Wilson Thompson Mills (1834 - 1905)

Born 7 Dec 1834 in Randolph, Indiana, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Jane (Driver) Mills — married 25 Oct 1854 in Randolph, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Oct 1905 at age 70 in Eden Valley, Meeker, Minnesota, USA

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Biography

Wilson Thompson Mills was the son of Morgan Mills and Rebecca Jane Driver. He was born Dec 7, 1834 and died Oct 11, 1905.

Wilson Thompson Mills, early merchant and agriculturalist of Eden Lake township, was born in Randolph county, Indiana, December 7, 1834, son of Morgan and Rebekah (Driver) Mills. He was married October 28, 1854, in his native county to Martha J . Driver, who was born in the same neighbor hood, June 15, 1833. In the spring of 1865 they severed their ties in the county of their nativity, and came to. Minnesota, bringing their three children, William Riley, Noah E. and Sarah Ellen. They located on 120 acres in section 14, Eden Lake townhip, and started in life anew as pioneers, erecting a log cabin, breaking the land, cutting roads, and bringing about general developments. In time he acquired 500 acres of land. He opened a store on his land, called the Eden Lake Store, and kept such a stock as is demanded by a rural population. In addition to prospering in business he took an interest in town affairs, and served at difierent times as township clerk and supervisor, and on the school board. He died October 11, 1905. His wife is still living. They had twelve children: William Riley, born November 18, 1852; Abigail J., born June 10, 1856 (died May 22, 1858); Harvey D., born March 17, 1858 (died June 28, 1864); Noah Ephraim, born June 7, 1859; Andrew J., born December 9, 1861 (died October 18, 1864); Sarah Ella, born June 3, 1864 (died June 4, 1867); Charles R., born October 9, 1866; Sherman W., born November 26, 1868; Doctor Franklin, born De cember 11, 1870 (died December 8, 1872); John Morgan, born July 20, 1872 (died November 24, 1872); Egbert L., born February 5, 1874 (died July 6, 1875): Alto S., born May 27, 1875. ^[1] History of Stearns County, Minnesota / by William ... v.2. Mitchell, William Bell, 1843-

W. T. Mills has been quite prominent in the aflfairs of Eden Lake. He was born in Randolph county, Indiana, in 1834, and has been a farmer all his life, except three years, in which he engaged in the dry goods business. In 1866 he came to Eden Lake with his wife and two sons, Wm. R. and Noah , and daughter, Abigail J. The two sons are married and living on farms near the homestead. Mr. Mills has held the office of chairman of supervisors nearly ever since he came here, being the first chairman of the town. He has also been a member of the school board twentyfive years. He has followed an intelligent plan of diversified farming, which has been quite successful. ^[2] Early history of Maine Pairie, Fair Haven, Lynden, Eden Lake and Paynesville by Atwood, Edwin H., 1829- page 72

Mr. W. T. Mills tells of the Iong time it took him to rut or swamp a road to his claim. It took a strong wagon, a powerful team and slow and careful driving in those days to haul a load over these roads. The writer has a vivid recollection of a ride over these roads on a bob sled one winter with the Hon. D. J. Hanscom as driver and owner of the rig. We were in a hurry to get to the Grange meeting at the school house. The horses were not shod and the roads were icy and when the horses' feet came down upon the road they did not remain where they were placed but slid out in different directions, giving the horses the appearance of dancing a double schuffle. While swiftly circling around one big tree and suddenly wheeling to the right to dodge another the runners of the bobsled would at the same time run up on the roots of still another, nearly pitching us oat. However, running over a log on the other side would usually right us up again. The Hon. gentleman did not seem to mind this rough riding. It must take several years' practice to be come so used to such roads as to enjoy fast riding over them. But the same gentle- man can now enjoy riding over fine roads through the town in a fine carriage be hind a spirited horse. Everything comes to him who waits. ^[3] Early history of Maine Pairie, Fair Haven, Lynden, Eden Lake and Paynesville by Atwood, Edwin H., 1829- page 66

1867 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors

The territory now included in Eden Lake, was formerly a part of Richmond township, afterwards Munson, organized in 1858, but formed into a separate organi zation in 1867, and the first election held on February 16. The first ofiicers were: Supervisors, W. T. Mills (chairman), T. R. McGuire, and Ernst Holifer; clerk, D. J. Hanscom; assessor, C. P. Russell; treasurer, Thomas Allyn; justices of the peace. James Jones and B. Pirz; and constables, George Hamilton and William Marquette. ^[4] History of Stearns County, Minnesota by William Bell Mitchell. page 1266

1867 School Board

District Number 68 was organized in 1867. The first school officers were W. T. Mills, David Hanscom and a Mr. Hamilton. ^[5] History of Stearns County, Minnesota by William Bell Mitchell. page 1367

1874 Reports on Wheat Yield

—Mr. W.T.Mills, of Eden Lake, who was in town on Friday, informed us that the average yield of wheat in that town this year will be Id to 18 bushels. Very little threshing has been done yet. The oats crop is poor, the hull not being filled. Corn will yield well. ^[6] The St Cloud Journal Saint Cloud, Minnesota 10 Sep 1874, Thu • Page 3

Sources

1. ↑ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924065981239&view=plaintext&seq=601
2. ↑ https://ia800704.us.archive.org/26/items/earlyhistoryofma00atwo/earlyhistoryofma00atwo.pdf
3. ↑ https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofma00atwo/page/66/mode/2up
4. ↑ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924065981239&view=plaintext&seq=808
5. ↑ https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924065981239&view=plaintext&seq=808
6. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51080226/the-st-cloud-journal/

1. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVS-BG8 : 28 February 2020), Wilson Mills in household of Morgan Mills, Stoney Creek, Randolph, Indiana, United States; citing family 97, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5PM-SLX : 10 December 2017), Wilson L Mills and Martha J Driver, 25 Oct 1854; citing Randolph, Indiana, United States, Marriage Registration, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 005014477.
3. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4NT-WY7 : 19 March 2020), Willson Mills, 1860.
4. "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHD-HF5 : 7 March 2020), W T Mills, 1870.
5. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ9P-5T2 : 26 August 2017), W T Mills, Eden Lake, Stearns, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district ED 103, sheet 356D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,634.
6. "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M931-9XK : accessed 18 March 2020), Wilson T Mills, Eden Lake Township Eden Valley village, Stearns, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 146, sheet 10B, family 185, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,792.
7. "Minnesota State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQ6G-VY5 : 3 April 2016), Wilson T Mills, Eden Lake township, Stearns, Minnesota; citing p. 7, line 29, State Library and Records Service, St.Paul; FHL microfilm 565,812.
8. "Minnesota State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPQ8-2CG : 3 August 2017), Wilson T Mills, Eden Lake township, Stearns, Minnesota; citing p. , line 76, State Library and Records Service, St.Paul; FHL microfilm 928,817.
9. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24531813
10. "Minnesota Will Records, 1849-1985," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSGC-GT5 : 11 March 2018), Wilson T Mills, 1905; citing p. 56-57, volume Will Records Volume G 1904-1918, Stearns County, Historical Society, St.Paul.

Acknowledgements