When President Abraham Lincoln made his first call for volunteer soldiers after the Civil War broke out in 1861, six brothers from the same Jackson County farming family stepped up to serve.
These brothers from Milton Township — Emerson, Murray, Milton, James, Andrew, and Marion McMillin — all fought for the Union cause. As it turned out, one brother was killed in battle and two others died as a result of wartime wounds.
Collectively, they became known as The Fighting McMillins and gained a measure of local and regional fame.
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, the Jackson County Civil War 150 Committee will commemorate the military service and sacrifice of The Fighting McMillins with a brief program at Jackson’s Fairmount Cemetery where three of the brothers are buried side by side.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which is set for 4 p.m. The graves of the other three brothers are located in other cemeteries. Those wishing to attend should drive up the center road of the cemetery and look for signs pointing to the McMillins’ gravesites.
The Civil War 150 Committee credits Jackson resident and local history buff and preservationist Anthony Coyan for providing the information to make Monday’s program possible.
The Jackson County Civil War 150 Committee is conducting and coordinating various local events in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Its headline event will occur the weekend of August 16-18 when a Morgan’s Raid Reenactment is conducted in Jackson.