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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Azor R. Mills

Azor R. Mills, whose name appears on the roll of Greene county’s respected dead, left behind him a record of usefulness and activity such as renders it imperative that mention should be made of him in this volume. At the time of his demise he was the oldest inhabitant of Jefferson in years of continuous connection with the city. His birth occurred on the 11th of February, 1827, in Wadsworth, Ohio, his father being Colonel Harry A. Mills. His education was acquired in the village schools of Wadsworth and in a boys’ school called Twinsburg Academy. Coming west when a young man, he taught school in Wisconsin for a brief period and then came to Iowa, settling in Jefferson in the year 1855. Here he again engaged in teaching and no student of the history of Jefferson in its pioneer times will fail to recognize the important part which he played and the influence which he exerted in all that made for the good of the pioneer community. He was a strong minded man, of clear insight into situations and of excellent character at all times.

In 1862, following the outbreak of the Civil war, Azor R. Mills offered his services to the government, becoming a member of Company E, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Going to the front, he participated in all the engagements of his command up to and including the battle of Altoona on the 5th of October, 1864, at which time he was wounded. A ball struck him in the left arm that deprived him of the use of that member up to the time of his demise. He remained in the army, however, after being wounded, until honorably discharged at the close of the war in July, 1865. He made an excellent record as a soldier by his unfaltering loyalty to duty and his allegiance to the cause which he espoused. He afterward maintained pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Thomas post, G. A. R., and took great delight in its campfires.

Following his return from the war, in 1865, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Miranda Dyle Anderson of Jefferson, who was born in Ohio and came to Iowa with her father, J . Y. Anderson. They journeyed westward at an early period in the development of the Hawkeye state and became pioneer residents of Carroll county, but were living in Jefferson at the time Miss Anderson gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Mills. Mr. Anderson gave his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits for some years and afterward turned his attention to the boot and shoe business, becoming a well known merchant of Jefferson in an early day. He died here in the year 1866. His wife bore the maiden name of Mahala Ring, and was a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of nine children, of whom five are yet living, namely: Mrs. Ada Dewell; Mrs. Grace Hogelberg; Mrs. Lillian Hurst; and Marcella and Vera, at home. Mr. Mills’ one great ambition was to educate his children that he might make of them useful men and women and see them fill honorable places in society.

His financial resources having increased, he built a fine home in Jefferson and put forth every effort in his power to enhance the happiness and promote the welfare of his wife and children. When he reached Greene county in 1855 Jefferson hardly deserved to be called a hamlet, for upon the site of the present city there was but one house = owned by George S. Walton. He lived to see Jefferson grow into a thriving town with modern advantages and conveniences, and in all the work of public progress bore his full share. Alive to the political issues and questions of the day, he assisted in the organization of the republican party in Greene county in 1856 and in the same year assisted in organizing the Jefferson Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a charter member, remaining one of its faithful followers up to the time of his demise. His worth as a citizen and his loyalty to the public good won him the recognition of election in 1865, when he was chosen by popular suffrage to represent Greene, Carroll, Audubon and Calhoun counties in the state legislature. He proved an able member of that body and afterward served as county superintendent of schools for two terms, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion, whose labors were practical and whose efforts were effective. After his retirement from public of'fice he became connected with Joseph Manning in the boot and shoe business and erected one of the first store buildings in the town. At an early day he purchased a fine half section of land adjacent to the northern city limits of Jefferson which will always be known as the Mills farm. He brought it under a high state of cultivation, making it a valuable property by the improve ments he placed upon it.

The death of Mr. Mills occurred on the 12th of March, 1901. He will ever be remembered by those who knew him as an earnest Christian man of upright life and lofty purposes. He ever endeavored to shape his course by the Golden Rule, doing unto others as he would have them do unto him. He was respected wherever known and most of all where best known. The circle of his friends was very extensive and in Jefferson and Greene county he was esteemed as one who was ever just and upright in business, considerate and kindly in friendship, while in his home life he was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his wife and children.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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