CHRISTOPHER K. MILLS

CHRISTOPHER K. MILLS, of Deer Creek township, the well known Irish-American farmer and stock man, has passed a generation, a score of years in Allen County. He came here in 1880 with plenty of means and bought land in section 17, township 24, range 19, one-half of the section, and improved and brought the large farm under cultivation. The stock business he was made familiar with in his youth and it was but natural, under favorable circumstances, that he should turn his attention to it when settling upon the broad prairies of Kansas.

As the name would indicate, Mr. Mills is an Irishman. He was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, December 25, 1829. His father, Thos. Mills, died in the Emerald Isle, leaving a family of five sons and six daughters, of whom Christopher K., was the oldest son. The latter's advantages as a boy were those only of the country lad with poor but respectable parents whose chief aim from day to day was to do a bigger day's work tomorrow than they did today. The practice of this plan taught all the children to work, especially the eldest son, and so when he left Ireland to join the vast throng of his countrymen in the United States he did so, well equipped with the elements that win success. He boarded a sailer at Liverpool and after eleven weeks put into New York harbor. He cast about for a hold and took any honorable employment yielding a revenue for his support. He went into the country about Kingston, New York, and hired for seven dollars a month with a promise of more as he earned it. Upon leaving New York State he went into western Pennsylvania and made his home about Pittsburg for twenty years. He invested his wages in a team as soon as he could purchase one and engaged in teaming and freighting. To this he added farming, also, and ere many years found himself in possession of the implements and the experience to win a fortune.

With the proceeds of his years of toil in cash Mr. Mills brought his large family to Kansas where he could the better utilize the labor of his sons and where a promise of greater reward awaited his coming. The sons remained with the homestead in Allen County till things were well started when they scattered here and there as each reached the period of his majority.

Seven of the eleven children of Thos. Mills came to the United States. Those surviving in addition to our subject are: James, of Clark County, Missouri; Patrick, of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; Michael of southeast Missouri, and Bridget, wife of Thos. Convoy, of Denver, Colorado.

C. K. Mills was married to Mary Convoy who died in Allen County,

Kansas, March 17, 1898. She was born in County Roscommon, Ireland, and was the mother of: Thomas Mills, who died near Edmund, Oklahoma, and left two sons; John Mills, of Oregon; James Mills, of Iola; Mary, wife of George Silvers, of Kansas City, Missouri; Lizzie, who married A. T. Kennedy; Agnes, widow of Frank Cain; Cristopher K. Jr., of Oregon; Samuel Mills; Julia, wife of Edward Marsoth, of Iola; Kate, wife of Alfred Nelson, of Allen County; William Mills; Rosa, wife of James McKaughan, of Allen County, and Isabel, wife of William LaVell.

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