Both as a patriot and as a business man, Milam James Barackman has an enviable record, and, if for no other reason than for what he suffered and endured that the Union might be preserved, he is entitled to a high place in the annals of his country and state.
Born in Reading township, Livingston county, Illinois, September 26, 1842, he is a son of James and Ellen (Moon) Barackman, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Their deaths occurred when Milam J. was about four years old, and he became a member of the household of his uncle, Albert Moon. Daniel Barackman, the paternal grandfather of our subject, an early settler of Reading township, and a native of the Blue Grass state, died in 1864. Jacob Moon, the maternal grandfather, was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Ohio, and subsequently to Reading township, Livingston county, Illinois, Daniel, the only brother of Milam J., died at the age of nine years, and his two sisters are Mrs. Gary, of Normal, Illinois, and Mrs. Ellen Latham, of Saginaw, Michigan.
Until he was about eighteen years of age Milam J. Barackman lived with his uncle, Albert Moon, and attended the local schools of his native township. He then entered Lombard University, at Galesburg, Illinois, and was making good progress in his studies when the outbreak of the war routed all other interests from his mind. Upon the president's first call for volunteers, he enlisted in Company D, Twentieth Illinois Regiment of Infantry, and was filled with chagrin and disappointment when his guardian withheld his permission for him to be mustered into the service on the ground that he was not of age. After remaining at home for two weeks the young man re-enlisted, this time in Company G, Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, for the term of three years, Colonel Noblesdorff being his commander. With his regiment he was ordered in pursuit of General Price, after which campaign he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Perryville, and fought under the leadership of General Rosecrans at the battle of Stone River, that officer then being in charge of the Army of the Cumberland. For his meritorious services in the great battle last mentioned Mr. Barackman's name was placed upon a special roll of honor of non-commissioned officers, to whose daring and fidelity General Rosecrans felt much indebted, and thus acknowledged publicly. Later, when in the Twentieth Army Gorps, commanded by General McCook, our subject took an active part in the famous battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. At Stone River, where the Union forces suffered so dreadfully, Mr. Barackman was injured, and lost his right eye, but it was not until 1864, when his regiment veteranized, that the matter came before the notice of the proper authorities, who refused to allow him to re-enter the lists with his comrades, as he desired to do. He was accordingly mustered out of the service and honorably discharged, at the Marine Hospital in Chicago.
Returning to his old home in Reading township, Mr. Barackman became interested in coal operations, to which he gave much of his attention for the succeeding thirty years, then turning the entire business over to his son, Arthur M. In the meantime he had also been successfully engaged in farming, and owns a finely improved homestead of four hundred acres, in his native township. One of the pioneer coal operators of Streator and vicinity, he accomplished a great deal for this great industry, and is well known throughout this region. For some years he was the president of the Barackman Coal Company, and was the senior member of the firm of Barackman & Son, who for a period conducted a grocery in Streator. By his well directed energy and financial ability he accumulated a snug little fortune, and now owns a large amount of valuable property aside from his splendid farm, which he now rents to responsible tenants. Fraternally he belongs to Streator Post, No. 68, G. A. R., and in politics he favors the Republican party.
In 1866 Mr. Barackman and Miss Fanny W. Goodyear, of Parkville, Missouri, were united in marriage. Mrs. Barackman died in 1872, and left two children, Arthur M. and Eulola F., the latter now the wife of Albert Finchman, of Streator. In 1876 Miss Alice C. Tutlow, of Ottawa, Illinois, became the wife of our subject. Their children, in order of birth, are as follows: Harry E., Guy B., Jessie F., William G., and May. They are receiving good educational advantages, and are being well equipped for the battles of life.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 222-224.
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