YELL COUNTY, AR - NAPOLEON B. MILLS - Bio

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. 
Chicago: Goodspeed Publishers, 1891.

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Napoleon B. Mills, one of the progressive agriculturists of 
Dardanelle Township, came to this State in the fall of 1878 from 
Tennessee, the home of his grandparents and parents, the latter 
having been Russ and Surlina (Keesee) Mills, all farmers by 
occupation, and who lived and died there, the father dying May 16, 
1842, his widow surviving him till March 28, 1887. They were the 
parents of five children, their son, Napoleon, who was born in Obion 
County, in 1833, being the third in order of birth. 

He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his 
native State, and when twenty years old began life for himself as a 
carpenter, and when twenty-two married Miss Mary Marlow, also of 
Tennessee, and daughter of William Marlow, who departed this life in 
1862, his widow surviving him but a short time. This union resulted 
in the births of the following family: Polyxna (born February 3, 
1858, and wife of Frank Findley, of Tennessee), Nannie (born March 
7, 1860, and wife of J. H. Swindle, of Arkansas), Laura (born March 
12, 1862, and wife of A. L. Jones), Robert Lee (born March 31, 1864, 
and died in infancy), Hinton (born April 23, 1866, and wife of B. L. 
Holder, of Tennessee), William Russell (born January 6, 1869), 
George Keesee (born May 4, 1871), Lillie (born December 11, 1873), 
Katie May (born April 20, 1877), Mary Ida (born March 20, 1879), 
Emma (born August 12, 1883), and Mama Belle (born September 7, 1883).

The year following his marriage he bought 100 acres of land in West 
Tennessee, which he farmed till his removal to Arkansas, when he 
purchased 160 acres, 60 of which he cleared, and set out some fruit 
trees, which have proved a good investment as an orchard, and is the 
owner of some fine stock. He has also a neat and commodious 
residence on his place. In 1886 he bought forty acres of river 
bottom land, which yields about a bale of cotton and sixty or 
seventy bushels of corn to the acre. 

He is a thorough business man, a liberal donator to all educational 
interests, and has been school director for some time. Himself and 
family are communicants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Mills 
has always been a stanch Democrat and a true Southern man. He did 
not take an active part in the Civil War, from the fact that he had 
a large rupture in the side, which he received while in an 
unfortunate difficulty. He is opposed to high protective tariff and 
all trusts.