John Clinton Milner

  General Notes:

History of Adams County, Ohio, page 190

John Clinton Milner was born July 12, 1856, at Morristown, Belmont County, Ohio. His father was John Milner and his mother's maiden name, Esther Hogue. His father and mother were both natives of Belmont County. His grandfather, Joseph Milner, and his maternal grandfather, Samuel Hogue, were also from Belmont County. His great-grandfather, Edward Milner, and his maternal great-grandfather, Isaac Hogue, were both born in Loudoun County, Virginia. The ancestors of his mother came from Scotland in 1729, and those of his father, from England about the same date.

Our subject attended the public schools of Morristown, and graduated there from in 1872. In 1874 and 1875, he attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating from there in 1875. He then went to Hamde, Ohio and taught school two years, during 1876 and 1877 having charge of four schools. In 1877 and 1878 he taught at Wheelersburg, also having charge of four schools there.

He began the study of law in 1878, and attended the law college at Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1878 and 1879. From 1879 to 1882, he was at home in poor health. In 1882 and 1883, he attended Shoemaker School of Oratory and Belles Lettres, at Philadelphia. In the fall of 1883 he went to Topeka, Kansas, and while there was admitted to the bar. He did not like the country and returned to Belmont County. On June the 9th, of 1884, he was admitted to the bar of Ohio, at Columbus, and located at Portsmouth, Ohio, at once. He went in partnership with F.C. Searl, in 1884, and the firm was known as Searl and Milner. The same year Judge Harper became a member of the firm, under the name of Harper, Searl and Milner, which continued until 1891. In the fall of 1890, he was elected prosecuting attorney of Scioto County, and re-elected in 1893, serving until 1897. In the fall of 1897, he was elected one of the common pleas judges of the second subdivision of the fifth district, and took his seat as such on the ninth of February, 1897 and is still holding that position.

He was married November 19, 1897, to Miss Mollie E. Warwick. He has always been a Republican.

As prosecuting attorney of Scioto County, Mr. Milner made an honorable record. He was fearless, tireless and brought out of every case all the merit in it. His work in that office was most satisfactory to the public. As judge, he is very quick to grasp all the details in a case, and to give his views as to the justice or equities. He is disposed to dispatch business and to keep his work well in hand. As a lawyer, he was energetic, industrious and able; as a business man, he has no superior.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census: Federal Census, 1900, Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, USA.

• Census: Federal Census, 1910, Portsmouth, Scioto, Ohio, USA.

John married Mollie Eugene Warwick, daughter of John Warwick and Sallie Warwick, on 19 Nov 1897. (Mollie Eugene Warwick was born about 1861 in Ohio, USA.)