Nevada
County
Biographies
HENRY C. MILLS
There are few of the pioneers of
1850 left to tell the tale of the early development and progress of this
section of California; but Henry C. Mills is one whose memory can picture forth
the experiences of that frontier epoch.
For almost half a century he has resided in Nevada County and therefore
needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, to whom
his personal biography, however, will prove a matter of interest. Mr. Mills is a native of the Buckeye state,
his birth having occurred in Portage County, Ohio, July 21, 1828. His father, Uriel
Mills, was born in Connecticut and was a representative of one of the old and
influential families of that commonwealth.
He was a lawyer by profession and was also a practical farmer, meeting
with success in those widely different callings in life. He married Miss Mary Etta Streator, who was
also descended from one of the old New England families. She died in 1841, the year following the
removal of the family from Ohio to Marion County, Illinois. The father’s death occurred in 1886.
In the prairie state Henry C. Mills
was reared to manhood, becoming familiar with the work of the farm. In 1850 he sought a home in California, attracted
by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, and made a location in Grass
Valley, where he was actively engaged in mining for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed
to Nevada City, where for six years he was engaged in the dairy business, after
which he established a feed and livery stable, carrying on business along that
line for about forty years. His barns
are located at the corner of Pine and Spring streets
and he now has a liberal patronage. He
is also the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land, located about four
miles west of the city. Of this six
acres are planted to fruit, principally pear trees of the Bartlett variety. His
business interests bring to him a good income that has classed him among the
substantial citizens of his adopted county.
He has now passed the Psalmist’s span of three-score years and ten, yet
displays an activity in business affairs that would do credit to a man of much
younger years.
On the 1st of July, 1856,
occurred the marriage of Mr. Mills and Miss Cecilia Berbush,
a native of France, who died several years ago, leaving two children, Eugenia
C. and Frank H., both residents of San Francisco. The daughter is now married.
Mr. Mills gives an unswerving
support to the Republican Party, for its platform embodies his ideas of
governmental policy. He has served upon
the board of city trustees for fifteen years, and was county supervisor for
three years, discharging his duties in an accepted manner. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias
fraternity and affiliates with the uniformed rank of the order. Although more than seventy-one years of age
he is still fond of the chase, and each fall enjoys a few weeks in hunting in
the mountains in search of deer and other large game. He has been identified with this section of
the state from the period of its earliest development, when the majority of its
citizens were miners drawn hither by the hope of gaining a fortune through
their search for gold. All the
accessories of civilization have been introduced with the passing years, and
with the work of progress Mr. Mills has been entirely in sympathy, doing all in
his power to advance the substantial welfare of the community.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 419-420. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies