The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-10-29
MISSOURI FAMILY
THAT DISAPPEARED
And Nobody Knows Where
They Went.
each FOLLOWED THE OTHER
Ia Silent Succession, Leaving
Valuable Town and
Farm Property.
TENANTS Enjoy RENTAL FREE

Kingston. no. Oct. 2i.-After
more than a score OF years OF gos-
ssipp. theorizing and discussion. off,
c.ials Of Caldwell county. Missouri.
gill take steps to ascertain what
mas become OF the Mcmillan family
the disappearing family" as it
rs known herein order that some
disposition may be made Of town
and farm property. uncared for.
rents uncollected and taxes unpaid
for almost a quarter Of a century.
James Mcmillan. prominent at
-sorIey, and serving his third term
sIs Probate Judge OF Caldwell coun-
~ and head Of this mysterious fam
isy. was the first TO drop from sight.
Leaving the county court house one
evening twenty years agO he paused
.on fhe steps a moment TO shake
hands with Thomas Laidlaw. his
best TREND.
II think I'll go back to the old
hone ia Scotland soon" laughingly
sleclay1zd Judge Mcmillan. Its
been q long time since | was there.
- as1ss 'ss.iiissse III getting ssoFfesiSla,
iInd NJ ray age. too"
H and Laidlaw parted and Nc
MILAN was never seen again. So
far g. ran be learned lie did not 90
home hat night. He did not take a
tran al the nearest railroad station.
ten miles away. He did not leave
Kingston in any vehicle.
JHGge Mcmillan was then be-
tweea - and 50 years OF age. He
had lived in the county twenty-seven
yeaZs. fifteen of which had been
spent as a public Official. He had
lucrative Law practice. owned two
nice cottages in town. farm just
OUTSIDE the city limits and had
money in safety deposit vault at
I0al bank He had no debts and
10 enemies.
Mrs. Mcmillan and their five
children remained quietly on the
farm. The property was in the
wifes name and in the safety de-
post box several thousand dollars
were found.
Mrs. Mcmillan received no word
fr1D her husband. Messages sent
To the district in Scotland from
which Mcmillan and his wife had
originally come brought back the
answer that the judge had not been
there, that no word had been receiv-
I'd from him.
Tzo months after Judge McAIil-
Ian disappeared a Probate Judge
NSas named 10 serve out his term.
HIS accounts were found to be cor
recJ To the penny. /
Three years after their fathers
disappearance James and George. I
va of his sons. came to town one
,siay. loafed about their usual haunts
rsr awhile. then, like their father,
disappeared. They had brought no
luggage with them and had worn
their everyday clothes. No word
Sss ever received from either them
or their father. The mother and
three girls still lived on the farm.
Two years after the boys dropped
from sight bills were distributed an
Deuncing a sale OF the Mcmillan
goods The terms We're cash only.
Tue sale was held The next day
the mother and daughters left town.
Not clew as to what has become
of the family has ever been receiy-
ed here. The cottages in town are
always occupied Tenants move In
and stay until they get ready to
leave town. They pay no rent;
have no landlord to contend with.
When it becomes known that ten
ant is 10 leave. there is a rush 10
succeed him. A departing tenant.
loading his goods al the front door.
sees mother unloading other goods
AT the back door.
Years after the Mcmillan family
left, "A negro preacher and his fam
lily took up their abode in the de-
serted farmhouse. They left two
Ilays later. Three other families
moved In at various times. and left
lust as abruptly. The house is
now. Boys knocked out
the window panes long ago. Tramps
boarded up the windows. but even
hey ceased long ago 10 use the