Walter S. Mills
Walter S. Mills, chief of police at Lima, is one of the city's reliable, valued and respected citizens. He was born in 1869 in Amanda Township, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Squire and Maria Jane (Sutton) Mills.
Rev. Nathan Mills, the grandfather of Mr. Mills, was born in 1764, and became a well- known teacher and Quaker preacher. Prior to 1824 he moved to Noble County, Ohio, and in that year the father of our subject was born. In 1835 with the first settlers Squire Mills came to Allen County and has seen it converted from a wilderness into a fertile farming country. He cleared the land on which the Metropolitan Block in Lima now stands, as well as the tract from that point north to the Pennsylvania Railroad. He still owns the 80-acre tract of land which he received from Congress and preserves as an interesting relic the old parchment deed. Mr. Mills, who is 81 years of age, now resides in Amandatownship, being its oldest voter, and next to the oldest resident. He has always lived at peace with his neighbors, and takes pleasure in the fact that he never was entangled in a single law suit. In his day those things were not honorable. Since the days of Andred Jackson Mr. Mills has been deeply interested in politics. Formerly a strong Whig, later he became an equally stanch Republican.
Mr. Mills married Maria Jane Sutton, a daughter of Thomas Sutton, who was a pioneer along the Auglaize river and they reared a family of five children, namely: Loretta, who is the wife of G. W. Morgoet, of Lima; Thomas, who for some years has been a resident of Muncie, Indiana; Susan D., who is the wife of Rev. J. H. Winans, a prominent Baptist clergyman now located at Bellefontaine, Ohio; Annie V., who is the wife of J. M. Reeves, of this county, formerly identified with a Chicago cream separator company, also dealers in creamery supplies; and Walter S., of Lima.
Walter S. Mills was reared and educated in the schools of the county and in the Ohio Normal University at Ada. He began his business career by learning telegraphy in the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and for a year prior to entering the university followed that occupation, passing a like period in Indian Territory as a cattle herder and coal miner.
After his experience as a telegrapher Mr. Mills entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company and remained with that corporation for four years, being at different times foreman of a pipe gang and in charge of the still in an oil refinery. He was also employed by the LaFayette Car Company for one year, in the car repairing department, and during that period was in the shops at Pullman, Illinois. For some four years he was with the freight department of the L. E & W. Railroad. In 1900 he came to Lima, and for 14 months served as patrolman on the city police force, and was then appointed chief of the department.
Mr. Mills married Lethia A. John, daughter of Jesse J. John, one of the representative citizens of Elida and a pioneer of the county. They have four children, viz: Anna J., Carlton J., Helen J., and Elizabeth Avenella. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Lima.
Politically Mr. Mills is a Republican and two years ago was nominated for the position of sheriff of Allen County, but he declined to make the canvass. He is a member of Garrett Wycoff Lodge, No. 585, F. & A. M.; and of the Odd Fellows, Eagles, Maccabees and Pathfinders.