Alexander McMillan

Alexander McMillan (October 23, 1825 – October 25, 1901) was a Canadian American immigrant, businessman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was the 13th mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and represented La Crosse County in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Biography Alexander McMillan was born on October 23, 1825, in Stormont County, in what is now the province of Ontario, Canada. His parents had emigrated to Canada from Scotland just a few years earlier. McMillan was educated in the common schools there and worked on his father's farm.

When he was old enough, he moved to New York and labored there until 1850, when he took a steamboat to the west and settled in Madison, the capital of the new state of Wisconsin. He was employed as a clerk for three months and taught night school, then moved north to Portage, Wisconsin. In 1871, he was elected mayor of La Crosse, defeating incumbent Democrat Theodore Rodolf. He suffered a brief illness while serving as mayor and spent six months over the Winter in California. He did not run for re-election in 1872, but ran for Wisconsin State Assembly in the Fall election that year, and was chosen to represent his county in the 26th Wisconsin Legislature. He was also president of the La Crosse Temperance League.

Personal life and family McMillan was one of twelve children born to Scottish American immigrants Duncan B. and Mary McMillan. Several of his siblings also moved to Wisconsin and were involved in business and politics with him. McMillan was able to speak Scottish Gaelic, due to exposure to the language in his childhood.

Alexander McMillan married Sarah L. Parker at La Crosse in October 1858. They had four children, though only one survived infancy—their son Samuel D. McMillan. Sarah McMillan was said to be a talented painter.