HON. CHARLES STEPHEN MILLINGTON
U.S. Congressman

Contributed by Lisa Slaski
Transcribed by Elaine Scantlebury




MILLINGTON

The first American immigrant of this family was Gilbert Millington, the Regicide, who fled from England shortly after January, 1649, and lived in Vermont, probably in or near Bennington or Shaftsbury, as one hundred years later there were persons of this name resident in that vicinity. An alleged facsimile of the death warrant of Charles I. was shown to the students of Vassar College, and Miss Ada Millington, a graduate of that institution, daughter of Hon. Charles S. Millington, saw the name of Gilbert Millington as one of the forty-five that voted condemnation.

The next in line of descent of whom we have definite record was Deacon Nathan Millington, who removed from Bennington, Vermont, to Russia, New York, about 1790. He had a son Richard (of whom further), said to be the first white male child born in Russia, New York.

(1) Richard, son of Deacon Nathan Millington, was born in Russia, New York, and January 1800. He married Matilda, daughter of Reuben Bobbins, of Cold Brook, New York. Children: Stephen R. (see Forward); Nathan R., died in Holland Patent, 1873, aged fifty years. They had an adopted daughter, Sarah L., who married Dr. J. L. Seavey, of Poland, New York, and died there during the winter of 1909-10. Richard Millington and his wife died in the year 1880, at the home of their son, Stephen R. Millington.

(2) Stephen Robbins, son of Richard and Matilda (Robbins) Millington, was born in Russia, New York, February 9, 1826. He attended the public school of Russia for his elementary education, and in 1842 entered Fairfield Academy, remaining there during the winter of 1843, after which he taught in a district school for several terms. Having a predilection for the medical profession, he decided to prepare himself for it, and to this end commenced study in the office of Dr. Walter Booth, of Russia, in 1845, and after mastering in some degree the intricacies of the old school "Materia Medica," attended two courses of lectures at the Geneva Medical College and a finishing course at the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1847 with the degree of M. D. He at once commenced practice in Norway, New York, where he continued for fifteen years, successfully meeting the requirements of a country practice. He was highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen for his many excellent qualities as a public-spirited citizen, in addition to his widely recognized, skill as a physician. Dr. Millington was often called to fill positions of trust and honor. He was elected and served as town clerk of Norway; was school commissioner, supervisor, and in 1859 was elected to represent the town as member of the assembly. Late in 1860 Dr. Millington moved to Poland, a village in the town of Russia, where he soon established himself in his medical practice and continued actively in it until 1872. He took a great interest in and materially aided in the construction of the Herkimer, Newport & Poland railroad, being, elected vice-president of the road and served as such until the line was absorbed and extended.

Dr. Millington married (first), January 21, 1848, Ada R., daughter of Ebenezer Walker, of Russia, New York; she died July 25, 1852. The children by this marriage died in infancy. He married (second), May 26, 1853, Harty, born August, 1827, died January 5, 1905, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Cooms) Lambertson. Child, Charles Stephen (see forward). Dr. Millington died at Poland, New York, November 28, 1898, respected and beloved by all who know him.

(IV) Hon. Charles Stephen, son of Dr. Stephen Robbins and Harty (Lambertson) Millington, was born in Norway, Herkimer County, New York, March 13, 1855. On 1860 he accompanied his parents to Poland, New York, where he attended the public School until 1868, when he entered Fairfield Seminary, remaining two years. In 1870, he entered the Hungerford Collegiate Institute at Adams, New York, from which he graduated in June, 1872, preparatory to a course at Yale University, which he entered upon, but on account of ill health was obliged to relinquish. Regaining, in some degree, his health, he accepted a position as clerk in the Hungerford National Bank. He shortly resigned this clerkship to accept the position of cashier of the Bank of Poland, which was organized by Dr. Millington, his father, and others. Mr. Millington was under eighteen years of age when he was chosen to this responsible position, which he subsequently filled for twenty-one years in an able and highly satisfactory manner. He was called to the vice-presidency of the Herkimer Bank of Herkimer, New York, in 1893, and two years later was elected president of the same, a position which he has filled with rare skill and fidelity to the present time (1910). Mr. Millington is a man widely known as a financier of fine ability, and the Herkimer Bank, which was reorganized as a national bank in 1898 by Mr. Millington, is well known as one of the successful monied institutions of the Empire State. He is also acting in the capacity of president of the First National Bank of Dolgeville, New York. While conservative in the conduct of the business of banking, and of the safe investment of funds, he is known as a benevolent citizen, ready to lend a helping hand to the deserving.

Amidst his activities as a man of business, Mr. Millington has for years been interested in the conduct of public affairs and is most thoroughly conversant with the system of out government, having given time and study to our system of political economy, therefore it was quite natural that when a successor was needed to fill the congressional position vacated by Hon. James S. Sherman, vice-president of the United States, Mr. Millington should be chosen. He was nominated by the Republicans of the Twenty-seventh New York district and elected by a large majority to the sixty-first congress in November 1908, and took his seat at the extra session called March 15, 1909, and attended the regular sessions up to the close, August 6, 1909. At the regular session, December 6, 1909. he was given important committee assignments, banking and currency, and the committee on claims, positions rarely accorded to new members. Congressman Millington was instrumental in bringing forward bills from committee which were enacted. He secured the passage of important legislation and many private pension bills, and also introduced a bill appropriating $100,000 for the purchase of a site for the new postoffice building in the city of Utica, New York. He remained until the close of the session, June 25, 1910, giving close attention to the business under consideration. Mr. Millington is a member of the Union League Club of New York.

Mr. Millington married, March 6, 1878, Allie, born in August 1855, daughter of John Robert and Eliza Jane (Schermerhorn) Webster. John R. Webster was a son of John G. Webster, a native of Massachusetts, and a descendant of Hon. Daniel Webster, of historic memory. Eliza J. (Schermerhorn) Webster was a daughter of Ryer Schermerhorn, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Deerfield, New York. Mrs. Allie Millington died February 10, 1902, leaving three daughters: 1. Maud, born January, 1882; married, September 10, 1908, Edwin C. Pelton, a business man of Herkimer. 2. Harty, born April, 1884; married, October 20, 1909, Henry J. Munger, a business man. 3. Ada, born February, 1886; a graduate of Vassar College; unmarried. In 1895 Mr. Millington established a beautiful home on Prospect street, Herkimer, still retaining a summer home in Poland.


Source: "Genealogical and Family History of Northern New York; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation," comp. under the editorial supervision of William Richard Cutter. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1910. Volume I.


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Created 12/10/03
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