In early June, I had the privilege of visiting the “original” Millikin Homestead in the Village of Ten
Mile, Pennsylvania, where our founder, James Millikin, was born on August 2, 1827. His
grandfather, James Millikin II, emigrated from Ireland in 1771 and settled in this area. In the first
photo, I’m standing in front of the current farm, with the only surviving structure from that
era—the barn—visible in the second photo.
If you haven’t yet watched Fields of Gold, the recent documentary about A.E. Staley’s
remarkable life, I highly recommend it—it’s available on Amazon Prime. Inspired by its
storytelling, I’m embarking on a mission to create a similar film celebrating James Millikin’s life
and legacy. This visit to Pennsylvania marks the beginning of that journey.
While in Washington County, I captured photos and videos of the area and conducted
interviews with local historians and residents. This project is a massive undertaking, and I’ll
need your help to bring it to life. I’m certain there are families with unseen images—perhaps of
James Millikin, his family, or the Homestead itself. I’m also seeking photos of Decatur and
Macon County from 1856 to 1913, the years the Millikins called this area home. These don’t
need to feature the Millikins; they could be snapshots of Main Street, the Millikin Bank, or a local
business they supported. It is better to have too much than not enough. Right now, I’m in the
“not enough” phase, so any contribution would be invaluable. If you have photos to share,
please contact me at [email protected] or call 217-433-4485.
We also have four exciting milestones to celebrate soon:
1. The establishment of our first-ever endowment.
2. The 50th anniversary of our nonprofit, James Millikin Homestead, Inc.
3. The 150th anniversary of the Homestead itself.
4. The inaugural year of the Lucien Kapp Art Competition.
The Homestead Board is energized about the future and committed to preserving the rich
history of the Homestead, the Millikins, and our community for generations to come. Thank you
for your support in this journey!
Sincerely,
Jim Wilkerson
