Milam & Collateral Families

Milam & Related Families, 1968, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
From: May 16, 1968 Winn Parish Enterprise
(H. B. Bozeman article reprinted with permission granted me by Mr. Estes Bozeman)

Winn Parish As I Have Known It
Article No. 532
by H. B. Bozeman
(excerpts)

Milam History in Winn Parish Began About 1854
by Henry E. Harlan

The first Milam ever to trod Winn Parish soil was Nancy, as far as the writer knows. Ben Milam of West Texas history may have traveled west over the Spanish trail. So far as Milam history there seems to be none on a national scale. Such a history has to be prepared in a life time by an individual who has the inclination and money enough to travel and search records for genealogy.

I have not checked the census bureau for lack of time. The Winn Parish records previous to 1886 were destroyed by fire, but Nancy and her husband came to Winn about 1854. I am presuming that she was married to Rev. Samuel Lafayette Dean in Talledega County, Alabama, because her sister, Paulina Milam, was married to Sebern Dean there before coming to Louisiana.

It must be remembered that most of the migrations west into Louisiana and Texas came after the annexation of Texas in 1845, and the gold rush to California in 1849. It is true that Louisiana was purchased from France in 1803, but no one wanted to live in the swamps with the alligators and mosquitoes and perish with yellow or malaria fevers.

Nancy and Sam were surprised to find yellow long leaf pine, spring branches, and plenty of game in Winn Parish, as they stopped, they wrote back to the rest of the in-laws about having found a new paradise. Here they came, Paulina Milam, Sebron Dean, Mary Bell Milam, and George W. Harlan, Martha Milam, and Frank Machen.

John and Sil G. Milam came along. John was married to Elizabeth Wasson and Sil G. to Lean Griffin in Louisiana.

Nancy Milam married Samuel Dean. Their children and persons they married were: T. Ferral m. Bettie Chandler; Virina, m. W. M. Jordan; Averett J. m. Nancy Madden; Tandy Thornhill m. Alice Stewart; Elizabeth Bell m. Geo. Franklin Fox; Maltha m. W. F. Hammons. (Almeda was married to W. F. Hammons after Maltha's death).

Paulina Milam married Sebron Dean. Their children and children in law were: Fredonia, m. John D. Williams; Livonia, m. McK. Holstun; John, m. Elizabeth Smith; Della, m. Thomas Jackson; Emma, m. Wyatt Jackson; Lou, m. John Burks; Samuel, died about age 15.

Children and in-laws of Martha Milam and Frank Machen were: Turner, m. Almeda Killen; Henry, m. Ella Little; Bell, m. Tandy G. Milam; Ida, m. a Mr. Mathis; Nancy, m. Dr. Little; Annie, m. Carl Swanson; Robert F. m. Maude Long.

Mary Bell Milam, born October 20, 1829, married George W. Harlan. Their children and in-laws were: James Henry, died when a child; William A., m. Francies M. Mitchell; Tandy Gibson, m. Eula A. Jenkins, later married Ella D. Shumate; George Thomas, m. Media Frantom.

John Milam married Elizabeth Wasson. Their children were Sinia, m. and died in her teens; John Bude, m. Viola Stone.

Sil G. Milam married Leah Griffin. Their children were William M., m. Ella Peddy; Tandy Gibson, m. Bell Machen; Dr. Jepp, m. Moease Smith; John, m. Alice Snead; Andrew, m. Mary Lowe; Dennis, m. Alice Hennigan; Ollie, m. Daniel Lowe; Hattie, m. George Lowe.

All of the above Milams lived in Winn Parish most of the rearing of their children. There is another brother who lived between Arcadia and Ruston. I do not recall ever having seen any member of the family of Tandy. He married a Trussel, if I have the name spelled correctly. I hope to know more of the kinsmen and would appreciate hearing from them or any others of the Milam family.

The children of Tandy and Miss Trussel were: Dr. Young Matt or Madison, Lee, Precious, married a Bullock, Nita or Anita, Luta or Louise.

I do know this much, that Tandy Gibson Harlan, Tandy Gibson Milam (Pick), and Tandy Thornhill Dean were named for the same Tandy. My son, Tandy P. Harlan, and my granddaughter, Tandy Lynn, and Tandy Jackson of Coushatta, are named for some one of the other Tandy's. When two sisters and a brother each name a son Tandy, especially when these Tandy's were together when children, I would say he was a prince among kindred.

There is another name that has stayed in the family a long time: Bell. Mary Bell Milam, Elizabeth Bell Dean, Bell Machen, Eva Bell Harlan.

Another name is John. John Milam, John Bude Milam, Sr., John Bude Milam, Jr., Sil G.'s John Milam, Paulina Dean's John, William A. Harlan's John Thomas, another Tandy's Matt, William M. Milam's Matt Sr., and Matt Jr.

If I have missed naming any of you it is because I do not know. Let me hear from you. Let me hear anyway so that I may complete a history or genealogy of the Milams for the sesqui or bicentennial of Winn Parish. With apologies and greetings to all, and hoping that we may soon have a Milam reunion or centennial.