According to the Lake County Illinois Genealogical Society. “Strang Funeral Home – Grayslake, Illinois – 1908-1964”. Mundelein IL. 2015:

“Surname: McMILLEN; Name: Maude M.; Birth Date/Place: 04 Jun 1877, St. Paul, MN; Death Date/Place: 25 Dec 1934, Waukegan; Cause of Death: Myocarditis; Married; Occupation: Housewife; Minister: Rev. CROCKETT, Funeral Home; Burial Place – Next of Kin: Fort Hill, Willis McMILLEN – Husband, Edward L. SEESHOLTZ-Father, Minerva WHEELOCK-Mother”