Biography of Killis J Mills, Independence Co, AR

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SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas. 
Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889.
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page 698

Killis J. Mills, an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of Greenbriar
Township, Independence County, was born in White County, Tenn., in 1835. His
parents were James and Rachel (Pennington) Mills, natives, respectively, of
South Carolina and Tennessee. At the age of five years James Mills went with
his mother to White County, Tenn., his father, Lewis Mills, having been killed
in the War of 1812. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent the greater part
of his life in White County, Tenn., where he died in 1883. His wife is still
living in White County, aged about seventy-four years; she is a member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is a daughter of John Pennington, also of
White County, where he died, having made his home there for many years. To
James and Rachel Mills were born three sons and six daughters, of whom our
subject was the third. In February, 1858, Killis J. married Lean, daughter of
Thomas and Deidamia Elms, who located in Independence County in 1859. Mrs. Elms
is still living. Mr. Elms was a teacher by profession, and for several years
served as sheriff in Putnam County, Tenn.; he died in 1860. Mrs. Mills is a
native of White County, Tenn. The year after his marriage Mr. Mills located in
Van Buren County, but three years later removed to his present farm in
Independence County, which was then unimproved; he has two farms, 136 acres in
all, which he now has well improved and under cultivation. During the late war
he served nearly four years in the Confederate army; he first enlisted in
Company D, First Arkansas Infantry, in which he served nearly three years,
subsequently joining Capt. McGuffin's company of cavalry, remaining until their
surrender, at Jacksonport, in June, 1865; he participated in the battles of
Prairie Grove, Helena and Little Rock, and while serving in the cavalry was
with Gen. Price on his raid through Missonri. At the close of the war Mr. Mills
returned to his home, and again turned his attention to farming, at which he
has been very successful. He is a member of Neill Lodge No. 82, A. F. & A. M.,
at Jamestown. Politically, he was reared a Whig, but is now a Prohibitionist.
Mrs. Mills is a member of the Methodist Church. They have two children– James
T. and Elizabeth.