Mini Bios of People of Scots Descent
Andrew P. McMillan Biography

ANDREW P. McMILLAN is one of the leading merchants of Spink county, having a large and well-equipped general store in Conde, and is vice-president of the State Bank of Doland and the owner of a fine landed estate in the county where he has maintained his home since 1887. He is a native of Minnesota, having been born on the homestead farm, in Harmony township, Fillmore county, on the 7th of November, 1859, and being a son of Arthur C. and Rebecca (Cheever) McMillan, both of whom were born in Ohio, of Scotch descent. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject came from Scotland to America in the latter part of the eighteenth century, in company with his two brothers, and their descendants are now to be found in divers sections of the Union. The parents of the subject removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where his father became a successful farmer and stock grower. His present residence in Cresco, Iowa, the mother having died in December, 1893 

The subject was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm, and was about ten years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Iowa, where he secured his early educational discipline in the public schools of Cresco. In 1878 he secured a position as clerk in the mercantile establishment of White & Moon, in Cresco, Iowa, and continued to be employed as a salesman until coming to South Dakota, having in the meanwhile given careful attention to acquiring an intimate knowledge of the various details of the business, familiarizing himself with the values of different lines of goods and thus fortifying himself for an independent career as a merchant. In 1887 he came to Conde, South Dakota, and opened a general merchandise store, one of the first in the town. He began operations upon a modest scale, and by good management and fair dealing his business constantly expanded in scope and importance with the settlement and upbuilding of the surrounding districts and the village, and he now has a large and well-appointed establishment. He handles dry goods, groceries, clothing, shoes, millinery, etc., and his store is one which would do credit to a much more populous town. In 1887 he erected his present business block, which is twenty-four by eighty feet in dimensions and two stories in height. In 1892 Mr. McMillan erected his fine modern residence, at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, the same being one of the most attractive homes ;n the county, and he is the owner of a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, eight miles southwest of Conde, this county, the same being under a high state of cultivation and yielding good returns. He is one of the principal stockholders in the State Bank of Doland, of which he has been vice-president since 1895. In politics Mr. McMillan is a stalwart Garfield and Bryan man, and although he is essentially public-spirited and progressive he has never sought office of any description. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Baptist church in their home town, and he has been superintendent of its Sunday school from the time of organization to the present, covering a period of ten years, while Mrs. McMillan is a popular teacher in the same. Fraternally Mr. McMillan is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has attained to the chapter degrees; with the lodge and encampment of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as the Daughters of Rebekah; and with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 

On the 22d of April, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. McMillan to Miss Stella K. Hard, who was born and reared in Decorah, Winneshiek county, Iowa, being a daughter of John and Jane (Austin) Hard. Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have the following children: Arthur Edwin, Calla Maude, James Wesley, Leone Dunbar and Lloyd Fountain. Arthur finishes his commercial course at Brookings College in June, 1904, when he will enter into business with his father at Conde.