John Mills

JOHN MILLS DIES TODAY AT AGE 103
Funeral at Farm Home, Monday 2.pm.

He came to Mt.Vernon in 1840 at age of 3, owned farm where he lived for 96 years.
 
John Mills, one of the oldest men in Illinois,died this morning at the age of 103 
on the farm, four miles south of Mt.Vernon which he had owned for 96 years.

This morning the body was brought to Mt Vernon , a short journey of only a few 
moments on the modern state highway, but one he had declined to make in life for 
20 years.

The body will lie in sate at Hawkins Funeral Home today until 5 p.m. then he 
will be moved to the Mills home where funeral services will be conducted  Monday 
afternoon at 2 p.m. by the Rev. R.B.Gutherie, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. 
Burial will be in Arnold Cemetery.

His two surviving children, George, 73 and Julia, 67 were at his bedside when the 
end came.He had been in failing health for two years and critically ill for months.

Born during the presidency of Andrew Jackson on July 3,1837 in Shawneetown, Mills 
was three years old when his parents moved to Mt .Vernon., in 1840. His father was 
a pioneer merchant here. He lived a quiet and simple life, tending the farm on Old 
Goshen Road, which his father gave to him when he was 7 years old.
He was married Nov.24, 1864 to Lydia Adams.They had four children, ten grandchildren 
and one great grand child. His long flowing beard and braided white hair gave him a 
patriarchal appearance.His hair had not been cut for 40 years, since a friend suggested 
to let it grow to prevent rheumatism. He enjoyed good health and was fairly strong until 
he was way past 100, but suffered a disabling fall at age of 101. He plowed until he 
was 90 and worked in garden until he was nearly 100.He raised his own tobacco and enjoyed 
chewing strong twists. His eyesight was keen and he was able to read his daily newspaper 
without glasses until the last. 

He was a lifelong Democrat.

When the family came to area they rented a farm from Governor Zadok Casey in what is now 
one of Mt. Vernons most thickly settled western residential districts.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News 
Date: 0CT. 26,1941
Submitted by Janice Staples