Dean Stanley Milligan

Waveland Independent, April 6, 1928 -- This community was horrified on Friday morning by the accidental death of Dean S. Milligan. Mr. Milligan had arisen before the rest of the family, with exception of Lawrence who was at the barn milking. It is supposed that he saw dogs in the pasture in front of the house where the sheep are kept and that he reached into the closet back of the kitchen for a single barreled shot gun which was kept there. in some manner the gun was discharged the load entering the body above the left hip and ranging upward. Hearing the noise John rushed downstairs and found his father lying on the floor with the gun at this feet. Dr. Isaacs was called but there was no sign of life when he arrived. Coroner Griffith was notified and after viewing the body returned a verdict of accidental death. The accident occurred about half past six. Funeral services at the Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon were in charge of Rev. W.F. Smith of Rockville assisted by Rev. H. Hugo. The music was by a quartet: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Denk, Mrs. Gallowya and Corta Dooley. The pall bearers were: V.G. Moser, J.D. Blacker, Roy Buser, Will White, Everett Clore and Normal E. Walker. The flower bearers were Mrs. Robert Burford and Misses Juanita Jarvis, Cecile Martin, Clara Mae Oldshue, Julia Spruhan, Cordelia Rule, elsie Payne and Ruth Ferrell. Judge Jere West conducted the Masonic ceremony at the grave. The following obituary was read: Dean Stanley Milligan was born Feb 26, 1881 on what is called the Old Judge McIntire farm one half mile southeast of Waveland. He was called to his Eternal Home on the morning of March 30, 1928 at the age of 47 years, one month and four days. He was the sixth child of James Robert and Fannie Irwin Milligan, who spent their entire wedded life on that farm. Dean spent his entire life in Waveland with the exception of two years in Russellville and vicinity. His father, died when Dean was 17, leaving him and his brothers, Sam and Milford at home with the widowed mother. Dean and Sam, altho young took charge of the farm and operated it successfully during several years of partnership. Dean wooed and won Miss Josphine Hitch of Darlington and they were married March 2, 1904. Dean brought his bride to the old homestead where the partnership with Sam was continued for several years. Later he was engaged in various business enterprises in Waveland and vicinity. At the time of his death he was serving his second term as Trustee of Brown Township. As a public officer he commanded the respect and confidence of all citizens and taxpayers alike whether of his political faith of otherwise. He was always conscientious and honest in his effort to administer the trust imposed in him by the township. Dean had a rich heritage of Christian Ancestry; his paternal grandfather being one of the founders, organizers and Ruling Elders in this present church - his father a Ruling Elder - his maternal grandfather spent a long life as a minister of the Gospel. His Uncle Robert Irwin was at one time pastor of this church and later served a most successful term as President of Lindenwood College St. Charles, Missouri. In his early manhood Dean united with the Presbyterian Church and has always been a faithful and consistent member. he served his church in the capacity of Treasurer for a period of 13 years, and was holding the office of Deacon at the time of his death. Dean was a member of the Masonic Order of the Chapter at Crawfordsville and also of the Knights of Pythias Lodge. He was devoted to his church - his family - his fraternal orders and the public trust and in his untimely death the community loses one of its most substantial and honored men. Dean is survived by the widow and three children: Frances Eleanor a teacher in the public schools; Lawrence Dean, 18 a member of the Senior Class of the High School , John Hubert 16, a Sophomore; one sister, Mrs. Charles B. Taylor of Winona Lake, three brothers, Frank C. of Huston, Texas, Sam, Jr. of Milligan and James Milford of Waveland. In addition, two nieces, 8 nephews, two great nieces, one great nephew, one step great nephew and a host of relatives who cherish his memory. Dean most truly lived a life of noble and honored manhood, ever fittin ghimself for that celestial home, that house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. Among those from out of town attending the funeral were the following: Mrs. Ruth Baker and Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Muff of Sumerville, Ohio; Mr. Kenneth Muff, Eaton, Ohio; Mr. Harper Muff, Richmond, Miss Lulu Grayson, Mr. Stewart Milligan and family, Miss Bessie McClain, Mrs. Mary Shirl, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Shannon of Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Milligan, Huston, Texas, Mr. Roy Blacker, Wingate, Miss Margaret McNutt and Mr. Joseph ball, Terre Haute, Mr. Scott Milligan and Rev. W.F. Smith, Rockville, Mr. and Mrs. James Gilliland, Miss Louise Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Allen, Mr. Rex Simpson and son, John, Dr. and Mrs. T.Z. Ball and son, Junior, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Gilliland, Mr. Merl Coons, Mr. E.O. Kirkpatrick, Mr. Charles McCullough, Mrs. Lawrence Hopkins, Lafayette; Mr. and Mrs. John Hitch, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Fletcher, Mr. Casper G. Crowder, Darlington; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hitch, Thorntown; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Booker, Advance; Miss Inez Gouty, Mr. A. L. Dwiggens, Waynetown; Mr. James E. Mount, Mr. T. L. Brown, New Ross; Mr. C.W. Newkirk, Hal Thewlis, Linden; Mr. Edwin C. Barnes, Mr. Samuel T. Powers, Ladoga; Mr. Anson S. Thomas, New Richmond; Mr. Thomas B. Turnipseed, Bowers.

Crawfordsville Journal, March 30, 1928 -- Dean Stanley Milligan, one of the best known citizens of Brown Township, lost his life early Friday when a shotgun which he had been cleaning was accidentally discharged at his farm home at the edge of Waveland. Mr. Milligan, who received the full blast of the gun in his left groin, lived for about 15 minutes. The accident occurred at 6:20 o'clock. Mr. Milligan who was serving his second term as township trustee, had been having trouble with dogs getting into his sheep and was making ready to get rid of some of these animals when he dropped the gun while leaving the kitchen of his home. The weapon was an old one and described as rather frail, was discharged as it struck the floor. Mr. Milligan had for many years been a leader in his community and was prominent in Republican politics. He had taken an active part in the formation of plans for the new consolidated township school at New Market, having served as chairman of the board of three trustees in this project. Dean Stanley Milligan was born in Feb. 1881, at Waveland, the son of Robert and Frances Milligan. He was united in marr. with Josephine HITCH March 2, 1904. For many years, Mr. Milligan had served as a deacon in the Presbyterian church. He also held membership in the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias. Those surviving are his wife, one daughter, Frances, and two sons, John and Lawrence. Miss Frances Milligan is a teacher in the Waveland schools while the sons are students there. Others who survive are three brothers, Frank of Texas, James Milford of Waveland, and Samuel, Jr. of Milligan, and one sister, Mrs. Charles Taylor. Up until recently Mr. Milligan and his family had resided in Waveland, a few weeks ago moving to the farm home at the edge of the city. For several years, Mr. Milligan was in the grocery business here.

Dean married Josephine (Josie) Hitch, daughter of John Sloan Hitch and Sarah Eleanor (Ellen) Pottenger, on 02 Mar 1904 in Montgomery Co., IN.¹ (Josephine (Josie) Hitch was born on 28 Dec 1881 in Montgomery Co., IN ^{2 4} and died on 27 Mar 1965 ².)