The Somerset reporter., 1897-04-22
Death of Congressman Milliken.


Sunday evening last in Washington.
HIS death was painless, as he had lain in
a stupor all day. aud was unconscious to
the last. His son and wife, and his two
brothers. Frank and Byron, were with
him. His mother, aged about ninety
years, lives in the city, but was too
feeble to see her son.
Hon. Seth l.. Mlliken was born at
Montville, Maine, in 1927 The father,
William Miliihen, who was the son of
John Milliken of Scarboro, who entered
the Revolutionary army when he was
about sixteen years Of age, serving
through the war, went to Texas, when
Seth was but child, to build lot of
houses. After having his houses burned
aud coming near losing his scalp by
Comanehe Indians, the father returned
to Maine somewhat reduced, it is pre-
sumed, in his financial resources.
At the age of fourteen, Seth left his
home to make his own living. An
| education was what he most desired and
which he obtained without aid from any
one, except three dollars given him BY
his grandmother out of her Revolutions
airy pension. when he was walking forty
miles to school because he could not
afford to pay stage fare. He graduated
from Union College, New York, in 1856.
ann was elected six weeks thereafter a
member of the Maine House of Represen-
"a nd Il
the following year, serving during the
years 1857 and 1858.
He was then elected clerk of the Su-
preme court for the county of Waldo and
admitted to the Bar During the time
Mr.. Milliken was clerk of court and
previous to his entering Congress, he
travelled nearly thirty thousand miles,
while speaking for the Republican party.
in New Iork, Ohio, aud other states. In
the State and National campaigns he was
in constant demand, aud he gained a
national reputation as popular speaker
even before he entered Congress.
In 1876 Mr.. Milliken was delegate to
the National Republican Convention at
Cincinnati, and an elector of the Presi-
dent the same year; he was also a dele
gate to the National Republican Conveu-
to the FortV-eighth, Forty-ninth,
Fiftieth, Fifty-tlrst, Fifty-second Fifty
third, Fifty-fourth and Fifty fifth
Congresses.
Mr.. Milliken's career in Congress is
familiar to all. As a public speaker and
debater he had few equals, being concise,
toreible and eloquent. to which he added
elegant maLners and fine presence,
tGth la in, cla H.,
tentive and painstaking, always looking
out for the interests of his own con-
stituents. He was for long time chair
man of the committee on public build
ings and grounds, aud successfully
carried through Congress, often amid
great opposition, appropriations for some
OF our largest and finest structures.
Mr.. Milliken has two children, a
daughter, Maud, and son, Seth Nj. He
had been a resident OF Belfast for more
than thirty years.
For some time Mr.. Milliken has
suffered from serious affection of the
bronchial tubes which refused to yield to
treatment. Within a week or more
alarming symp -oms appeared, pneumonia
setting in and kidney and liver complica-
ti0ns manifesting themselves. He did
uoi udht MS b'u, HoNeNeF, Until ldSu
week, and with "A few intervals, When he
seemed to rally foI a short time, he con-
tinue1 to grow worse. Daring the last
few dafs his breathing was very heavy,
aud for much of the time he was uEeon.
scious.
The death of Mr.. Milliken marks the
lir-t break in the Maine delegation that
has occurred for "A long time, and removes
a striking figure from the House.
During the recent Republican Congress
Mr.. Milliken has been the chairman of
the committee on public buildings and
grounds and his work on that committee
brought him in contract with persons
from many Of the important cities of the
country.
The funeral of Hon. Seth l.. Mllken is
today, Thursday at Belfast. Speaker
Reed, Monday, designated 10 members
Of the House as committee to ac-
company the remains OF Congressman
Milliken to Maine and to represent the
House at the funeral. The committee
consists of Representatives Boutelle of
Maine, liilborn of California, Bankhead
Of Alabama, Tate of Georgia, Hicks of
Pennsylvania, Shannon of New York,
skinner of North Carolina, Stevens of
Minnesota, Van Diver of Missouri and
Weymouth of Massachusetts. Mr..
Boutelle IS now at his home in Bangor
and will join the committee in Maine.
Hon. Eugene Hale and four other
Senators also accompanied the remains
of Congressman Milliken to Belfast.