~ 1 of 5 ~
The James Millikin Homestead stands on a small hill that rises above the prairie. This grand home seems to preside over the surrounding countryside, a "grand dame" to the Decatur of yesteryear. Constructed in 1876 by James and Anna Millikin, the James Millikin Homestead is a prime example of late-Victorian splendor. One of the few remaining mansions in the Decatur Historic District, it stands as a reminder of both Decatur's past and the man whose mission was to make sure Decatur would have a future.
James Millikin arrived in Decatur in the late 1850s. A shepherd, Millikin drove his flock of sheep from Washington, Pennsylvania to central Illinois. He stopped first in Danville and then Decatur, selling his sheep to local farmers and traders. The proceeds he made went towards his real estate investments in Macon County. In 1860, friends convinced him to open a bank in Decatur. Later, he decided to focus his financial attentions on the Millikin Bank.
On New Year's Day, 1857, James married Anna Bernice Aston, a Presbyterian minister's daughter from Mt. Zion, IL.The couple lived in the Revere House, a hotel located in downtown Decatur. After a year of marriage, they moved to a cottage on the corner of William and Edward streets, where they stayed for 17 years. The Millikins then decided it was time to build a home. Construction began of the Millikin Homestead began in 1875. A Chicago architect reportedly designed the house. Some believe that the architect was William LeBaron Jenny. However, no evidence has been found that reveals the architect's true identity.
