Milford Daniels was born 1834 at Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Kentucky, the son of Minerva Wright and Hiram Daniels. Minerva Wright was a slave, and so Milford was born into slavery. In 1863, Milford was enumerated in Audrain County, Missouri, for the draft for Civil War service, and on this record, James Q. Daniel is listed as his owner. James Quincy Daniel and his family, including his mother Mary, had moved to Audrain County, Missouri prior to 1860. J. Q. was the son of Estridge and Mary Daniel of Montgomery County, Kentucky. The 1850 federal census record enumerated their family with 5 enslaved persons. Estridge Daniel died in 1852 and his will transferred Milford’s mother Minerva and her children to his wife Mary. [Note that Hallwas, 2012, names Robert Daniel as the owner of Milford].
Dica Ann Daniels was born in 1836, also in Montgomery County, Kentucky. She came to Missouri with the Daniel family, where she and Milford Daniels married in 1854. After emancipation, Milford and Dica and their children moved to Pennington Point, New Salem Township, southeast of Macomb. Here Stephen Yocum, a former neighbor from Kentucky, provided a cabin and acreage for them. The 1870 Census includes in their household: Eliza, age 15, George W, age 13, Sanford, age 12, all born in Kentucky; James M, age 8, Amanda, age 6, both born in Missouri; and Isabel S, age 11 months, born in Illinois.
By1880, the Daniels had moved to Mechanic Street in Macomb. Living with Milford and Dica were Milford’s mother Minerva in the household, with James, Isabel, and Oliver, who was born in 1873.
Helped form the Colored Men’s Business Association. Helped build the A.M.E. Church.
In 1920, Milford & Dica and their daughter Bell were living at 530 N. Mechanic St. Milford died August 23, 1920, and Dica in May 7, 1925. Their burial site in Macomb’s Oakwood Cemetery is in Section A, with a beautiful view of the lake in Everly Park and of those entering Macomb from the north. There are no grave markers for them today.
References:
- Death Record. State of Illinois (names his parents)
- Hallwas, J. E. (2012). Here to stay.
- Federal census records: 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920
- Will of Estridge Daniel, Montgomery County, Kentucky