Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Mills, Andrew J M D 1834 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:31 am Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 ANDREW J. MILLS, M. D., the Coroner of this county, is numbered among its prominent and most successful practitioners, and is in the enjoyment of a good business. He is a man in the prime of life, having been born September 19, 1834, and is a native of Essex County, N. Y. Dr. Mills is the offspring of substantial stock, being the son of William Mills, likewise a native of Essex County, N. Y., and who was born May 2, 1812. The latter grew to mature years in his native county and was there married to Miss Lura A. Fisk. The mother of our subject was born in Rutland County, Vt., May 21, 1811, and was taken by her parents to New York State when a child of eight years. In the year 1836 the family took up their line of march toward what was then the far West, locating in Franklin County, Ohio, where they sojourned until 1851, the father engaging in farming pursuits. That year they decided upon another change of residence and coming to this county, settled near Twelve Mile Grove. The father in 1848 had entered one hundred and sixty acres of land and upon this he took up his residence with his family and prosecuted agriculture until 1861. Then with his estimable wife, retiring from the active labors of life, he left the farm and removed to Joliet, where the father is still living. The mother departed this life August 8, 1887. Both parents had identified themselves with the Methodist Episcopal Church during their younger years. William Mills originally was a Jacksonian Democrat, but voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and upon the formation of the Republican party identified himself with it. He however has never been a political aspirant, but is contented to cast his vote at the general elections. He is highly respected and may be properly numbered among the pioneer residents of this county. Dr. A. J. Mills, the subject of this notice, spent his younger years in his native State and upon the removal of the family to Ohio, pursued his first studies in the common schools, making good headway and becoming quite proficient at an early age. He began the reading of medicine alone and after entering the army was under the instruction of Dr. Z. P. Hanson, now a noted physician of Chicago. His studies however were frequently interrupted, as he was obliged to secure the means for continuing them. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War the Doctor entered the ranks of the Union Army, enlisting in the Forty-second Illinois Infantry and being commissioned as Assistant Surgeon of the regiment. He was at the front and in the field hospitals and for four months was on the medical staff of the Artillery Brigade, Fourth Army Corps, going through the Atlanta campaign. He served until the close of the war, receiving then his honorable discharge and being mustered out April 16, 1865. Upon leaving the army Dr. Mills entered the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, in the class of 1865 and 1866, from which he emerged fully qualified for the duties which awaited him, having graduated March 1, 1866. It is hardly necessary to state that politically, he is a stanch Republican. He was elected to his present office in the fall of 1888 and is prominently connected with the Will County Medical Society. Miss Sarah E. Whitemore was wedded to our subject March 29, 1855. Mrs. Mills was born September 26, 1835, in Washington County, Pa., and is the daughter of Francis W. and Frances A. (Webb) Whitemore, who were natives of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. They came to Illinois about 1841, and settled first at Magnolia, Putnam County. Subsequently they came to this county, where they sojourned for a few years, and are now deceased. The children born to Dr. Mills and his estimable lady are recorded as follows: William F. was graduated from Rush Medical College in the class of 1887, and is now a practicing physician of Manhattan, this county; he married Miss Agnes R. McDonough, and they have one child, a daughter, Elda A. George W. officiates as the Northwestern Agent for the tobacco manufacturing firm of Wilson, McCallay & Co., making his headquarters at Omaha, Neb.; he married Miss Nellie A. Diamond, and they have three daughters: Merle Ada, Hilma Lillian and Veldene Eloise. Lura Frances is the wife of William M. Mitchell of Rockville, Kankakee County, and they have one child, a son, Kenneth Mills. Dr. Mills is one of the oldest members of Wilton Lodge, No. 640, I. O. O. F., in which he has held the different offices and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State, since its organization in 1877. He also belongs to William A. Webb Post, No. 657, G. A. R., of which he was the first Commander. He takes pride in his practice and aims to excel. The medical profession was one which he chose in his boyhood for his life vocation and one to which he gives his best efforts as the result of his practice indicates. Socially and personally, he is held in high esteem, being numbered among the leading citizens of Joliet. A lithographic portrait of Dr. Mills appears elsewhere in this volume. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/mills448gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb