McMillan, Percy W.

Biography

John G. McMillan served as the Santa Clara County Surveyor from 1890 to 1914. Born in 1851 in Rhode Island, he served as Surveyor of Sutter County in California from 1877 to 1881. He next worked as a railroad surveyor for the Southern Pacific Company and as chief engineer of surveys for Stanford University. He also owned his own private business called McMillan & McMillan, Civil Engineers and Surveyors, which he ran with his son Percy W. McMillan.

While serving as the Santa Clara County Surveyor McMillan surveyed new roads, established grades, and superintended the building of bridges and public structures. He also designed most of the county's bridges, including one of the oldest concrete bridges in California, the Saratoga Creek Bridge. This bridge spans 136 feet and was the longest concrete bridge built before 1905.

Percy W. McMillan took over his father's surveyor business after John's retirement. Percy retired in the 1970s. The bulk of the McMillan Records were created by Percy.

From the guide to the J. G. McMillan and Percy W. McMillan surveyor records, 1870-1965, (bulk 1920-1960), (Santa Clara County Archives.)