Mills, Charles Wessley 1867-1947

MILLS, HAINES, PELSTICK, CAMPBELL, HABRINTCH, GROVES, ROBINSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/9/2005 at 11:12:16

Colfax May 1947
Chas. Mills, Colfax, Dies Sunday Morn

Mills, Charles Wessley

Charles Wessley Mills, 80, pioneer resident of Colfax, died Sunday morning at 5:30 o'clock at the Broadlawns hospital in Des Moines.

Mr. Mill's body has been returned to Colfax and funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday from the Bumgartner Funeral Home with Rev. W. E. Goughnour of the Christian church in charge. Burial will be in Colfax.

Music at the services will be furnished by Mrs. George Robinson, Mrs. George Rinker and Jean Binkard.

Three-Quarter Century Mr. Mills, a member of the Daily News Three-Quarter Century Club, was born in Colfax, April 1, 1867. In 1868, his mother, Mrs. Esther Ann Mills, traded a span of mules for a property, which included a lot and two-room dwelling. Later she built Mills House, a 21-room hotel in Colfax.

When Mr. Mills was 25, a mineral well was drilled near the hotel, and it became a popular stopping place for tourists visiting Colfax for mineral baths. Until 1939 The Mills House stayed in the hands of the Mills family, and in later years was operated by Mr. Mills.

Marriage He was married in 1907 at Newton Grace Haines, but the couple was later divorced. During his lifetime, Mr. Mills had served as chef in various hotels throughout the country. He was a member of the Moose lodge in Des Moines.

Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Alice Pelstick and four nieces Mrs. William Campbell, Mrs. H Habrintch of Albuquerque, N. M., Mrs. J. W. Groves of Des Moines and Mrs. Verne Robinson, Colfax.

Funeral Today For C. W. Mills Services for Charles Wesley Mills, 80, of 844 Sixth Ave., will be at 2 p. m. today in the Bumgardner Funeral home at Colfax. Burial will be at Colfax Cemetery.

Mr. Mills died Sunday at Broadlawns General hospital after a two-week illness.

Born in Jasper County, he bad spent his entire life in Colfax until coming to Des Moines five years ago. He had been a chef and hotel operator and operated the former Mills House at Colfax for several years. He was a member of the Christian church and of the Moose lodge.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Alice Mills Peelstick, of Omaha, Neb., and four nieces.

Originally submitted on Sat Jul 20 19:13:28 2002