Lot
859 
McMillenville, Ariz. Ter., Nov 10, 1878 (Maricopa), full bold purple cds and star in circle duplex (Meyer 1, rarity 8) on cover to Woodland, Cal., franked with 3¢ Banknote pair tied by duplexes; cover slightly reduced at left and small tear at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, the only recorded example of the McMillenville postmark, this postmark by the next year was altered removing the "ville" from the town name. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
On March 26, 1876, Theodore H. Harris and Charles McMillen were heading 28 miles northeast of Globe on a prospecting trip. While traveling through the White Mountains, McMillen got off his horse as he was too hungover to proceed farther. He went to sleep so Harris stopped, and while waiting drove his pick into nearby rock and discovered silver. The pair founded the Stonewall Jackson mine which eventually turned into McMillenville, named after the drunken McMillen. The town grew fast and a year later on November 12, 1877, a post office was opened. At its peak, 1,000 settlers lived there. McMillenville's peak was in 1880 and was booming until 1882 when Geronimo's warriors attacked; it became a ghost town by 1886.
Realized: $1,700