Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


J. S. MILLS, 
 
a prominent business man of Pasadena, was born near Perth, Ontario, Canada, 
August 11, 1853. His father was a manufacturer of woolen cloth, and the subject 
of this sketch for several years worked in the factory with his father during 
the summer seasons and attended school winters. At the age of fifteen years he 
went to the Marmora gold mines and worked as "all round boy," but by industrious 
attention to business he soon learned mining in all its branches, when he was 
given positions of trust and responsibility. After operating in the gold mines 
he was engaged in the Blairton iron mines, part of the time as engineer. Then, 
until he was twenty-one years of age, he was a clerk in the general store of Mr. 
John Petus, in Hastings, Ontario, at a salary of $100 a year and expenses. 
During the latter period he suffered from congestion of the lungs, and in the 
spring of 1875 his physician advised a change of climate, when he concluded to 
come to California. He first came to Los Angeles, where he was employed by 
Thomas A. Garey, nurseryman, for $30 a month and expenses. At the expiration of 
a year and a half he moved to Pasadena and took charge of the orange and lemon 
grove and vineyards of A. O. Porter. During the fourteen months he was thus 
engaged he established the present fine orchard on the Swiss Cottage property. 
By hard work and strict economy he saved some money, with which he has bought 
seven and a half acres of land, paying one-third cash in advance. By this 
movement he obtained a substantial start, and was enabled to purchase 
twenty-five acres on Fair Oaks avenue at $150 an acre.  Twenty acres of this is 
now known as the Mills tract. Subdividing this into building lots, he has sold 
off about $50,000 worth and still retains about one-third of the tract. He has 
been an extensive orchard-planter, having set out the Mutual Orchard tract of 
210 acres, the magnificent place of J. W. Hugos, Esq., containing 200 acres, and 
many others, aggregating fully one-eighth of all the trees and vines in 
Pasadena. In 1887, with a partner, Mr. Mills engaged in the produce commission 
business in Colton, but his partner's mismanagement prevented success. 
Subsequently Mr. Mills, in partnership with W. S. Arnold, entered the 
real-estate business, and still later took in another partner, W. L. Woodward, 
the firm name now being Arnold & Mills Co. Mr. Mills is sole owner of the 
property of the Pasadena Brick Company, a director in the Lordsburg Hotel 
Company and in the Security Title and Abstract Insurance Company of Southern 
California, located in Los Angeles; and he is one of the largest stockholders in 
the Pasadena Syndicate at Lordsburg. Mr. Mills has had many varied experiences 
with Mexican bandits, and many a narrow escape with his life. In June, 1880, he 
was married to Miss Sarah Letitia Gladney, a daughter of one of the pioneers of 
Ontario. Of their two sons only one is living. Mrs. Mills has contributed in 
many ways to her husband's welfare, and much of his success is due to her 
efforts; and he appreciates it. When he first came to California he had only $5; 
now he enjoys a comfortable fortune.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 563
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler