Author: Patrick

Millsburg was founded on Feb. 12, 1828 as a “halfway farm.” At that time, it was the farthest interior town in the Liberian colony. The town sits on the northern bank of the St. Paul’s about 14 miles from the river mouth.

The town was named to honor Reverend Samuel J. Mills and Ebenezer Burgess, two white Americans who were sent to Africa by the American Colonization Society in 1818 to locate a suitable place for the colonization of blacks. The name is a contraction of names “Mills” and “Burgess.”

Footnote: J. W. Lugenbeel, “Sketches of Liberia – No. 2,” African Repository, July 1850, p. 207; “From Liberia,” African Repository, May 1828, 82; “From Liberia,” African Repository, June 1828, p. 127.

The first structures  built by the colonial government on the site was a log warehouse and huts “built in the country style” with sufficient room for 30 to 40 people.

The initial land for the town was cleared between March and May 1828 by six families, who received up to two acres each for planting. Given how poor they were, the colonial government gave them tools and seeds, as well as help in building their houses and with planting.

Footnote: “From Liberia,” African Repository, May 1828, 82; “From Liberia,” African Repository, June 1828, p. 127.

The 1840 elections for colonial council pitted the Administration Party against the Anti-Administration Party, which was centered in the Methodist Church.

In a letter to Samuel Wilkerson of the ACS on April 7, 1841, Governor Thomas Buchanan complained about questionable attempts to sway voters by Rev. John Seys, the white West Indian head of the Methodist Church: “At Millsburg every voter was employed at unusually high wages on the [Methodist] Saw Mill and sugar plantation — and there every vote was polled for his friends.”

Buchanan’s charge of political strong-arming by Seys was corroborated by other neutral parties, including the Rev. Francis Burns, who eventually assumed control of the Methodist mission.

Footnote: Brown, p. 87-88, 95, n. 21; d’Amico, 1977, pp. 121-122; Shick, 1982, p. 54.

When a census was taken in 1843, 95 residents identified their occupations. Twenty-five worked in agriculture, five were artisans, four merchants, two professionals, 28 semiskilled, and 31 unskilled. There was no appointed office holder.

In 1843, 83 residents were members of two local churches. Twenty five were Baptists and 58 Methodists. In addition, the Methodist Church operated an indigenous mission here. In 1843, the only local school was operated by Eunice Moore with 24 pupils.

Footnote: U. S., Congress, Senate, U. S. Navy Department, tables showing the number of emigrants and recaptured Africans sent to the colony of Liberia by the government of the United States … together with a census of the colony and a report of its commerce, &c. September, 1843: Senate Document No. 150, 28th Cong., 2n sess., 1845; Cassell, 1970, pp. 103, 106-108, 111; Shick, 1980, pp. 33, 65-66, 74-75, 166, n. 2. 3, 4, 5, and 6.

When Liberia declared its independence in 1847, the country contained 11 towns. Millsburg was one of them. By prevailing European and Asian standards, a country that small was unusual. But it was the typical size of nearby polities.

Most polities in the area at the time, including Liberia, were composed of non-continuous towns. In other words, they consisted of settlements widely separated by unclaimed forest and mangrove swamp. Of the various neighboring examples, Liberia at independence most resembled the Kru polity, which consisted of widely dispersed settlements along the coast.

In 1850, a visitor described Millsburg as “perhaps the most beautiful, and one of the most healthy locations in Liberia.” The town extended about a mile and a half along the river bank, with houses widely separated from each other. Local farms were highly productive due to the rich and moist soil of the riverbank.

That year, Millsburg was the site of a “flourishing” all-girls school operated by Mrs. Wilkins, a Methodist missionary. On the opposite side of the river was White Plains, which housed a Methodist mission school. The town had one public school in 1874 conducted by Mr. Jacobs, who was paid $200 for teaching 37 students.

Footnote: J. W. Lugenbeel, “Sketches of Liberia – No. 2,” African Repository, July 1850, p. 207; “Government schools in Montserrado County, African Repository, July 1874, p. 220.

In 1879, the U. S. Steamer Ticonderoga completed a survey of the St. Paul’s River “from the bar to the rapids, taking soundings the whole way; and proceeded from Millsburg, half the distance to Bopolu.” A copy of the resulting map of the river was sent to the Liberian Secretary of State.

In 1893, a fifth regiment was created with troops to be drawn from Careysburg as well as Clay-Ashland, Louisianna, Millsburg, Harrisburg, Arthington, Muhlenburg, White Plains, Robertsville, Crozerville and Bensonville.

Footnote: “Brewerville and the St. Paul’s River,” African Repository, July 1879, p. 55; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1893, p. 6.

In 1915, Resident David B. Peal was authorized by the legislature to run a ferry across the St. Paul River between Millsburg and White Plains.

One year later, two other ferry franchises were granted to ply the St. Paul River near Millsburg. One authorized Henry E. Snetter of Eloise Farm, New York, Clay Ashland, the right to operate across the Saint Paul River at the points known as Gripper Creek and Peter Creek below the settlement of Millsburg and directly opposite across to White Plains for ten years with a maximum charge of six cents during the dry season and 12 cents during the rainy season.

The other franchise was awarded to A. M. Harris and John Clinton and Joseph Cisco, Limited, of Millsburg and Harrisburg to run a ferry between the Muhlenburg Mission Boys School and Girls School, Harrisburg for ten years with a maximum charge of six cents during the dry season, 12 cents during the rainy season and two cents per kinjah.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1915-16, pp. 4-5; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1931, pp. 32-33; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1931, pp. 33-34.

In 1893, a fifth regiment was created with troops to be drawn from Careysburg as well as Clay-Ashland, Louisianna, Millsburg, Harrisburg, Arthington, Muhlenburg, White Plains, Robertsville, Crozerville and Bensonville.

In 1915, resident David B. Peal received the right to run a ferry across the St. Paul River between Millsburg to an opposite point at White Plains.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1893, p. 6; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1915-16, pp. 4-5.

In 1931, Henry E. Snetter of Eloise Farm, New York, Clay Ashland, received permission from the legislature to run a ferry across the Saint Paul River at the points known as Gripper Creek and Peter Creek below the settlement of Millsburg and directly opposite said points below the settlement of White Plains. His charter was for ten years with a maximum charge of six cents during the dry season and 12 cents during the rainy season.

In 1931, the legislature granted three residents of Millsburg and Harrisburg a right to operate a ferry across the St. Paul River between the Muhlenburg Mission Boys School and Girls School, Harrisburg for ten years with a maximum charge of six cents during the dry season, 12 cents during the rainy season and two cents per kinjah. Named as operators  A. M. Harris and John Clinton and Joseph Cisco.

Footnote: Acts of the Liberian Legislature, Acts 1931, pp. 32-33; Acts of the Liberian Legislature, 1931, pp. 57-58.