James Deveaux MIFFLIN

James Deveaux Mifflin was Lloyd's second brother. James didn't choose medicine or the arts. Like his brother, Charles, he tried to 'marry well,' but that ultimately didn't work out as planned. But, he did have an adventurous side and didn't mind taking a chance.

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In 1869, at the age of 17, he enrolled in the recently-formed State Agricultural College just outside of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (that school eventually evolved into Pennsylvania State University). Two other Columbians joined him: Harry L. Cottrell and Samuel W. Douglass. Even with a specialized education, immediate success wasn't guaranteed. After graduation, and wanting to work on his own terms, he had a chance to own a coal company. It wasn't easy work. The best part for James was that he didn't have to answer to anyone but the customer. He took pride in his work, even to the point of being known for a pristine and handsome team of horses. Often seen on the Mount Joy Turnpike, he received waves from admiring farmers and customers. But, he wanted more.

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In February 1875, he took off for Colorado to explore the possibility of cattle ranching. By November 1878, he still hadn't taken the plunge and was still weighing his options, by then including sheep in his options. This time, he was considering Texas. By June of 1881, he planned to meet up with fellow Columbian, George Haldeman, in hopes of partnering in a ranching venture. James must have had the gift of gab to make the prospect an enticing story. Two years later, James and George had a ranch in New Mexico. They even managed to convince another friend, John Wilson, to join in their adventure.

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Two years later, the adventure turns into dire reality. James had his fill of dust and heat. He sells his interest in the cattle ranch and returns home. As the gossip section of a local paper said, "He returns East to enjoy civilization and comfort." He didn't stay put for l. During his time 'out West' he must have met up with an enticing woman he simply couldn't live without. In 1894, he returns to Colorado long enough to marry one Sallie G. Austin of Virginia. By 1900, they're found in the census as living at his estate, Oakmont, not far from his brothers. Oakmont still exists off Ironville Pike near Columbia, albeit in an abbreviated form (when the new Route 30 highway carved much of the land and building away). They enjoyed their lives there with many visits from old friends from the West and nearby, attended to by their servants David Heisey and Anne Brenneman.

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In 1901, Sallie received devastating news that her much-beloved grandfather, Lacy Austin, had died. Sallie was distraught beyond measure. She returned to Virginia to be with the family for some weeks. But, facts become confusing at this point. Within a year of that event, James remarries. Perhaps Sallie knew she couldn't remain away from her family and decided to return to Virginia. If true, that may have been enough for James to divorce her after feeling abandoned and relegated. It's all conjecture. But, it's a matter of record that he married Margaret G. Dietzel of Columbia and they were wed at Margaret's mother Rose's house on Perry Street. All of it sounds quite incongruous and unbelievable, but James did have a history of making illogical decisions (I'll save one of those examples for a blog one day). 

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James Deveaux Mifflin died in 1913. Less than a year later, Margaret Mifflin—the newer Mrs. Mifflin—sells Oakmont to Atlee Haldeman, the son of James' old ranching partner, George Haldeman. 

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