"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 212.
 
GEORGE W. MILLS

     There is none more to be honored among Thurston County pioneers than Mr.
George W. Mills, who for the past fifty odd years has made his home in Tumwater,
South Union, and later, in his declining years, in Olympia. Mr. Mills was a
native of Illinois, having first seen the light of day in that State in 1833.
Here he grew to young manhood, and when little more than a boy married Isabel
Fleming, two years his junior. In Mr. Mills' own words, "We were but children
when we started out in our married life." A few years after their marriage, Mr.
and Mrs. Mills went to the then Territory of Missouri, but had hardly settled
there before the Civil War was declared. The young man organized Company G. 11th
Missouri cavalry, and was elected second lieutenant by his company. Mr. Mills
was very modest about his military career, but from other sources comes the
story of a dashing bravery when in active service which may well be a source of
pride to his sons and daughters. The principal engagement he took part in was
the Kirksville charge. In this battle there were many killed and wounded, and
while Mr. Mills was recounting his story of the engagement, something of the
fire and spirit of his youthful days flamed in his eyes and animated his form.
     Owing to illness Mr. Mills was obliged to resign from the company before
the completion of the war. Among the clearest recollections Mr. Mills was
enabled to relate, was listening to one of the now historic debates between
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen.A. Douglass. His word picture of the appearance
of these famous characters was clearcut and vivid. Mr. Mills had a personal
acquaintance with Lincoln, and loved to tell about what an "ugly, raw-boned
figure of a man the rail-splitter really was," although with a certain majesty
and dignity which impressed the young man even in those days.
      As the war had brought bitter hard times to Missouri and the cry of gold
to be had for the picking up came from California, the young couple decided to
go to the gold fields and gather their share. There were several children by
this time, but they were all hardy and strong, and their parents full of hope
and confidence. Fitting up a light spring wagon for the family to ride in and
with an ox team to haul the provisions and the very few household furnishings
that were deemed absolutely necessary, the start was made for the land
of promise.
     When the upper crossing on the Platte River, on the old Oregon Trail, was
reached, they were halted by a company of soldiers stationed there to protect
the emigrants from the Indians, who were on the warpath, and had taken
several trains of emigrants along the road, killing the people and burning the
wagons. As small trains of wagons rolled up they were detained by the military
officers until a sufficient number should have congregated to form a strong
enough company to resist an ordinary attack from the bands of Indians who roved
at will over the plains. As the emigrants arrived, "Oregon, Oregon," was the
cry. No one except the Mills family seemed to want to go to California. Mr.
Mills, after consulting the officers of the company, was advised to join these
Oregon-bound emigrants and go with them into that country. It was pointed out to
him that all places in the West were about alike in advantages, but if, after
reaching Oregon, he did not wish to remain there, he could then proceed on down
to California. There seemed to be no alternative so the young couple joined the
Oregon-ward march.  By this time enough emigrants had arrived at the crossing to
make a train of sixty wagons and three buggies. Owing to Mr. Mills' military
training and his commanding personality, he was unanimously elected captain of
the train, or military director. Regular drills were held to teach the men how
to corral the wagons and prepare to withstand an attack, should the Indians make
their appearance. Five and a half weary months of traveling followed, with the
usual story of bitter hardships endured with uncomplaining fortitude by these
sturdy men and women. Many and harrowing were the experiences undergone, and the
fear of Indian assault was ever present. This fear was founded upon several
terrible reminders of the possible fate of the adventurers. Two or three times
the train was halted to give the men time to inter the remains of victims of the
Indians' wanton massacre.
     One day, Mr. Mills related, they came upon what had evidently been the
scene of a battle.  The remains of a burned wagon was in the road, with what had
been its contents scattered over the plain. A few feet from the side of the road
was a hastily-formed mound of loose dirt and sod. Between two clods of earth,
which were not closely packed down, streamed the long tresses of a woman's hair.
The locks were of a beautiful brown color and of great abundance. From the size
and shape of the mound it was evident that there were two forms under the earth,
and the most pathetic sight of all on top of the rude grave, curled up as though
asleep, was the form of a tiny spaniel. There was no inscription or sign of any
kind to tell who were here buried, but the general conjecture was that here were
the remains of a husband and wife, who had been murdered by the Indians, their
companions only taking time to throw a little earth over their forms before
fleeing for their own lives. The little dog was probably the pet of the dead,
and instinctively knew that his friends were sleeping there, so had stayed by
them until death came from starvation.
     When Oregon was finally reached and the emigrant train disbanded, the Mills
family settled in Yamhill County, where Mr. Mills went to farming. Here, the
following winter, was born their son, George G. Mills.
     The next spring, encouraged by letters from a former neighbor, who had come
to Puget Sound the previous year, they decided to come on to this county.
Packing the wife and children into a wagon drawn by a span of mules,
they started for the Sound, arriving in I860.
     When they reached Tumwater and Mrs. Mills beheld the salt water before her,
with the great forest on all sides, she said: "Well, Pa, this is the jumping off
place. We haven't the money to go back; we can go no further, so we've just
got to stay here." And stay they did.
      For the first three and a half years in the new home Mr. Mills was head
sawyer at Ward's mill, at the upper Tumwater Falls.  At about this time Jesse
T., the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Mills, was born.
     A few years later the couple bought forty acres of land at South Union, six
miles from Tumwater. Mr. Mills said this land was only bought, after earnest
consideration, for they well knew that the country was developing so rapidly
that if they went further back in the wilderness and took up a homestead of good
soil, such as was to be had for the asking at that time, they would in the long
run be better off financially, but Mrs. Mills plead: "Let's give the children a
chance.  We owe it to them not to get away from schooling advantages." Even then
there was a fairly good rustic school at South Union, and as the children, one
by one, acquired the knowledge taught there, they were sent into Olympia to
get further educational advantages. Mary. George and Jesse were graduates of the
Olympia Collegiate Institute.
     When the land at South Union was first bought it was covered with the
forest primeval. Mr. Mills' first work was to cut down big trees enough to clear
a building site for his house. In course of time, and through the heart-breaking
labor which the development of wild forest land calls for, the farm was
gradually cleared, a good nine-room house erected, and the Mills place at South
Union became one of the most valuable farms in the county.
     In the year 1882 Mr. Mills was made industrial instructor at the Indian
school at Chehalis, teaching the Indian boys the rudiments of several trades.
Mrs. Mills accompanied her husband with such of her children as were not
attending school in Olympia. Among the pupils in the school was Jesse Mills, a
ring-leader in all the sports, and undoubtedly much of the mischief, perpetrated
by the dusky lads. As he was constantly associated with the Indians, and they
were practically his only playmates, the youngster readily acquired a proficient
knowledge of not only in the Chinook jargon, but the Indian language as well.
Consequently, when an Indian parent would come to enquire regarding the progress
and welfare of their offspring, Jesse was frequently called in as interpreter.
    At the end of four and a half years, the Mills family returned to their farm
at South Union, but had only been there a few weeks, when the Indian agent plead
with Mr. Mills to take charge of the Indian school at Skykomish. This service
lasted eighteen mouths, when Mr. Mills was relieved and again took up his
residence on the farm.
    At the time of Mr. Mills' arrival in Tumwater, that settlement was more of a
town than Olympia, and there was only a muddy trail connecting the two towns.
From where Masonic Temple now stands, in Olympia, to Tumwater Falls, there was
the untouched forest, and on about the spot where the George Israel home is now
built was an Indian village the inmates of which hunted big game in the
immediate neighborhood.
    Mr. Mills tells that many a night after his day's work in the saw mill, he
and Mrs. Mills would take a lantern and flounder along the trail to Olympia, to
trade out his pay checks at the Percival store. There was very little ready
money in circulation and the cost of all commodities was very high, flour
selling for $2 a sack of forty-nine pounds, or $50 a barrel, with sugar, butter,
coffee, bacon and other necessaries in proportion. As everything was brought
around the Horn in sailing vessels, these prices were probably not excessive,
all things considered.
     "Well, we had jolly times in those days," said Mr. Mills.  "We were like
one family. If one was in trouble it was the concern of all. We shared in each
others' joys and sympathized in each others' sorrows.
     "Our principal amusements were dancing in the winter and picnics in the
summer. Then a dance was a dance. Beginning early in the evening and lasting all
night, till morning brought light enough to see the trails leading to our homes.
And those good old dances, Old Dan Tucker, basket quadrille, Cheater's swing,
polkas, mazurkas, firemens' quadrille, where are they now? I never heard the
word tango nor saw a meditation waltz in my day, but think we had just as much
fun at our gatherings as they do now, maybe more.
     "Of all the men with whom I was associated in a business way when I first
came to the country, I can think of but five who are still living, Robert Frost,
John Murphy, Gus Rosenthal, Tom Prather and P. D. Moore."
     Mr. Mills tells with reminiscent, glee of one of the pranks of his younger
days. In 1863 political sentiment between the Whig party and the Democratic
party was very decided, and party spirit very bitter. The election of a
Territorial Delegate to Congress was imminent. Alvin Flanders of Vancouver,
Whig, was running against Francis Clark, Democrat, of Tacoma.  When the news of
Flanders' election reached us, Tumwater went wild. Speedily congregating, the
Republicans secured a number of disused saws from the mill. By striking these
with hammers and iron bars a noise horrible enough to wake the dead resulted.
Tin cans and horse fiddles added their notes to the horrid din.  After parading
through the blocks of Tumwater streets, it was then for Olympia.  Down by
Crosby's mill went the jolly boys, along the trail to the bluff above Tumwater.
Here was peacefully grazing the Biles' family cow. Her big brass bell was soon
added to the orchestra's force.
     When the noisy procession was about half way to Olympia they met two
foppishly dressed young men riding on livery horses. They were stopped and their
political convictions demanded. As they did not reply, hut seemed frightened at
the demonstrations, they were allowed to proceed on their way after the
enthusiasts had given them three rousing groans and some mighty uncomplimentary
remarks as a parting.
     When Olympia was reached the procession was swelled by the faithful of that
burg. As they paraded up and down the streets a stop was made before every place
of business as well as every dwelling house. In those days there was no side
stepping or hiding one's political affiliations, and every man had to stand
squarely on his party's platform. Consequently it was pretty well known just how
each and every man had voted. So as the parade passed the house of one of the
faithful a stop would be called and three rousing cheers given for the Whig, but
when a Democrats' habitat was reached the inmates were greeted with three
fearful groans.
    When the town had been properly greeted the wild gang started back for
Tumwater. They stopped on the corner of what is now Fifteenth and Main Streets
to inform Colonel Cock of the result of the election.
    Cock had just returned from a trip east of the mountains, where he had been
buying cattle. He had not alighted from his horse when the boys came up. He was
a very excitable man, and when it was told him that the Whigs had won out he
simply went wild. Jumping from his horse in the middle of the road he threw his
hat down and stamped it into the mud.
    Just as his frenzy was at its height, the same couple of fops who had been
met a few hours previously came riding up.  One of them sprang from the horse
and rushed into Cock's arms.  A closer inspection showed the astonislied men
that the supposed dudes were Mrs. Cock and Mrs. Rice Tilley. The two young women
had thought it would be a lark to dress up in men's clothes and ride out to meet
Mr. Cock. They took the wrong road, however, and missed him, and were returning
home. Explanations and apologies were in order.
     "My wife died in 1907," proceeded Mr. Mills, "after we had lived together
51 years, and if ever a man lost a faithful, loving companion I did when she was
laid away. She was a good wife and devoted mother. I miss her every day of
my life and one of my few pleasures is going to her last resting place and
looking at the spot, I shall occupy by her side. I have finished my work and
only wait the last summons. I am proud of my children, none of whom have ever
caused me humiliation or shame. They are all honorable men and women, respected
in the community where they reside."
     The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mills were: Sarah, afterwards Mrs. Sales,
of Seattle; Kate, Mrs. Reynolds of Olympia; James and John, still of Tumwater;
Mary, Mrs. Huntington, of The Dalles, Oregon; Lora, afterwards Mrs. Greene
of this city; Fannie, Mrs. Meyers. now living in Oakville; and George and Jesse,
of Olympia. Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Green are no longer living.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.