For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 222
VAN BUREN MILLS.....The Civil war was a harsh school for a young man, but from the smoke and din of battle graduated some of the most noble sons of America. On the list of faithful soldiers should be recorded the name of Van Buren Mills, for many years past a successful farmer of Muscatine county. Born in Madison county, Ohio, June 8, 1840, he is the son of David and Anna ( Crisman ) Mills, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Bedford county, Pennsylvania. They removed to Ohio and located on a timber farm, where they lived in a log house until 1849, when the family went to Keokuk county, Iowa, and eighteen months later came to Muscatine county. The father entered government land in Pike township and again took up his residence in a log cabin, later occupying a comfortable farm home. Both parents died in this county. There were nine children in their family, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: Amos, now deceased; Van Buren, the subject of this review; Louis, of South Dakota; Elizabeth, of Muscatine; William and Jed, deceased; Joshua, of Muscatine county; and Cordelia, deceased.Van Buren came to Iowa with his parents at the age of nine years and was reared upon the home farm, assisting in the work about the house and in the fields when not in attendance at the neighboring district school. He continued at home until twenty-one years of age and then, as the great Rebellion was in progress and the life of the nation was threatened, he offered his services in support of the Union and in July, 1861, became a member of Company A, Second Iowa Cavalry. He served with the greatest credit for three years, engaging in many of the most important battles and movements of the war. On one occasion he had his horse shot from under him, but although often exposed to the gravest dangers, he passed through the conflict unharmed and was honorably discharged and mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, in 1864.
After leaving the army Mr. Mills returned to Muscatine county and purchased a farm of sixty acres in Pike township, which he sold two years later, buying eighty acres in the same township, upon which he took up his permanent abode. As the years passed he purchased more land and he now owns two hundred and ninety-three acres, all of which is in Pike township, and also fourteen lots in West Liberty. He has made a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and, being a man of good judgment, he succeeds where many others have failed. He has added many attractive improvemants to his farm and it is one of the valuable places of the locality.
In August, 1863, Mr. Mills was united in marriage to Miss Eunice Foster, who was born in Erie county, Ohio, December 24, 1842, a daughter of Wilder and Mary ( McKellep ) Foster, the former of whom was a native of Vermont. There were twelve children in the Foster family, two of whom are now living. Ten children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mills, namely: Galetta Ann, deceased; Hattie, the wife of Frank Pike of Pike township; Minnie, now Mrs. J. E. White, of Washington county; Amos J. and George J., both of Muscatine county; John L., of Pike township; Elizabeth, deceased; Cora R., now Mrs. George Conklin, of West Liberty; William, of Pike township; and Allie Wilhelmina, the wife of Albert Adams, of Pike township.
Mr. Mills is an earnest supporter of the democratic party but aside from serving as school director has taken no active part in political affairs, preferring to devote his attention to his business interests and to the general welfare of the community. He is a member of the Grand Army Post at West Liberty and he and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian church. He possesses the respect of his neighbors and friends which he justly deserves on account of his high character and his excellent record as a soldier and private citizen.
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