Mills - Silas S.
Source: Record of Montgomery, Parke & Fountain Counties, Indiana (Chapman Brothers, 1893) p 311
Silas S. MILLS, the oldest native-born resident of Clark Township,
now living within its precincts, is a well-known and honored citizen of
Ladoga, who is prominent in its public life and is at present President
of the Village Board of Trustees. He has been for many years identified
with the agrictulrual interests of Montgomery County, and, although he
has retired from active labor he still continues to control and
superintend the work on his farm, which consists of 250 acres, all under
a good state of improvmeent and considered one of the finest pieces of
property in the township. Mr. Mills was born April 29, 1829 in the
pioneer home of his parents, that his father had erected on the first 80
acres of land that he had entered from the Government in Clark
Township, within a mile and a half of Ladoga. He is a son of Lewis D.
Mills, who was born in Fleming Co, Ky Dec 7, 1791 and a grandson of
Jacob Mills.
The family is of English origin, coming to this country in
early Colonial times, settling in NY and eventually migrating form that
state to Ky. Lewis Mills was reared and educated in Fleming County, Ky and
when a young man went to Montgomery County, Ohio to live. He was there
married to Rebecca Fitzpatrick who was of Scotch-Irish descent and a
daughter of John Fitzpatrick, whose early life was passed in Virginia. His
father had come to this country from Scotland. Mr. Mills continued to
live in Montogmery County until 1827 and in the fall of that year left
Ohio to take up his abode in Montgomery County, this state as one of its
early settlers. He bought of the Government the land previously
referred to as the birthplace of our subject, paying for it the sum of
$1.25 an acre and he afterward added to his purchase 80 acres of school
land on Sec. 16 of this township. His first work was to cut away the
trees to clear a space for a dwelling and as there were but very few men
in the township at the time he had to go 8 or 10 miles to get a
sufficient number to help him put up his cabin. The country was still in
all its original wilderness, with the exception of the clearing of some
pioneer at intervals, or some small settlement and Madison and other
places on the Ohio were the nearest markets where settlers went to trade
their produce and mayhap the pelts of wild animals that formerly
abounded here for necessaries in the way of groceries and dry goods,
money being a scarce article in those days. There were many Indians here
at that time an Indian trail running across Mr. Mills' farm and they
often camped nearby. They would frequently stop at the house to beg for
food, and would engage in foot races, wrestling and other athletic
sports.
Mr. Mills was a poor man when he came to Indiana, his property
consisting of a cow, horse and colt, which he drove through the forest
from Ohio. He and his family had to fare hard in their struggles to gain
a foothold in the new country, but by industry and perserverance he
succeeded; he hewed out a comfortable home, acquired a goodly amount of
property and gave each of his children a good start in life. His death
occurred ere yet old age came upon him, Dec 19, 1847 and he was buried
in Stoner Cemetery. His first wife, who was born March 10, 1794 died
July 22, 1843. His second marriage was with Mrs. Mary MARKEY FLETCHER, a
daughter of a pioneer farmer of Montgomery County. She died in 1869. Ten
children were born of the first marriage and two by the second. Nine of them
grew to maturity and 3 are still living: Mary Jane, widow of Daniel
WALLS who was a farmer of Boone County during life; Taylor, a farmer of
Scott Township and our subject.
Mr. Mills was a WHig in politics and he
held the office of School Trustee four years. He was a member of the
Methodist Church a Classleader in early days and was very earnest in
expression his views on religion. He did much for the advancement of the
church, opining his house for holding meetings and often entertaining
the circuit-riders of the bygone days. Our subject passed his boyhood in
this township, where he was born and received the best education its
schools afforded. He remainedw ith his father, assisting him in the work
of the farm until he was 18. He then went to Ladoga to learn the trade
of blacksmith of James HOUSTON with whom he worked 15 months. At the end
of that time he hired out as a farm hand and was thus employed four
years at $10 a month, paying $1 a month for washing and mending. One
year he received $133 fo rhis work which was the bset wages he ever was
paid. After he was married in the summer of 1852, he settled on a rented
farm and continued to rent 8 years. In the meantime he had bought land
in Iowa, and at the end of 8 years he bought land in Clark Township,
upon which he resided 16 years. After that he purchased land 4 miles
east of Ladoga, and that was his home 3 years. Selling that, he bought
land a mile and a half SE of Ladoga and dwelt thereon for 12 years,
since which time he has lived in Ladoga. July 29, 1852, Mr. Mills was
married to Miss Rebecca, the daughter of Jacob and Barbara Stoner, who
were natives of Virginia. Her father never came to this county, but her
mother spent her last years here. Mr. and Mrs. Mills had 7 chldren, of
whom these 4 are living: Clara E, wife of Justice Gormly, a hardware
merchant of Waveland; Mary C, wife of John T. Byrd a farmer of Scott
Township; William Morton, a member of the firm of Hostetter Ashby &
Mills, dry-goods merchant sof Ladoga; and Emma E, who lives with her
parents. A man of our subject's calibre and well-known integrity
necessarily commands the confidence of his fellow citizens, who find in
his a safe and wise counselor, and they have honored him by election to
important local offices. He has been one of the Trustees of the township
for some time, and as before mentioned, is now Pres. of the Board. He
has also served as School Director of this township. He is a stalwart
Republican and an active worker in the ranks of the party.
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Source: H. W. Beckwith History of Montgomery County, Indiana (Chicago: HH Hill, 1881) p 452
S.S. MILLS, farmer, Ladoga, is probably the oldest born citizen of
Clark Township now living, where he has resided since his birth, in 1829. He
is the son of Lewis D. and Rebecca (FITZPATRICK) Mills. The father was.
born in Fleming County, Kentucky Dec 7, 1791 and was married Aug 6, 1812. His mother
was born March 10, 1794. In 1827 they came to Montgomery County, Indiana and settled in
Clark Twp near Ladoga.. They both died in this county, the father Dec 19,
1847, the mother July 22, 1843. The father served in the War of 1812.
Mr. Mills, the subject of this sketch, was married July 29, 1852, to Miss
Rebecca STONER, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (GHARST) Stoner, who were
natives of Va. Mrs. Mills was b. Oct 28, 1831 and d. July 22, 1866. May
18, 1871, he again marr. this time to Lydia Stoner, sister of his first
wife. Mr. Mills' family by former wife are: John W; Claria E; Mary C;
William M; Emma E. and two deceased, Sarah E. and Nettie J.
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Source: Waveland Independent newspaper, Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana, Sept 6, 1901
S.S. (Silas S.) Mills, the father of Mrs. J.M. Ghormley died at his
home in Ladoga on Monday evening and was interred on Wednesday morning.
Besides Mrs. Ghormley he leaves a son and a daughter, Morton and Miss
Emma Mills.