THOS. MILLIDGE DEAD
HE PASSED AWAY EARLY THIS MORNING
His Illness of But Brief Duration, Being Confined to the House Only Since
Monday - One of the Earliest Settlers-First Postmaster Here-Funeral Next Monday.
Mr. Millidge had been gradually failing in strength for some time past, but not to a degree incapacitating him from his usual business bursitis, and it was only last Monday that he felt that he must absent himself from the store, which he did not enter again.
It was a gradual passing away - no particular disease perceptible - and it was during one of his periodical sleeping spells that the summons came and the spirit departed.
Mr. Millidge was about 68 years of age, and came to Oconto in 1850, from St. George, New Brunswick. While enroute from Green Bay to Oconto he secured employment with the owner of a water mill at Oconto Falls - the site now occupied by the pulp mill – and the journey from Oconto up the river was made in a skiff, against the swift current, Mr. Millidge using a pole to push the boat along. His companion was a German and their baggage the latter’s trunk. They would carry the boat around impassable portions of the river and deposit it again in smoother waters. That year the Spies mill was built, and for a time he was there employed. Before embarking in the mercantile business he and William Brumquest were engaged in putting in logs for other parties.
In 1856 he built a store near the present residence of Mrs. C. Simons, was postmaster and kept a few notions for the villagers, constantly increasing his stock, and later built the store now occupied by Johnson & Jersild, where he carried on trade until 1870, when he erected the store near the corner of Main and Broadway, and in which he did business since.
Like many old settlers he accumulated land when it was cheap, until his possessions lie scattered in various locations in the city.
He leaves a wife and only one son, Edward. The funeral will be held from the house next Monday morning at 10 o’clock, Rev. C. R. Burdick conducting the service.