John McMillan Hillard was the son of Nancy Jane McMillan (1808-1885) and John Hillard (1793-1851).

On July 16, 1863, during the Civil War, John was assigned to Company H, St. Clair Guards, 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment where he served until July 2, 1864. He then served with the Company E, 155th Pennsylvania Infantry from July 2, 1864 through April 28, 1865. He fought in the same Company and Regiment as his brother, Jonathan Boone Hillard, during the entire Civil War. He participated in numerous battles in Virginia including Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, He was accidentally shot in the hip in February 1864, while in winter quarters at Licking Run, near Warrenton, Virginia. During his recovery, he returned home to marry Eliza Jane Jamison. In the spring of 1864, he fought at the Wilderness, Laurel Hill and Spotsylvania Courthouse. He was wounded in the right shoulder at Sanders Field during the battle of The Wilderness, Virginia, in the early afternoon on May 5, 1864. He then fought at North Anna, Paunkey Creek, Totopotomoy Creek, Shady Grove Road, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church, Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, Jerusalem Plank Road, Weldon Railroad near Globe Tavern, Peebles' Farm, Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, Lewis's Farm, White Oak Road, Five Forks, and Appomattox Courthouse. He took part in the formal surrender of the arms and battle flags by General Lee's Confederate troops on April 12, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. The 155th Pennsylvania Regiment stood directly in front of the Wilmer McLean house during the surrender of arms. John was discharged on April 28, 1865, by General Order # 77, after having served 1 year, 9 months and 12 days.

While on leave during the winter of 1863-1864, he married Eliza Jane Jamison (1844-1897) on February 18, 1864 in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
Children:
• Clara Belle (1866-1916)
• Elizabeth Amanda 'Bessie' (1867-1931)
• Jennette Mathilda 'Hettie' (1869-1939)
• John Lawrence (1872-1943)
• Priscilla Luella 'Crissie' (1872-1927)
• James Kirk (1876-1925)
• Archibald 'Archie' Forest (1877-1928)
• Emma (1879-before 1909)
• Daniel (1880-before 1909)
• Rhoda Grace (1882-1919)
• Ralph Randolph (1883-1932)
• Eva (1886-before 1909)
• Leon Randolph (1886-1958)
• Jonathan Clare (1889-1969)

Obituary in the Butler Citizen, March 22, 1906:

Hilliard - At his home in Fairview twp., March 17, 1906, John M. Hilliard, aged 68 years.
Mr. Hilliard was accidentally shot through the hips, February 16th last, and has been failing ever since. He was buried at Eau Claire, Monday. During the Civil War he was shot through the back and one arm.

Unknown Obituary, provided by David Ross Snyder:

John Hillard died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. C. Stoops, on Saturday, as the result of an accidental wound received while handling a revolver about a month ago. The interment took place at Farmington on Monday.

David Ross Snyder also provided a note stating "John was accidentally shot while helping to slaughter a cow. (per Aunt Wilda Lee Rodgers Woodcock)"

His Pennsylvania death certificate shows his date of birth as June 21, 1838. It also stipulates cause of death as follows: "Received a shot through thigh from a 32 caliber revolver on the 16th of February."

In the fall of 2002, my wife and I traveled to each battle field where John and his brother, Jonathan, had participated during the Civil War. It was a very emotional experience to stand in the same revetments where they had huddled down for protection, and to see the actual location where each of them had been wounded in May 1864.

While we were visiting the Tredegar Iron Works, a Civil War Visitor Center in Richmond, Virginia, I related the experience of my Great Uncle, John McMillan Hillard, being wounded at The Wilderness to Park Service employee, Ben Cleary. Ben then stated that his Great Grandfather had been with General Richard Stoddert Ewell's Division that day and perhaps he was the one who had shot my relative. We both smiled and then shook hands and parted as friends.