California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 ELEMUEL M. MILLS. Though a resident of the San Joaquin valley but a brief period, Mr. Mills has successfully established himself in an assured position of financial and social promi- nence, having already identified his interests with those of the upbuilding forces of the com- munity. He is located two miles northeast of the city of Merced, and with his wife is owner of the magnificent ranch widely known as the Sells property, toward the development of which $80,000 has been spent in the past few years. The property consists of one hundred and fifty acres, given over entirely to horticultural pursuits, among the fruits successfully produced in this section being lemons, oranges, peaches, plums, figs, apricots, pomegranates, almonds, English walnuts, and in fact about every variety known to the California horticulturist. The splendid management which Mr. Mills has exercised since taking possession of the ranch has increased its value, an evidence of which lies in the superiority of the fruit produced, the quan- tity as well as quality, and the rank which his property takes among the best equipped and most productive of the county. No encomium is needed upon the ability of Mr. Mills, for his work has already proved itself, and he is to-day numbered among the representative horticultur- ists of Merced county. Of sturdy eastern stock, Elemuel M. Mills was born in Lancaster county, Pa., September 22, 1860. His father, Nathaniel B. Mills, was a native of Pennsylvania, in which state his father, also named Nathaniel B., settled when he emigrated from his English home. Nathaniel B. Mills, Jr., was a man of remarkable business judgment and foresight, and in Pennsylvania became the owner of large freighting teams, with headquarters at Pittsburg and operating to various adjacent points. He also had extensive interests in copper mines in his native state, and owned considerable real estate in Lancaster, his home. In addition to the business judgment and __ which was his by inheritance he was also .___ with a trade, being an expert mechanic. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-seventh Regiment, Ohio Infantry, in which com- pany he served during the war, in the course of time being raised to the rank of first lieutenant, and in 1871 he secured the contract for the delivery of mail in Coshocton county, Ohio, removing to that location where he also purchased farming lands. He died in Ohio in 1897, at the age of seventy-seven years. In Pennsylvania he married Sarah Hagans, also a native of that state. In his political convictions Mr. Mills was a Democrat. He was a man of much erudition, as well as practical ability, both of which were visible in his life work. Until he was seventeen years of age, Elemuel M. Mills remained at home, when he went to Columbus, Ohio, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles from his birthplace, with the intention of entering good schools and fitting himself for his lifework. During vacations he taught in the public schools, thus earning money to pay his own way in the pursuit of an educa- tion. He graduated from Reynoldsburg high school, after which he entered the National Nor- mal University, by which he was graduated in the College of Science, continuing as student and teacher until 1885. He then located in Indianola, Iowa, and secured an interest in a mercantile business with which he remained connected for three years. During this time he was elected principal of the Carlisle school and served with credit to himself and those who gave him their support. Returning to Ohio in 1888 he entered Chautauqua College, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1892, after which he taught in his native state for eight years. In 1 900 he engaged in his first real estate transaction, disposing of some property belonging to the family at Columbus. In the same year he came to California and in Merced county took charge of a $3,000 fruit crop, which was his first experience as an orchardist. In the follow- ing year he engaged with J. H. Rucker & Co., a real estate firm in San Jose, and in a very short time had made a record as a salesman, now being considered one of the best real estate men in the valley. In one month he sold eight thousand, two hundred acres of land in the San Joaquin valley to eastern people, in tracts of from forty to three thousand acres. He is now connected with the A. N. Town Company, of San Francisco. The marriage of Mr. Mills, which occurred in Ohio in 1883, united him with Carrie B. Behm, also a native of Ohio and the daughter of Joseph and Barbara A. (Helsel) Behm. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, which was also the location of the maternal ancestry, the ma- ternal grandfather, Philip Helsel, being a native of the state, whence he removed to Ohio in 1801 and became the owner of considerable property in and about Columbus. To Mr. and Mrs. Mills were born the following children : Ross M., now a student of Stanford University; Harry B., Edna F., and Sarah V. In his political convictions Mr. Mills believes as his father did and is a stanch adherent of the principles of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.