Mr. T. H. McMillan was born in the township of Pickering in August, 1839 ; died in Oshawa, May 6th, 1917.
Seldom has the advent of one man meant so much in the life of any town as the coming of Mr. McMillan to Oshawa. The local industries of that day had been experiencing a depression which had almost brought them to the verge of insolvency. All the captains of industry who held sway during his first years in Oshawa have now either passed away to their reward or moved to other field, but the far-seeing vision and generous policy of T. H. McMillan in association with Mr. W. F. Cowan helped to tide the town over a precarious time in her history, and assisted in laying deep and strong the foundation of the present industrial Oshawa which has superseded a struggling nucleus of those early days.
Though in failing health for several months, he retained to the end a vital interest in the many activities with which he had been so long associated. Mr. McMillan removed to Oshawa from Whitby over forty years ago, where he began his business in the mercantile field. While still young he occupied in the old county town the highest municipal offices and was Warden of the County.
Associating himself with the late Hon. T. N. Gibbs and Mr. W. F. Cowan, they founded the Ontario Loan and Savings Co., being its first and only manager during its long and fruitful career. He will be better remembered, however, in the larger sphere as General Manager of the Western Bank of Canada, which successful institution was amalgamated with the Standard Bank of Canada in the year 1909.
Much of the industrial prosperity of this manufacturing centre can be traced to his foresight in catering to the wants of a clientele not only in this community, but also throughout the Midland and northern counties where generous treatment was given to business people needing the services of such a monetary institution.
After the absorption of the Western by the Standard Bank of Canada Mr. McMillan accepted a seat on that Board of Directors, which he continued to occupy until his death.