1. RICHARD HENRY⁶ MILAM (AMBROSE⁵, MOSES⁴, JOHN³, THOMAS², UNKNOWN FATHER OF THE VIRGINIA¹ MILAMS) was born February 27, 1826 in Sullivan County, Indiana, and died May 06, 1911 in Sullivan County, Indiana. He married (1) ERMINA WEBB February 15, 1857 in Sullivan County, Indiana, daughter of MATHIAS WEBB and ELLEANOR MCCUTCHEON. She was born February 1838 in Sullivan County, Indiana, and died September 09, 1859 in Sullivan County, Indiana. He married (2) ELIZA J. BLYTHING February 18, 1862 in Sullivan County, Indiana. She was born June 1840, and died December 30, 1870 in Sullivan County, Indiana. He married (3) JOSEPHINE GEORGEANN WEBB February 05, 1874 in Sullivan County, Indiana, daughter of MATHIAS WEBB and SARAH/CAROLINE FAIRCHILD. She was born August 02, 1851 in Gill Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, and died April 26, 1929 in Sullivan County, Indiana.

Notes for RICHARD HENRY MILAM:
Edith Pearline Milam, 1976:
"Henry Richard Milam went to California in 1849 in the Gold Rush. He came home with quite a bit of money. Hud said he searched the records of all claims filed for gold in California, and he never found a record of a claim in his name. Grandpa was also noted for his love of beautiful horses and always had several horses and did a lot of hauling. He even ran a stage at one time between Evansville and Terre Haute. Hud thinks he made his money hauling during the gold boom in California."
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From the book "History of Sullivan County Part I" published in 1901, page 67:
Another prominent family whose residence was in Kentucky prior to the settlement in Sullivan County was the Milams. Henry R. Milam is one of the conspicuous and aged representatives of this family still living in Gill township. Several heads of families bearing that name came from Kentucky to the vicinity of Carlisle about the close of the war of 1812-1815 and the family relationship has always been large in the county.

From "History of Sullivan County Part II" page 214-215:
Henry R. Milam:
The oldest member of the Odd Fellow's lodge at Carlisle, and a farmer who has the respect and confidence of all within the radius of his wide acquaintance, is Henry R. Milam, of Gill township, a native of Sullivan County, IN where he was born February 27, 1826, hence has passed the four score year mark. Many are the changes wrought within the section of Indiana in which he resides since the long ago day of his birth. He is the son of Ambrose and Sarah (Mason) Milam. The father was a native of Kentucky who came to Indiana at a very early day and always followed farming pursuits for his livelihood, as did his parents. Sarah Mason, Mr. Milam's mother, was a native to Sullivan County, IN.

Henry R. Milam attended the district schools of Sullivan County, which at that early date were not models for education institution but gave the youth a fair knowledge of the elements of an education, to which he has added with the passing of the years. When he was 16 years old, he commenced to work for himself, being variously employed for others until the time of his marriage. His first wife was the owner of the farm upon which he still resided. To this tract of land he added from time to time, until at one time he owned several hundred acres in the famous Wabash Valley. He has sold off from this landed estate until his present holding consist of one hundred and thirty acres. He carried on general farming and earlier in his life, dealt in cattle, hogs, and other live stock quite extensively. Unfortunately, in the month of August 1906, Mr. Milam suffered a severe sun stroke, while attending to his official duties a road supervisor. From this he has never fully recovered.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal church at the age of 17 years, but subsequently withdrew and is not a member of any church body. Politically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party but of the independent type, not feeling himself in duty bound to vote for party, but for men.

Mr. Milam has been married three times. By the first marriage to Armina Webb, there were two sons but both are deceased. By his second union, two sons were born, Josephus C. who is still a resident of Gill Township and another who is deceased. On February 5, 1874, Mr Milam wed his third bride Miss Josephine Webb, born in Gill township, this county, August 2, 1851, daughter of Mathias A. and Caroline (Fairchild) Webb. The mother was born in Sullivan County February 10, 1825, her parents being native of New York state. Mathias A. Webb born in 1814 and came to Sullivan County with his family settled in Gill township on a farm where they lived until his death September 1, 1892. The mother died September 5, 1904.

The children born of Henry R. and Josephine Milam are as follows:
Charles H. Milam born 11-7-1874
Robert Massie Milam born 10-20-1876 died 5-9-1893
Carrie Elizabeth Milam born 1-17-1874 married Samuel Brown
Webb Milam born 1-11-1881
infant born 7-8-1885
Bonnie Milam born 8-27-1888
Hattie J. Milam born 4-4-1891 died 3-24-1897
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Josie Brixey:
This what I know: Henry Richard Milam and his brothers, William and John got together with other cousins & brothers, especially from the Mason family. They left Sullivan, IN in Feb. 1849 and drove 100 head of cattle as far as Salt Lake City, where they were met by Mormons who bought the cattle. Some of them went on to California, Henry Richard & his brothers William, John & Samuel.

In 1850 California Mariposa county was all of what is now Mariposa, Kings, Fresno, Tulare & Kern Counties. The census was taken at military camps and that census that lists Henry was at Camp Babbit, near present day Visalia, CA. I came to find this when i was doing census work on CA. indians of the time.

I know the census lists him as Henry Milam, age 30 (which is wrong, he was in his early 20's) and that he was from Georgia. When the took those census the people who took them were not always careful to get correct spelling of names and put down most anything. Sometimes I think they thought it was a joke anyway. The gold rush didn't encourage people to tell others much about them and I think that our Milams were especially close to the vest with their cards.

My dad looked at all the places where he thought his grandpa's gold mine was and it came to a place called Afton Canyon in the Mojave Desert.

Part of the family story was that Henry & his brothers came and looked for gold but didn't find any. A child was born here, her name was Isobel Milam, the daughter of John & a Mason girl.

Henry worked as a teamster and could drive a wagon anywhere and move houses with teams and could also doctor to horses & mules. That kinda figures because after Henry got back to Sullivan he later engineered several roads in Sullivan county. He married his first wife in 1857 so he stayed in California at least 4 or 5 years. A lot can happen in that time. He returned to Sullivan by boarding a boat at 'San Pedro and sailing to Panama and taking a train to the gulf where he boarded another ship that took him up river and he caught a flat boat up river to Merom & home.

Oh, yeah.. i already looked a long time for any Milam mining claims.. ain't none. But i can send you a map to Afton Canyon. ;))

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A journal record was kept by one of the Webb brothers during the trip. I have only one page that reads: " the ledger reflects that 113 cows and 45 calves were sold at Salt Lake City, Ut, to Ben Holiday for $4,160. Sales enroute totaled $1,248.66. Three yoke of oxen were sold - Ball and Levi $225., Tom and Jerry $200. Lilly oxen $200.

In the obituary of Henry Richard Milam we read: Milam was the only survivor of an expedition which set out to drive a heard of cattle, during the "gold fever" days, across the continent to California. In crossing Montanan the drivers were set upon by a large band on Indians , lost their cattle and barely escaped with their lives. Going to Salt Lake City he was arrested by the Mormons because he expressed his sentiments against Mormonism to strongly. Promising to leave the state of Utah, he was released.

This is only a small excerpt from that journal that was kept on the drive. I will continue searching to locate the journal to learn all we can. Good luck to you too. Best Regards, Josie
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Cattle Drive
June 8, 1939 Sullivan Union by S. Brewer
Three Carlisle Physicians drove cows to California
Ledger Reflects Journey

Expedition Went Overland in 1851 and Trip Require Year. Winter Was Spent at Salt Lake City, Then to Sacramento.

A small leather bound ledger, now ninety-five years old, kept by Dr. Hamet N. Helms of Carlisle, reflects much of the hazardous trip overland driving one hundred head of young cows from Carlisle to Sacramento, California. The drivers rode on horseback and started from Carlisle 29 March 1851, as noted on a flyleaf in the old ledger.

Dan V. Helms of Carlisle is a surviving son of Dr. Helms.

Three young physicians of Carlisle – Dr. Hamet N. Helms, Dr. Alexander M. Murphy and Dr. John M. Hinkle – organized the trip and were joined by Dr. Henry W. Davis of Paris, IL. The party spent the winter at Salt Lake City, Utah, where the large herd was augmented by calving of the cows. The gold rush in California brought the promoters fabulous prices for the cattle, which was the purpose of the extraordinary trip.

A notation in the from of the old ledger, in pencil, says, " Presented to H. N. Helms by A.M. Murphy"

Others in the party noted most with the family name: Rush Helms, one-year-old son of Dr. Helms; Orson Willard, who was the father of Rufus O. Willard and the grandfather of Orson Willard of southwest Sullivan. Orson Willard entered land in California and engaged in farming until his death in 1854.

Other names listed were: James Webb, John Milam and his wife, Dick Milam, John Buckley, Ad Cooper, William Davidson, H. Davis, Joseph Perkins, James H. Garrett, John Hughes, Thomas Perkins, Minor Mayfield.

Those listed last name only: Cooper, Copland, Carell, Hooker, Harper, Lindsey, Milam, Mason, Mayfield, McClellan, Springer, Adams and Wallace.

Cows were purchased and some traded enroute. A ledger notation says: " Paid $4.00 cash for cow in stray pen, and $3.00 for a calf". Feed and Pasture was bought enroute. The Party and cattle crossed the Wabash at Merom; the ferry charge was $8.50.

Article from the Sullivan Union 7/20/1939
Found in Dr. Maple’s Scrapbook in Terre Haute, IN library on microfilm
Sullivan County Pioneers were not immune to ’49 "Gold Fever"

Post Office at State House Tavern Was First Place in County to Receive News of Gold Strike in California By Samuel S. Brewer

The discovery of gold, by John Marshall, at Sutter’s Mill on the American river near Sacramento, California, January 19, 1848, could not be kept a secret. By May of that year, San Francisco was deserted by its male population. By March, 1849, more than seventeen thousand gold hunters had embarked at Atlantic and Golf ports for California, intending either to make the seven months journey around Cape Horn, or, after landing in Panama, Nicaragua or Mexico, to cross overland to the pacific and there embark. By May on equal number had begun the overland journey.

San Francisco was their objective point. It was composed of few old Mexican residences, cluster around the old Mission Dolores, and a host of shacks tents and shanties for the temporary accommodation of the hordes who made the though a stopping place on their rout to the El Dorado. Four or five hundred ships, whose crews and captains had caught the "gold fever" and had deserted, lay rotting in the harbor; cargoes of goods, unsuitable to the population but worth fortunes, were strewn on the beach. Gold was the only currency in use, an ounce of it being worth $16. Unskilled labor received $10 per Diem, while carpenters and blacksmiths received $16. A candle cost $3, a shirt $40, a barrel of pork $210, a tin basin $9, a shovel $35. a washboard $25, a hat $20, and a pair of shoes $50. El Dorado, the chief gambling tent, paid $40,000 a year rent; the Parker House, a two story hotel, paid $120,000. a year rent.

The law was meted to by an alcade, who heard complaints, settled disputes and summoned juries. Punishments in the shape of fines, flogging, expulsion from the camps and death were awarded. Each man’s right to his claim was carefully guarded. Some of these claims were so rich in gold that the lucky owners would "pan out" a fortune in a few days time.

The news of these " strikes" of "pay dirt" spread far and wide. The whole world was convulsed by it. The "trek" to California immediately set in, and within a few months the greatest movement of people known to modern civilization, was in motion toward the California gold fields. The days of old, the days of gold, the day of ’49 were in full flower. A great epic in the history of the development of the American Republic was in the making. The imagination of all mankind was being kindled as never before, from its zenith to the very outermost points of its horizon by the lure of gold. The actual appearance of the yellow metal itself added fuel to the flames which now mounted higher and higher. The California gold fields stood out, in the minds of men, like the planet Mars at perihelion. Gold had gotten into their blood and started a raging fever that would not abate. " To California or Bust" now became the slogan which stirred adventurous men into action.

Sullivan County, Indiana, was not immune to the "gold fever". The post office at the State House Tavern, then kept by John Boudinot, Jr., was the first place in the county to receive the news when a newspaper from the Atlantic seaboard arrived there early in the spring of 1849. This paper was read and re-red by the people then living in that immediate locality until it was nearly worn out. The news spread. The late Joseph Gray, Sr., of the Big Spring locality west of Graysville in Turman township, came down to visit his father-in-law, Benjamin Sherman, then operating the Sherman Tavern on the Island district of Gill’s Prairie. Here he heard the news from his brother-in-law, John S. Copeland, also a son-in-law of Benjamin Sherman, who was then making preparations fro a trip overland to California. Joseph Gray, Sr., carried the news back with him to the Bing Spring neighborhood, where lived the Turman’s and White’s. The "gold fever’ immediately struck that place as will be shown later.

A partial list of the names of those who went from Sullivan County, Indiana during this time appeared in that article in the Sullivan union date of June 8, 1939. To this partial list of names many additional names have been therefore made. This new list will take the place of the old one of June 8, 1939. A careful reading of this latter list will show that nearly all of the were from the Gill’s Prairie district of Gill township and the Big Spring district of Turman township. The list follows:

William H. Hollenback, Jr., and his brother David T. Hollenback, sons of William H. Hollenback, Sr., and grandsons of Thomas Hollenback and Patsy Hollenback. William H. Hollenback, Jr. returned to Gill township at the outbreak of the Civil War, and enlisted in the Union Army. He died in 1872 and is buried in the Hollenback cemetery near the Rose Chapel church on Gill’s Prairie. His brother, David T. Hollenback, remarried in California and later migrated to the gold fields of Australia. He is buried in Australia. (Here see further account of him set out in the article of June 8, 1939).

Henry R. (Dick) Milam and his brother, John Buckley Milam, sons of Ambrose and Sarah (Mason) Milam, both returned to Gill’s Prairie at the outbreak of the Civil War and both buried at the Milam cemetery on the Island district of Gill’s Prairie.

Joshua Sinex and his brother, William Sinex, both of who returned to Gill’s Prairie at the outbreak of the Civil War, and both enlisted in the Union Army. They ar both buried at the Webb cemetery on Gill’s Prairie.

Charles W. Webb, son of Epenethus Webb., Jr., returned to Gill’s Prairie at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted in the Union Army. He died at New Lebanon, Indiana, and is buried in the Webb cemetery. His son, Augustus Samuel Webb, is now a prominent resident of San Francisco, California, where he has long been engaged in the coffee business. Thomas H. Blunk Webb, son of Jonathan Webb, Sr., and a first cousin of Charles, W. Webb, returned to Gill’s Prairie at the outbreak of the Civil War. He is buried in Webb cemetery. Robert Massey, a son-in-law of Jonathan Webb, Sr., and a brother-in-law of Thomas H. Blunk Webb, returned to Gill township at the outbreak of the Civil War and enlisted in the Union Army. He is buried at the New Merom cemetery, Merom, Indiana. He was a first cousin of Hon. Alexander Massey, long a United States senator from the State of Nevada.

John Samuel Copeland, a son-in-law of Benjamin Sherman and a brother-in-law of Joseph Gray, Sr., remained in California where he became wealthy. He is buried in that state. He was the father of the late George S. Copeland, a former trustee, of Gill Township. George S. Copeland married the daughter of Robert Massey, Henrietta Massey.

Notes for ERMINA WEBB:
Shown on 1860 Census

Children of RICHARD MILAM and ERMINA WEBB are:

i. HAMMOT H.⁷ MILAM, b. September 04, 1858, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. October 17, 1859, Sullivan County, Indiana.
ii. ANTHONY MILAM, b. September 01, 1859, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. September 03, 1859, Sullivan County, Indiana.

Children of RICHARD MILAM and ELIZA BLYTHING are:

iii. GEORGE B.⁷ MILAM, b. December 28, 1863, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. July 31, 1868, Sullivan County, Indiana.
iv. JOSEPHUS C. MILAM, b. December 05, 1865, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. September 24, 1937, Sullivan County, Indiana; m. MARY M. ALUMBAUGH, Bef. 1885, Sullivan County, Indiana; b. 1867, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. June 28, 1951, Sullivan County, Indiana.

Children of RICHARD MILAM and JOSEPHINE WEBB are:

v. CHARLES HENRY⁷ MILAM, b. November 07, 1874, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. September 15, 1959, Sullivan County, Indiana; m. MARY ELIZABETH SPENCER, July 18, 1896, Sullivan County, Indiana; b. October 15, 1880, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. December 12, 1958, Sullivan County, Indiana.

vi. ROBERT MASSIE MILAM, b. October 20, 1876, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. May 09, 1893, Sullivan County, Indiana.

vii. CARRIE ELIZABETH MILAM, b. January 17, 1874, Sullivan County, Indiana; m. SAMUEL BROWN, June 30, 1894, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. Abt. 1907.

Notes for CARRIE ELIZABETH MILAM: "Aunt Tine"

viii. MATHIAS AMBROSE "WEBB" MILAM, b. January 11, 1881, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. October 1963, Sullivan County, Indiana; m. GRACE LENORE LESTER, December 21, 1913, Sullivan County, Indiana; b. July 10, 1884; d. April 1973, Mountain Home, Idaho.

ix. INFANT MILAM, b. January 08, 1885, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. July 09, 1885, Sullivan County, Indiana.

x. BONNIE MILAM, b. August 27, 1888, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. February 1971, Sullivan County, Indiana.

xi. HATTIE J. MILAM, b. April 04, 1891, Sullivan County, Indiana; d. March 24, 1897, Sullivan County, Indiana.