The McMillan-Benton House

HOMES OF OLNEY with Clifton Key 940.564.2979

208 S. Avenue F, Olney, TX

Photo by Will Sadler

Andrew Davis (A.D.) McMillan (1880-1949) moved to Olney from Breckenridge in 1908. He first worked as a bookkeeper, and in 1917, he partnered with Walter P. Reynolds, who had pioneered here in the insurance business in Old Olney on Springcreek Road. the building Mr. Reynolds had was moved to the new Olney on S. Avenue C., where it still stands.

In 1913, A.D. married Miss Alpha Ritchey (1881-1961) of Breckenridge and in that time frame built this house. In 1928, he opened his own agency across the street in some of the former Stevens-Roach building. A. D. was a Mason, Rotarian, and member of the local Methodist Church. He served on the building committee when the Methodists built their building on Main Street in 1919, diagonally across the street from the 1916 Baptist building. A.D. was in poor health in his last days. Hence, his wife and his secretary, Mrs. Jo Ann Garvey, operated the agency for a few weeks. On his death, his widow sold the agency in 1949 to A.D. (Dudley) Myers, who was the father of Bob and Al Myers.

The McMillans had no children, and guardianship was necessitated for Mrs. McMillan. In 1952, the guardianship sold the house to Rev. J.W. Sharbutt (1884-1963) and his widowed daughter Volva Clinger (1908-1984). Rev. Sharbutt retired from the ministry and moved to DeLeon in Comanche County.

In 1958, Sharbutt, joined by his wife Maude and their daughter Volva, sold the house to Mrs.Maude E. Rogers as her separate property. Maude’s husband was Melvin Edgar (Mel) (1884-1961) Rogers, who had children from a previous marriage—Elton J. Rogers (1913-1971), Janie Rogers Rutherford (1916-1984), and Vivian Rogers Burdick (1917-2000). Mel’s mother was Martha Jane (Bryson) (1861-1952) Rogers, and his father was William Rogers (1861-1948), with his mother being a member of a prominent early Texas Family.

The Bryson Family established the Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1847 South of Dallas as the first Protestant Church West of the Trinity River in North Texas. It is still a vibrant institution today and was influential in the local Cumberland Church. Mel’s parents farmed and ranched on the Newcastle highway and were recipients of considerable oil royalties. In 1961, Maude Rogers sold the house to Randy

In 1961, Maude Rogers sold the house to Randy and Jan Ammons. Randy worked for Olney Enterprise on the business side. The Ammons children were Reggie, Russel and Rando, with Reggie living in Denmark and the other two residing in Texas. The parents live in San Marcos.

In 1991, the Ammons sold the house to Delois Thompson. In 1995, Thompson sold the house to the cur

In 1995, Thompson sold the house to the current owners—Eddy R. Benton and wife Paula Ann (Newsom) (1952-2021) and Geraldine Cox, who is Eddy’s mother-in-law.

If you have any corrections or additional information to add to this article, contact Clifton Key at 940-564-2979