Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Charles J. Mills
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
CHARLES J. MILLS. Among the young men of Riley County, the gentleman above named deserves prominent mention. He is the agent and manager of Foster's Lumber Company at Randolph, and is now serving as Clerk of Jackson Township, and he owns a valuable farm of 160 acres in Sherman Township. He is a shrewd business man, and of undoubted integrity and high moral character. The business which he is now managing is an extensive one, the stock being complete, and the business amounting to about $40.000 per year.
Mr. Mills was born June 25, 1857, near Hvetland, Sweden, and reared to the age of twelve years on his father's farm in that country. In 1869 he accompanied his parents to America, their landing being made at Quebec, after a voyage of one month. The family went directly to Missouri, and settled in Sedalia, where the young lad found employment as office boy for Mr. Smith, a lawyer of that city. After coming to this country, Mr. Mills had but one term of school, though previous to leaving his native land, he had enjoyed the privileges of the line schools of that country. When thirteen years old, he came with his parents to this State, and spent the next two years in assisting to improve the farm in Pottawatomie County. He next spent a year in working out by the month on farms, following which he came to this place and engaged as a clerk in a general store run by Messrs. Smith and Velet of St. Louis. Mo. Three years later, on account of failing health. Mr. Mills returned to his father's homestead where he again spent some time in rural life and the more healthful exercise of farm work. His next departure from home was to engage in stone masonry and carpenter work. The winter of 1878-79 was spent in Topeka, Kan., clerking. In 1882 he bought 160 acres of railroad land, paying $2.75 per acre, which farm he mad his home till March 1888, putting upon it such improvements as are usually made by an enterprising farmer. At the date last mentioned he rented his rural home, and returning to this city he became a clerk in Foster's lumberyard, and in January, 1889, became the manager of their large business. In addition to his valuable farm. Mr. Mills owns four lots in Randolph.
In Miss Lena Johnson, a native of Westrejotland, Sweden, Mr. Mills found the lady whom he desired for a companion and helpmate through life, and with her he was united in marriage in Jackson Township, Jan. 10. 1882.
Mr. Mills is a stanch Republican, and has served as delegate in the county conventions of his party. He was Clerk of Jackson Township for four years, then Trustee for two years, and is now again serving as Clerk. He is an active member of the Lutheran Mission Church, being Clerk and Secretary in the Society, as well as Secretary of the Sunday school. The father of our subject bears the name of John, and was born in Smaland, Sweden, in September, 1829. being a son of Jonas D. Mills, native of the same country and a farmer there. John Mills learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, beginning at the age of fifteen, and following it until he was twenty. He then enlisted in the Swedish standing army, in the Smaland Grenadiers, and worked his way to the rank of Corporal. He served from one to four months a year. and the balance of the time was engaged in contracting and building in the country near Hvetland where he resided. Having determined to come to the United States, he resigned from the army and received his honorable discharge in March, 1868. In May, 1869, he came with his family to Quebec via Hull and Liverpool, thence to Kansas City and Sedalia, where he began work on the railroad. He subsequently engaged in carpenter work in the same city. In the spring of 1870 became to Kansas, and homesteading 160 acres in the Blue Valley, in Pottawatomie County, he improved and operated the farm till 1678. He then sold and changed his residence to this county, purchasing 160 acres of railroad land in Jackson Township. After having operated this estate for six years, he rented it and came to this city, where he engaged in contracting and building. He came here laboring under a debt of $320, and is now well-to-do, owning a town residence as well as the valuable farm before mentioned. He is one of the leading members of the Swedish Mission Church at Randolph, and serves as local preacher. He married Miss Anna S. Schon, who was born in Smaland, Nov. 26, 1826; her father, Jonas Schon, was a native of the same country, and a Grenadier in the regular army. He enlisted when but seventeen years old, and took part in the wars against Germany and Norway. ,br>
To Mr. and Mrs. John Mills nine children were born, five of whom lived to maturity, one of them �Ida R., having since died. Those who now survive are Charles J., subject of our sketch; Lena, now Mrs. King of this city; Emma, now Mrs. Rudolph of Topeka; and August, who is yet at home. Charles J. Mills and wife have no children.