Ann and James McMillan, Sr. and their three children, Elizabeth, Andrew and James Jr. came to America from Belfast Ireland in the year 1821. They landed in Charleston, South Carolina where they joined other relatives who had already arrived in this country. Shortly after their arrival James Sr. became ill and died. Thus leaving Ann Reeves McMillan a widow with three children in a strange land. She was also expecting another child which was born six weeks after the death of his father. The new baby was a boy whom Ann named George and was in later life destined to be the child closest to her for she made her home with him and his family.

Many women would have been overwhelmed with grief and the crushing responsibilities of rearing four children in a day and age when women were at a distinct disadvantage in business matters. However, Ann Reeves McMillan's faith never wavered for she pressed forward to Boligee, Alabama traveling by the crudest conveyances over the long miles. She had the comfort and help of other Irish families who had come over the same time. They established homes in Boligee but soon the new frontiers of Texas beckoned and the same faith that carried Ann through life told her this was the thing to do. She, being head of a household, was granted a league of land (4428) acres by the Mexican government. She traveled to Texas with seven other families and her own children and they all settled near Benchley, Texas and Wheelock Prairie. Ann never lived on the land granted to her but divided it among her children. She continued to live with her youngest son, George and his family until the time of her death.

Ann Reeves McMillan now rests in the old historic Dunn Cemetery along side many of the friends and relatives that she came with from Belfast. This is a beautiful, peaceful setting for all these people who had such supreme courage and faith back when times were truly perilous. (By Mrs. Marjorie Hicks, Franklin, Texas...Ann Reeves McMillan was her great great grandmother.)