Sarah A. (CLAYDON) MILLS was the daughter of Thomas & Mary CLAYDON. She was born in New York, probably in Saratoga Co., in 1851. On August 23, 1869, Sarah married Civil War veteran Benjamin Franklin MILLS in Kendall Co., IL. They settled in Seney township, Elgin, Plymouth Co., IA. Sarah wrote a letter to grand-uncle James CLAYDON in 1876, writing of hard times paying for the 50-acre farm and of a promise made in 1869 by James to send $100 if any of his nieces & nephews would write and ask for it. Apparently that happened, because Sarah's family is in the area in the 1880 census and husband "F.B." is listed as a farmer. Before 1900 the family moved to southwestern Nebraska, deep in farm country.

Sarah's father, Thomas CLAYDON, preceeded James CLAYDON to America by two years in 1846, settling in the Saratoga area near Greenfield of New York. Thomas is in the 1850 US Census for Saratoga, Saratoga Co., NY as a farmer with wife Mary (age 24, b. abt. 1826) and daughter Mary Ann (age 3, born in NY). The family moved numerous times before settling in Aurora, Kane Co., IL. Sarah notes in her letter that Father, Mother and little brother Friend Claydon visited her in Fall 1875. Thomas died of consumption in Aurora, IL in September 1859, so this father is probably a step-father.

Sarah died sometime between 1900 and 1910, probably in Nebraska. By 1910, widower Benjamin Franklin Mills had moved to Washington state near the Pacific coast with sons Newton and Francis N. & wife. By 1920, the kids had all gone their own ways. Son Francis returned to the midwest. Son Newton stayed in the Pacific Northwest, appearing in Oregon in the 1930 Census. Benjamin died probably in Skagit County, Washington between 1920 and 1930.

Sarah's younger brother, Friend Claydon, was in Washington Co., Nebraska, in 1880 through at least 1900. In 1910, he was in Oklahoma. In 1920, he had retired to Yamhill County, Oregon, and was there in the 1930 Census.

Sarah appears in these censuses: 1860, 1870, 1880, 1885, 1895, and 1900. Her widower, Benjamin, continues in 1910 and 1920.

---

On January 3, 1876, from Seney, Plymouth Co., IA, Sarah wrote a letter to her great uncle James Claydon in Greenfield Center, NY, and described her family: three children: Joseph Franklin, Mary Stella, and Grace. She also wrote of farm difficulties and a promise by James to send $100 to anyone in the family in need who asked.

Seney is about 407 miles west and a little north of Aurora, Illinois. Plymouth Co., IA.

---

CENSUS:

1860 US FEDERAL CENSUS State: County: Free Inhabitants in Post office: Page No. Supervisor's Dist. No. Enumeration Dist. No. Enumerator: Date: Illinois Kane Aurora Aurora 177 . . B. Burchell, Ass't Marshal June 21, 1860           Description   Value of Real Estate           Line # House Visit # Family # NAME on 6/1/1860 AGE at Last Bday SEX COLOR PROFESSION Value Real Value Personal PLACE OF BIRTH Mo. if mar. within yr Attend School yr # Over 20 illiterate Condition . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 28 1471 1332 Mary Claydon 34 F   Widow     England         29     Mary Ann 13 F         NY         30     Elizabeth 10 F         NY         31     Sarah 8 F         NY         32     Friend T. 2 M         Ill         Year: 1860; Census Place: Aurora, Kane, Illinois; Roll: M653_191; Page: 0; Image: 178.

---

1870 US FEDERAL CENSUS State: County: Inhabitants in Page No. Supervisor's Dist. No. Enumeration Dist. No. Enumerator: Date: Illinois De Kalb Paw Paw 17 . . ___________, Ass't Marshal 24 day of August, 1870           Description   Value of Real Estate Owned   Parentage       Education   Constitutional Relations Line # House Visit # Family # NAME on 6/1/1870 AGE at Last Bday SEX COLOR PROFESSION Value Real Value Personal PLACE OF BIRTH Father of Foreign Born Mother of Foreign Born Mo. if born within yr Mo. if mar. within yr Attend School yr Cannot Read Cannot Write Condition Male citizen 21+ Male age 21+ noncrime deny vote   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 133 140 Mills, B. F. 26 M W Farmer     New York                 /   26     Sarah 18 F W Keeping Home     New York       Aug             Year: 1870; Census Place: Paw Paw, Dekalb, Illinois; Roll: M593_215; Page: 494; Image: 311

---

1880 US FEDERAL CENSUS State: County: Inhabitants in Page No. Supervisor's Dist. No. Enumeration Dist. No. Enumerator: Date: Iowa Plymouth Elgin Township 7 4 171 A. W. Andrews 14th & 11th day of June, 1880     In Cities       Personal Description     Civil Condition   Occupation Health Education Nativity Line # Street House # House Visit # Family # NAME on 6/1/1880 COLOR SEX AGE at Last Bday Born Mo. RELATIONSHIP S M W D Married in Census Yr OCCUPATION Mo. Unemp. No work sick, disabled Blind Deaf Dumb Idiotic Insane Disabled School No Read No Write PLACE OF BIRTH BIRTHPLACE FATHER BIRTHPLACE MOTHER   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 6     40 44 Mills, F. B. W M 42       /     Farmer /                   New York Vermont New York 7         " Sarah W F 28   Wife   /     Keeping house /                   New York England England 8         " F. Joseph W M 9   Son /                       /     Ill NY NY 9         " S. Mary W M 7   Daughter /                       /     Iowa NY NY 10         " E. Gracie W M 4   Daughter /                             Iowa NY NY 11         " L. Florence W M 1   Daughter /                             Iowa NY NY Year: 1880; Census Place: Elgin, Plymouth, Iowa; Roll: T9_359; Family History Film: 1254359; Page: 68.1000; Enumeration District: 171; Image: 0426.

---

1885 IOWA STATE CENSUS Union township, Appanoose County, Iowa           Residence           Place of Birth Parents N native F foreign                 Line # Dwelling # Family # NAME of each Person Town ship Range Section Street or Smallest Sub division AGE at 1884 Bday SEX COLOR Status PROFESSION County State Country Father Mother Mil Duty Vote Alien 1st Alien no papers No RW R no W Deaf etc Rem arks   A B C - - - D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V 20   44 Mills, Benjamine F. 70 12 23 W 1/2 SW 41 M   M Farmer   New York   N N / /             21     Mills, Sarah A.         33 F   M     New York   F F                 22     Mills, Joseph         14 M   S     Illinois   N N                 23     Mills, Stella M.         11 F   S   Plymouth Iowa   N N                 24     Mills, Grace         9 F   S   Plymouth Iowa   N N                 24     Mills, Limulan [Florence]         5 F   S   Plymouth Iowa   N N                 25     Mills, Newton         3 M   S   Plymouth Iowa   N N                 26     Mills, Percy [George]         0 M   S   ? Iowa   N N                 Source: Roll IA1885_144.

It appears that the family moved to Union from the Elgin area between 1882 and 1885.

---

1895 IOWA STATE CENSUS Union township, Appanoose County, Iowa           Age White Colored       Parentage Nativity N native F foreign                           Soldiers, sailors, marines in War of the Rebellion Soldiers in Mexican War Line # Dwelling # Family # NAME of each Person 18+ 5 to 18 Under 5 Males Females Males Females Married Single Place of Birth - State, Iowa & County - or Country Father Mother Profession or Occupation Religious Belief Mil Duty Vote 10+ Read not Write 10+ no read & write 7-16 no school Unnatur alized Births 1894 Deaths 1894 Deaf dumb Blind Insane Com pany Reg State Service and Rank Reg State   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 20   24 Mills, Benjamine F. 51     1       M   New York N N Farmer M. Ep.   X                   H 105 ILL 20 Priv     21     Mills, Sarah A. 43       1     "   " F F Keeping House "                                   22     Mills, Newton B [L].   18   1         S Iowa, App. NY NY                                       23     Mills, Percy [George]   11   1         S " " " "                                       24     Mills, Norman     3 1         S " " " "                                       Source: Roll IA1885_287.

Note that daughter Florence M. is not present. She would be about 16 years old at this time, and may be away from home.

Benjamin F. Mills was in the Civil War, Union Army, Company H, 105th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, from DeKalb County, Illinois. From http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilcivilw/reg_html/105_reg.htm, there is muster roll with this entry: Mills, Benjamin; Private; Sandwich, IL; Sept 2, 1862; Mustered out Jun 7, 1865 (and discharged on June 17 in Chicago). Sandwich, IL is about 20 miles southwest of Aurora, where the Claydon family was living.

---

1900 US FEDERAL CENSUS TWELFTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES. SCHEDULE No. 1.--POPULATION   STATE: COUNTY: TOWNSHIP OR OTHER DIVISION OF COUNTY: NAME OF INSTITUTION: NAME OF INCORPORATED CITY, TOWN, or VILLAGE WITHIN THE ABOVE NAMED DIVISION: WARD OF CITY: SUPERVISOR'S DISTRICT No.: ENUMERATION DISTRICT No.: SHEET No. Nebraska Perkins Highland Precinct and Eckery Precinct . . . 5 134 1A and 2B ENUMERATED BY ME ON THE 9 to 13th DAY OF June, 1900. ________ ENUMERATOR     LOCATION     PERSONAL DESCRIPTION NATIVITY CITIZENSHIP OCCUPATION EDUCATION OWNERSHIP OF HOME   In Cities             Date of Birth           Line # Street House # House visit# Family # NAME RELATION Color Sex DOB M DOB Y AGE STATUS S M W D M yrs Mother # children # still living PLACE OF BIRTH Birth place Father Birth place Mother Imm YR Yrs in USA Nat Yr OCCUPATION #Mo Unemp School mo Read Eng Write Eng Speak Eng Own Rent Own Free Mort. Farm House Farm #   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 49     41 41 Mills, Benjamin Head W M Nov 1843 56 M 30     New York Vermont New York       Stock raiser 0   Y Y Y O F F 41 50         " Sarah Wife W F Sept 1851 48 M 30 11 6 New York England England             Y Y Y         51         " Florence L. Daughter W F Feb 1879 21 S       Iowa New York New York       At school   5 Y Y Y         52         " Newton L. Son W M Mar 1881 19 S       Iowa New York New York       Herder 0   Y Y Y         53         " George P. Son W M Jan 1884 16 S       Iowa New York New York       At School   7 Y Y Y         54         " Francis N. Son W M Dec 1891 8 S       Iowa New York New York                           Year: 1900; Census Place: Eckery, Perkins, Nebraska; Roll: T623 936; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 139.

This census reports that Sarah had 11 children with 6 still living: Florence, Newton, George, Francis, Grace, and Joseph. So, Mary Stella is one of the deceased, along with 4 others who probably died young and were not counted in the censuses.

Also in Eckery, near the Mills residence, is William Garner, a stock raiser, from England, with wife Grace E. (born Nov. 1875 in IA, married 1 year, 1 child still living), and daughter Hattie B. (born Feb 1900, age 3 mo.) [Year: 1900; Census Place: Eckery, Perkins, Nebraska; Roll: T623_936; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 139].

---

1910 US FEDERAL CENSUS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR--BUREAU OF THE CENSUS THIRTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES: 1910--POPULATION   STATE: COUNTY: TOWNSHIP OR OTHER DIVISION OF COUNTY: NAME OF INSTITUTION: NAME OF INCORPORATED PLACE: SUPERVISOR'S DISTRICT No.: ENUMERATION DISTRICT No.: WARD OF CITY: SHEET No. Washington Skagit Fidalgo Precinct . . 1 249 . 5A ENUMERATED BY ME ON THE 26th DAY OF April, 1910. ______ ENUMERATOR     LOCATION     PERSONAL DESCRIPTION NATIVITY CITIZENSHIP   OCCUPATION EDUCATION OWNERSHIP OF HOME                 Mother of how many children Line # Street House # House visit# Family # NAME RELATION Sex Color AGE STATUS S M W D M yrs Mother # children # still living PLACE OF BIRTH Birth place Father Birth place Mother Imm YR Nat/Ali. Speak ENG OCCUPATION INDUSTRY Employer Employee Unemp 4/15/1910 Unemp 1909 wks School mo Read Eng Write Eng School 9/1/09 Own Rent Own Free Mort. Farm House Farm # Survivor Union Conf. Blind Deaf Dumb   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 15     77 77 Mills, B. F. Head M W 66 W       New York Vermont New York     English Carpenter House bldg. Emp       Y Y   O M F 80 0A     16         " Newton L. Son M W 29 S       Iowa Maine New York     English Farmer General farm 0A       Y Y                 17         " Norman Son M W 18 M 3/12     Iowa Maine New York     English None           Y Y                 18         " Minnie Dau-in-law F W 15 M 3/12     Wisconsin New York Illinois     English None           Y Y                 Year: 1910; Census Place: Fidalgo, Skagit, Washington; Roll: T624_1667; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 249; Image: 989.

Of note is that Benjamin is a widower, so Sarah died sometime between 1900 and 1910, and between Nebraska and Washington.

In Bellingham, Whatcom Co., WA, on a farm in North Burlington precinct, is William and Grace E. Garner. Bellingham is about 20 miles north of Burlington and Fidalgo, where Grace’s father is living [Year: 1910; Census Place: North Burlington, Skagit, Washington; Roll: T624_1667; Page 1A; Enumeration District: 257; Image: 1218].

Google map: Fidalgo, Skagit Co., WA.

Google map: Bellingham, WA.

---

On June 5, 1917, Francis Norman Mills registered for the World War I draft: age 25, Chisholm, MN, born on December 27, 1891, natural born citizen, born in Centerville, IA, farmer, self-employed, married with 4 children, claims exemption “on account of family to support” [Registration Location: St Louis County, Minnesota; Roll: 1675890; Draft Board: 5].

On September 12, 1918, Newton Lorenzo Mills registered for the World War I draft: age 37, born March 5, 1881, white, native born, farm laborer, employed by G. Nakagawa, nearest relative: Benj. F. Mills of Burlington [Registration Location: Skagit County, Washington; Roll: 1992014; Draft Board: 0].

On November 15, 1918, there is a record in the Minnesota death index: Francis Norman Mills, St Louis County, state file & certificate number: 016483, record number: 258857.

---

1920 US FEDERAL CENSUS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE--BUREAU OF THE CENSUS FOURTEENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES: 1920--POPULATION   STATE: COUNTY: TOWNSHIP OR OTHER DIVISION OF COUNTY: NAME OF INCORPORATED PLACE: NAME OF INSTITUTION: SUPERVISOR'S DISTRICT No.: ENUMERATION DISTRICT No.: WARD OF CITY: SHEET No. Washington Skagit Burlington City . . 2 111 S.E. Precinct (inside) 6A ENUMERATED BY ME ON THE 10-11th DAY OF January, 1920. Mrs. Ellie H. Bush ENUMERATOR     PLACE OF ABODE     TENURE PERSONAL DESCRIPTION CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION NATIVITY AND MOTHER TONGUE   OCCUPATION   Person Father Mother Line # Street House # House visit# Family # NAME living on 4/1/1920 RELATION Own Rent Free or Mort. Sex Color AGE STATUS S M W D Imm YR Nat/Ali. Nat. yr. School 9/1/19 Read Write PLACE OF BIRTH Mother Tongue PLACE OF BIRTH Mother Tongue PLACE OF BIRTH Mother Tongue Speak ENG TRADE OR PROFESSION INDUSTRY Employer, salary wage self Farm #   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 47 Fairhaven Ave   136 158 Mills, B. Frank Head O F M W 76 Wd         Y Y New York   Vermont   New York   Y None       Year: 1920; Census Place: Burlington, Skagit, Washington; Roll: T625_1935; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 111; Image: 262.

---

In the 1920 US Census, Burlington, Skagit Co., WA, on Fairhaven Ave., is B. Frank Mills, head, owns property free, male, white, age 76, widowed, can read and write, born in NY, father born in VT, mother born in NY, not employed [Year: 1920;Census Place: Burlington, Skagit, Washington; Roll: T625_1935; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 111; Image: 262].

In Bellingham, Whatcom Co., WA, is the household headed by Roy V. Heathers, with wife Beulah H. (grand-daughter of Sarah Claydon & B. F. Mills), and sons Ward P., and Norman R. [Year: 1920; Census Place: Bellingham Ward 2, Whatcom, Washington; Roll: T625_1943; Page 8B; Enumeration District: 218; Image: 863].

Also in Bellingham is Beulah’s mother, Grace E. Mills Garner (daughter of Sarah Claydon & B.F. Mills), on #2725 Humbolt Street. [Year: 1920; Census Place: Bellingham Ward 2, Whatcom, Washington; Roll: T625_1943; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 218; Image: 852].

In Fern, St Louis Co., MN, is Minnie Mills, widow of Francis Norman Mills, with children Glen, Clara, Lora, and Edith [Year: 1920; Census Place: Fern, St Louis, Minnesota; Roll: T625_860; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 157; Image: 37]. It would seem that getting out of the WWI draft did not help Francis.

Google map: 2725 Humbolt Street, Bellingham, WA.

Google map: Fairhaven Ave., Burlington, WA.

Google map: Fern township, MN.

In the records for Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, Marion County, Oregon, is Edith J. Ellis (daughter of Francis & Minnie, granddaughter of Sarah & B. F. Mills): born 3/18/1918 in Minnesota, died: 4/7/1976 in Marion Co., OR. Transcript of the obituary includes this: Edith J. Ellis, 58, died Wednesday at her Salem residence. Survivors: sons Robert and Norman L., daughter Roberta Allen, sister Clara Dunn, Laura Parker and Betty Riggle, Gladys Watterman, brother Glenn Mills and 12 grandchildren.

Google map: 1270 Capitol Street NE, Salem, OR.

In the Social Security Death benefits Index (SSDI), there is a record for Glenn Mills (son of Francis & Minnie, grandson of Sarah & B. F. Mills), born 8/8/1912, died 4/3/1998 in Oregon. Benefits sent to Anacortes, Guemes, and Similk Beach, Skagit Co., Washington. [SSN: 540-14-0358].

---

============================================================
1920 Census: Burlington, Skagit Co., WA
	B. Frank MILLS (age 76)

Bellingham Ward 3, Whatcom, Washington:
	Newton L. MILLS (age 38), renter, nm.
============================================================
1930 Census: Mulloy, Washington, Oregon
	Newton T. MILLS (age 49), nm.

Ten Mile Township, Whatcom, WA
Garner, William (age 63, married at age 32, born in England, fruit farmer)
Garner, Grace E. (age 54, married at age 22, born in IA, Parents IA & IL)