| OVERVIEW | If we had to pick just one item for you to look at, we'd recommend Esther Foster's pamphlet written in 1956. |
| TIME LINE | We've created a time line for Millburn that presents the major events. You can follow developments through the years. |
| GOVERNMENT LAND SALES |
Good quality land available, at cheap prices. This is what brought the people to the area. Find out about these government land sales. We've documented twenty square miles with names and maps. |
| MAPS | Our collection of maps includes those made in 1861 and 1873. |
| BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES |
History is made by nature and by people. Nature has been pretty fair to us,
except for occasional bad weather.
Most of our history documents the people in our community. We have developed biographical sketches for many of Millburn's families. We have quite a collection of names and dates. |
| FARM HISTORY |
Millburn was a farming community. Most of our early settlers were farmers. Check out our farm history pages. |
| GENERAL STORES |
Families came into town to get their mail, do their shopping,
and learn what was going on. At one time Millburn had three stores operating.
Find out more about Millburn's General Stores. |
| MILLBURN CHURCH |
Millburn Church was both the religious and social
center of the community.
The church building was the largest building for people to assemble within. It was used often, hosting concerts, speakers, community meetings, plays, and other activites. We have on record one event that was attended by five hundred. |
| SCHOOLS |
Our families knew the value of an education and it was important for their children
to attend school. Many graduates went to boarding high schools and then to college.
Our Millburn Area Schools material covers the various districts, their consolidation, teacher biographies, and teaching experiences. We have some old photos of the buildings. |
| MILLBURN MUTUAL INSURANCE |
The Millburn Mutual Insurance Company gained widespread importance when this company began insuring against loss by fire in 1855 and received a special charter from the Illinois Legislature in 1865. We have early records for the Company, the oldest mutual company in Illinois. |
| UNDERGROUND RAILROAD |
Millburn supported the anti-slavery sentiment in the North. We're clearly established
for active participation in the local folklore.
Read about our participation in the underground railroad. |
| CIVIL WAR |
Millburn's young men did their patriotic duty when the call to arms was sounded.
Read about Millburn's participation in the Civil War. |
| RAILROADS | Millburn's citizens were profoundly affected by the coming of the railroad. Even in the 1800's, people were thinking "not in MY backyard". Read all about railroads in the Millburn area. |
| COUNTRY DOCTORS |
Millburn was home to several doctors. These medical men had a significant effect upon the community, and not just by doctoring the sick. Read more about country doctors in the Millburn area. |
| TELEPHONE |
Progress was no stranger in Millburn. We had street lights and wooden sidewalks.
Dr. Jamison wanted his patients to be able to call him by telephone. His daughter, Vida Jamison White, has written down her Recollections of the Millburn Farmer's Line Telephone Co. and switchboard, which connected several Millburn area communities in 1898. |
| HUNT CLUB |
When the gentry on the Chicago North Shore began to feel cramped by developement, they looked to the Millburn area as a location for their new "playground". Read about their plans for the Onwentsia Hunt Club. |
| MILLBURN CEMETERY |
What is normally a pretty quiet place but can tell you a lot? Our families treated their cemetery like a park. It had an underground sprinkling system and a two seat privy. See what we've learned by studying our cemetery and participating in Memorial Day services. |
| BEATRICE ANDERSON'S SCRAPBOOKS |
We began our museum with a collection of scrapbooks that had been the work of
Beatrice Anderson. We could not have gotten started without this information.
We'll let you browse her voluminous scrapbooks, which detail early settlers, development of the community and schools, as well as the underground railroad. |
| NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS |
We have collected lots and lots of newspaper clippings about Millburn, starting back in 1845. Read gossip, about births and deaths, farm sales notices, even about arson, fraud, and theft. We add to this collection constantly. |
| RESEARCH BOOKS |
There is quite a lot more history on our useful research books page. Whole chapters are available to help you in your quest. |