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Death Of Deacon Mills

Death Of Deacon Mills image
Parent Issue
Day
13
Month
February
Year
1891
Copyright
Public Domain
Obituary
OCR Text

Deacon Lorrin Mills, one of the pioneers of Ann Arbor, died in Manhattan, Kansas, Wednesday morning, aged eighty-six years. He removed to Kansas about four years ago, but visited here for some weeks last summer. The county history contains the following sketch of his life. Lorrin Mills, one of the pioneers of Ann Arbor, was born in Litchfield county, Conn., December 15, 1804, and was the ninth son of Asa and Arethusa Mills, natives of Connecticut. Of this family a prominent journalist says: "Lorrin Mills is one of a family of 14 children; of these, 10 lived to middle age, married and became heads of families; all are Christians and professional singers; all pledged to total abstinence; all are republicans. Of the male members four are church deacons. The posterity of the family number about 150 grand-children and great-grand-children. In 1862 seven brothers and one sister met at Kalamazoo, Mich., with their consorts and children, in all a family gathering of about 40." At the age of 16 Mr. Mills was apprenticed to a merchant tailor, and served considerable time at this trade. In 1826 he carne westward, and located in the village of Ann Arbor in June. He built a small frame building that served for a home for several years. In 1828 he married Harriet G. Parsons, a daughter of Roswell and Agnes Parsons, well known pioneers of this county. Mrs. Mills died June 18, 1869 and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Ann Arbor. There are two children of Mr. Mills' family living, Addison D. and Kittie B., wife of Rev. R. D. Parker, of Manhattan, Kansas. Two children are deceased, Mattie I., died February, 1860, and Lorrin C., departed this life in August, 1862. In March, 1874, MrMills suffered another bereavement in the loss of his second wife, formerly Mrs. Burnett, whose memory is held in grateful hearts by a large circle of relatives and friends. When Mr. Mills arrived in Ann Arbor, he was in all probability the first tailor west of Detroit. Like many who left comfortable homes in the East, he had little capital, financially speaking, but an inexhautible fund of energy and vigor, which foreshadowed a prosperous future. The humble dwelling, previously mentioned, was partitioned off for the doublé purpose of a home and a workshop. Mr. Mills was a member of a military band, organized in Buffalo, N. Y., and was identified with the reception committee who welcomed the noble Lafayette to America's shores, on the occasion of his revisit to this country, and had the lonor of a formal intoduction to the great French general. He was also an eye witness of the opening of the Erie canal, and was in the aand that furnished music on that occasion. Mr. Mills has been a deacon in the Congregational church lor over 34 years, evincing a kind, hristian spirit, and has, indeed, proved himself a worthy laborer in :he vineyard of the Lord. He has served as superintendent of Sabbath schools for 25 years, and for 19 consecutive years from its organization, superintendent of the 'Congregational school at Ann Arbor. He also led church choirs for 25 or 30 years.