Raymond Isaac Mills Former Mayor of Des Moines, Iowa 1956-1957

 Raymond Isaac Mills (1899–1987)

While tracing the line from Peter Mills and Mary Stanley through their sons Elias and Isaac, I discovered that Raymond Isaac Mills—Elias’s son and my 2nd grandmother Sarah Elizabeth Mills’s cousin—had almost no recorded family story.

It moved me to realize that a man who served his city so faithfully had not yet had his life shared within our family history. I felt strongly that his story needed to be written so future generations of the Mills family would know him and honor his life.

Raymond Isaac Mills (1899–1987), son of Elias Mills and Mary Jane Breece of Warren County, Iowa, was the nephew of Isaac Josephe Mills. Isaac Josephe Mills was the father of Sarah Elizabeth Mills, my 2nd grandmother. Therefore, Raymond Isaac Mills was my 2nd grandmother’s first cousin.

Raymond's Story: 

Raymond Isaac Mills was born April 2, 1899, near Liberty Center in Warren County, Iowa, the son of Elias Mills and Mary Jane Breece. He came from a long line of Midwestern pioneers. His grandfather, Peter Mills—known as “Peter Mills the hatter”—was born about 1796 and moved from Warren County, Indiana, to Iowa in 1847. Peter’s son Elias grew up in Jefferson County, Iowa, bound out to a Quaker farmer named Joel Paxton, and later fought bravely in the Civil War with the 13th Iowa Infantry, serving at Shiloh and marching with Sherman to the sea.

After the war Elias became a successful farmer, stockman, banker, and civic leader in Warren County. He married Mary Jane Breece, and among their children was Raymond Isaac Mills. Thus Raymond was born into a family known for hard work, military service, and public responsibility.

Raymond grew up on Iowa farmland but moved to Des Moines as a young man. During the Great Depression he joined the bakery drivers‑salesmen’s union and quickly rose through the labor movement, eventually becoming President of Teamsters Joint Council No. 45 and administrator of the Iowa State Federation of Labor.

In 1950 he was elected to the Des Moines City Council, and in 1956 he became Mayor. He represented working families during a period of rapid growth in the city.

In August 1952 Raymond was struck with polio and was paralyzed. Doctors feared he would die, but after months of therapy at Warm Springs, Georgia, he learned to walk again with braces and crutches. Friends sometimes carried his wheelchair up City Council steps, but he never let his disability stop him.

Raymond married Rose, and they had one son, Eugene Ramon Mills, a World War II Navy veteran and civil engineer, who married Colleen Shugart and raised daughters Vickie, Janet, and Debra.

In 1961 declining health forced Raymond to retire from politics. He moved to Florida and worked as an information officer for the U.S. Department of Labor, later returning to Iowa to live in Jewell. He died June 6, 1987, at age 88 and was buried in Ames Municipal Cemetery.

Raymond Isaac Mills carried forward the legacy of Peter Mills the hatter and Civil War veteran Elias Mills. His life of labor leadership, public service, perseverance, and devotion to family stands as an important chapter in the Mills family history of Iowa.

Mills Meets New Grandchild
(photo caption)
Ray Mills, 50, president of the Iowa State Federation of Labor and Des Moines city councilman, has arms full of grandchildren as he gets acquainted with month-old Janet Jean, whom he had not seen before, and reacquainted with Vickie Lynn, 3½, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Mills. Mr. Mills a victim of polio, arrived home Saturday after four months as a patient at Warm Springs, Ga.

---

Raymond Mills President of the Iowa State Federation of Labor 

and Des Moines city councilman

The Des Moines Register

Des Moines, Iowa

Sun, May 3, 1953 · Page 16

“I’m Over the Hump,” Mills Says of His Polio Battle
By Nick Lamberto
A 50-year-old labor leader and city councilman came back home Saturday, confident he is winning his battle against polio—a battle that began 8 months ago.
It was last Aug. 18 when Ray Mills, president of the Iowa State Federation of Labor and Des Moines city councilman, was stricken by polio.
He was paralyzed from the neck down.
“Over the Hump.”
But Saturday, Ray relaxed in an easy chair at his home at 1519 Osceola ave., and recounted the progress made during his more than four months at Warm Springs, Ga. He can walk with crutches now.
“I’m over the hump,” Mills said. “I’ll be able to do everything I did before.”
Mills and his wife drove from Warm Springs to Des Moines, a 1,000-mile trip, in four days. Mrs. Mills did all the driving.
One of the persons Mills was most eager to see was his new granddaughter, Janet Jean Mills, just a month old.
Ray’s only son, Eugene, and his family are living at the Mills’ residence temporarily. Eugene just went to work a week ago for the state highway commission at Ames. Before that he lived at Topeka, Kan.
On Hand.
Ray’s other granddaughter, Vickie Lynn, 3½, was also on hand to welcome her granddad.
“I’m eager to attend my first council meeting next Monday,” Mills said. “I haven’t got anything to raise a stink about yet—guess that’ll be new if I don’t. I haven’t any comment on the present building trade strike—I don’t know enough about the situation.”
“I do have some opinions about the proposed zoning ordinance before the city council.”
“Out of Business.”
“According to what I’ve read about an entire section owns a grocery store and the store burns down, he’s out of business for life. He can’t remodel, he can’t anything.”
“It seems like a slow process of elimination. There’s no union involved (Mills paused and chuckled) but it just doesn’t seem right.”
“I’m not against a zoning ordinance, just parts of it that can be modified.”
Strict Diet.
Mills was put on a strict diet by the doctors at Warm Springs.
He has lost a pound and a half a week and now weighs 170 pounds.
“I’m still supposed to lose another 10 pounds,” Mills said. “Every pound I take off it’s that much easier to walk.”
“It’s still awfully slow walking. I just barely hobble. But it’s so much better than when I started.”
Mills uses special crutches and braces made of aluminum and leather. The braces weigh 7 pounds.
“I have no knee muscles,” Mills explained. “These braces help keep my knees locked and protect what muscles I have.”
Really Strong.
“My arm muscles are really strong now and first my arm and stomach muscles were paralyzed—everything from the neck down. You keep improving with time, I guess.”
“Several muscles that help keep my balance were gone, so I had to develop new muscles. That’s where underwater therapy and muscle stretching exercises help.”
Mills was hospitalized last Aug. 25 after being ill 10 weeks before. He left Des Moines for Warm Springs Dec. 20, the trip arranged by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis.
“Des Moines looked wonderful when we hit town,” Mills said. “I’m eager for the council meeting. I’m not going to confine myself to the back yard.”

“And I’m running for re-election as state labor president.”

Lydia Ruble Obituary

Lydia Ruble born 04 Aug 1827, Warren County, Ohio. Daughter to Henry Ruble and Mahala Martin, wife to Isaac Joseph Mills. 

Obituary

of

Mrs. Lydia Mills

Chariton Herald Newspaper

Thu, Feb 14, 1918 Chariton Iowa Page : 4

Lydia Ruble was born in Warren County, Ohio, August 4th, 1827 and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Sadie Brower, near Lacona, February 11th, 1918, her age being 90 years, 6 months and 7 days. 

She moved when quite young to Warren County, Indiana, where she grew to womanhood. In September, 1844, she was united in marriage to Isaac Mills, brother of Elias Mills of Liberty Center. To this union were born eleven children, all but one preceding her to the Great Beyond. Mrs. Sadie Brower is the surviving daughter, with whom she made her home and who was the only child left to comfort her. She has five living grandchildren and six great grandchildren. 

Mr. and Mrs Mills came to Iowa in 1851 and settled on a farm, four miles southwest of Lacona. Her husband passed away on July 5th, 1873. She with her family, resided on the farm until the spring of 1902, when with her son and his wife she moved to Lacona, where she made her home after her sons death with her daughter in law, Mrs. May Mills, until in December, 1916. Since then her home has been with her daughter Mrs. Brower, where she went peacefully to rest. Everyone who knew her loved her. She professed faith in Christ when young and became a member of the United Brethren church. She gave cheerfully to the support of the gospel. The funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday and were conducted by Rev. E. W. Curtis with interment in the Arnold Cemetery. 

Possibly Children of Elias Mills of Warren County and Lucas County, Iowa

All of these photos were given to me by another Mills relative. Based on the area of the photo studio, and other pictures I have of Elias Mills and his family, it's possible these are children of Elias Mills or other relatives. Photos taken around 1890's at the time cabinet card photos were common, also judging from the identified photo below of his sons Herman and Jesse. 

(Above) If this is Elias Mills son, this could be Abel Edwards Mills or Norvel Rafe Mills. If the photo was taken around 1890/91.

Back of photo reads: Jesse Irvan Mill and Herman Everette Mills sons of Elias Mills

(Above) Herman Mills was born 1881, which may place this photo around 1890/91 if he was around 9 or 10 year old and his brother Jesse Mills was born 1884 and he appears to be around 6 years old in this photo. 

Herman Everett Mills and Jesse Irvin Mills - Sons of Elias Mills

Jesse Mills and brother Herman Mills - original pictures given to me from Mills family member. 

Jesse Irvin Mills, born 14 Jul 1884 to Elias Mills and Elizabeth Edwards. Brother Herman Everette Mills, born 17 Jul 1881, mother is also Elizabeth Edwards

Herman Everette Mills, son of Elias Mills and Elizabeth Edwards

Elias Mills and Mary Jane Breece

Elias Mills and wife Mary Jane Breece. Original picture provided to me by Frank Crooks, great grandson of Lydia Ruble and Isaac Mills, brother to Elias Mills. 

From the "Mills Family Chronicles by Merelyn J. Cumming

    The first record we find of the Mills family starts with Peter Mills, a hatter from Wales who first settled in North Carolina. He was born in 1800 (three years after George Washington died). He moved to a farm in Lucas County, Iowa, where he met and married Mary Stanley, born 1800. They had four children: Isaac mills, 1825-1873; Elvira (Mills) Powell, 1829-1869, Jane of Allen, Nebraska, and Elias Mills, 1839-1919. It is Peter and Mary's fourth child, Elias, whose descendants are traced in these chronicles.

    Peter's son, Elias, was a rather famous, wealthy and prolific father in southern Iowa and northern Missouri. Elias had 18 children, eleven by his first wife, Elizabeth, and seven by his second wife Mary.

    Following is an excerpt from History of Warren County, pages 990-991:   When ten years of age Elias Mills was "bound out" to a Quaker named Joel Paxton, in Jefferson County, Iowa, to which place the family had removed in 1847. He remained with Mr. Paxton until he had attained his majority and then received two suits of jean clothing, a mare worth eighty dollars in money. Subsequently, in 1860, he operated a farm on shares in Jefferson County, receiving a third share. In December, 1860 he removed to Lucas County, Iowa, locating on the farm of his brother, Isaac Mills, which lay partly in Warren County. There he remained throughout the following spring and summer, raising a crop on a neighboring farm.     In the fall of 1861, at Chariton, Iowa, Mr. Mills enlisted as a member of Company C, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Seventeenth Army Corps. He participated in many important engagements of the war, including the first battle of Shiloh and the engagement at Atlanta. He was also with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and took part in the grand review at Wasington at the close of hostilities. He was three times wounded and at one time his injuries were so serious that he was compelled to spend four months in a hospital at Rome, Georgia. In 1864 he returned to Lucas County, Iowa, on a furlough and was married, but subsequently again joined his comrades on the battlefields of the south, serving in the army until July 31, 1865. Thus for four years he loyally defended the interest of the Union, having re enlisted at the end of this three year's term.     on once more taking up the pursuits of civil life Mr. mills settled on a farm of eighty acres which he had purchased in Lucas county, Iowa being engaged in its operation until 1872, when he came to Liberty Township, Warren County, and has here been successfully and extensively engaged as a farmer and stockman to the present time. He owns and operates his home farm of about seven hundred acres in Warren and Lucas Counties, while his holdings also comprise two hundred and eighty acres in Virginia Township, a tract of land in Missouri and an entire section (a section is a subdivision of land one-mile square, one thirty-sixth of a township) of solid timber in Dallas County.     In addition to his agricultural interest he has also largely engaged in buying, raising, feeding and shipping cattle, hogs and horses, meeting with a most gratifying and enviable measure of success in his undertakings. Since the reorganization of the Bank of Lacona he has served as president of that institution, and is widely recognized as one of Warren County's most influential, prominent and prosperous citizens.     Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, who was born in Indiana in 1844, a daughter of Abel and Clarissa (Bennett) Edwards, who resided on the farm on sections 33 and 34, Liberty Township, Warren County, which is now the home of our subject. The Edwards family were comparatively early residents of this county, but the father and mother of Mrs Mills were both deceased, the former passing away in Lucas County in 1895 and the latter in Warren County about 1875. Mrs. Mills was about fifteen years of age when she accompanied her parents on their removal to this county and she acquired her education in the old district school.     By her marriage she became the mother of eleven children, namely: William, of Lincoln Twp. a teacher and coal miner, who is married and has six children; Lucy, who died about 1898, leaving her husband, Ira Stones, and two children to mourn her loss; Eli, who passed away at the age of ten months; Charles Levi who was a farmer of Liberty Twp., and died about 1900, leaving a wife and two children; Laura, who resides at New Virginia, this county, and is the wife of Alva Gripp, by whom she has four children, two who died in infancy; Abel E. of Liberty Twp., who is married and has three children; N. R. (Norvel), an agriculturalist of White Breast Twp., who is likewise married and has three children; Herman, who follows farming near New Virginia and is married and has one child; and Jesse I. of Liberty Center, who is a cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank. Mrs. Elizabeth Mills passed away November 8, 1888, when forty four years of agen, her demise being deeply regretted by many who had come to know and esteem her.  After losing his first wife Mr. Mills was again married, his second union being with Mary J. Breece, of Lucas County. They had seven children, of whom three died in infancy, while those who still survive are Lowell, Zella, Oral and Raymond, aged respectively twelve, ten, eight, and six years.  Mr. Mills has given each of his older children eighteen hundred dollars, thus enabling them to make a good start in life.