Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry
Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. 
Cass County.

RICHARD W. MILLS, attorney-at-law, Virginia; was born Aug. 3,
1845, in Morgan County, Ill.  His father, Chesley Mills, a native
of North Carolina, was a mason and builder by trade, and came to
Illinois in the year 1813, with his father, Charles Mills, who
was a farmer by occupation, a native, and in early days, a slave
holder of the above named State.  He located at Hannibal, Mo.,
where he died.  Chesley learned his trade in St. Louis, and
followed it at Edwardsville, Jacksonville, Quincy, and finally
located at Lynnville, Morgan Co.  He married Miss Harriet,
daughter of Dr. George Cadwell, and granddaughter of General
Mathew Lyon.  Chesley Mills had three sons and two daughters. 
All are living, and but two, beside our subject, are residents of
Illinois.  Thomas is a miner, of Wyoming Territory; George a
stock broker, of San Francisco, Cal.; Emily, now Mrs. T. W.
Jones, of Wilmington, Ill.; Maria is now widow Demorest, and
lives with her mother, in Morgan County.  Our subject, the
youngest, attended the public schools of Jacksonville, and later
the Illinois College.  He studied law with Judge Epler, of that
city, and was admitted to the bar of the State, at Springfield,
in 1870.  He came to Virginia in January, 1871, having formed a
partnership with Mr. Epler, his former law tutor.  Their
partnership lasted until January 1873, when Mr. Epler was elected
to the bench of Morgan County.  Mr. Mills married Feb. 4, 1873,
to Miss Matilda, daughter of Dr. Harvey Tate, one of the oldest
and most respected physicians of Cass County.  A sketch of Dr.
Tate may be seen elsewhere in this volume.  Mr. Mills served as
Master in Chancery, during the years of 1874 to 1880, City
Attorney of Virginia, 1872-'3, also in 1881 and 1882.  He is a
member of the A.F.&A.M. and K. of H.  Mr. Mills enlisted at
fifteen years of age, in Company B, Tenth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, for three months; but was not accepted, on account of
age and size.  He made a second trial in Chicago the following
month of May, and passed muster for three years, in Company F.
Nineteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  Participated in battles
of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was mustered out
July 11, 1864.

Mills Cadwell Lyon Jones Demorest Epler Tate
=
Morgan-IL NC CA WY