Published by permission from the historical society.

Transcribed by Mrs. McElroys' MMS class.

Mills – Glenn H.

            Glenn H. Mills was born in Ottawa, Ill., Dec. 31, 1894.  He was the only son of Horace and Nellie ( Wankey) Mills.  A little brother had passed away at birth.

            The Mills family was English and Daniel Mills, father of Horace, had built his home in Illinois, as an English estate.  Daniel was a successful farmer; he and his wife, Elizabeth (Hogaboom) Mills, raised a family of nine children.  Horace had stayed on the farm, as the oldest son, and helped his father, while most of the other children attended college and became professional people.

            Glenn attended college at the University of Illinois at Champaign.  He often told stories of the great football player “Red Grange” who was in school at the same time.  Glenn was in the cavalry, during the First World War, stationed at Fort Riley.  This is where he meant Ruby Canaday.  She didn’t tell you, but I will: their first date was a blind date.  When they went into a restaurant, daddy took off his hat and mother found out for the first time that he had no hair.  This must nor have bothered her too much, as she married him.

            Glenn’s parents came to Mulvane to live in the 30’s much to the delight of us all.  We children had never had a chance to know them before.  Grandpa Horace loved to garden and always raised more than we could use.  We would get our little red wagon and go from door to door selling his excess produce.  You never went to their home but what something mighty good was cooking.  Grandmother was a wonderful cook, as well as a seamstress.  We lost grandma in 1937, and grandpa in 1941.

            My father served the City of Mulvane for thirty years.  The job of policeman was one that he did by himself; his love for young people seemed to transfer itself to the youth of Mulvane and their parents.  Many times a child was saved from a record, by the cooperation of the parents with my father.  While he served as policeman, he was expected to grade the streets of Mulvane; they were all gravel then.  The maintainer didn’t have a seat or cab, so he would stand, steering this crude contraption over the streets, either removing snow or trying to smooth ruts.  If the fire whistle blew he would stoop anything he was doing and head for the fire truck, on the run.  Mulvane never had a police car, while he was the only policeman.  Milo Alley was the night watchman during the time I remember.  Whenever there was trouble, he was there doing what he could to help and never once did I hear him complain.

            Glenn and Ruby had four children: Glenn Canaday Mills married Peggy Bowlin, they had one child, Danny.  Danny’s son is named Glenn (so now the family has a Little Glenn and a Big Glenn again). After Peggy’s death, Glenn married Patricia O’Donnel – she had four children Debra, Patricia, John, and Brian – these children have added much joy to Glenn’s life.  Phyllis Marilyn Mills married Henry Frederick, their children – Karen Sue married Tommy Terry, four children Laura, Marsha, Jan and Jeff; Donald Ray and his wife, Lynn have a son Ricky; Henry Frederick died in 1975, Marilyn then married Elbert McGee: Madeline K. married Paul Farber their their biography is in this book.  Helen Elaine married George Warden their biography is in this book.

            My father died an untimely death in 1958.  I never knew, until after he was gone, how much his love for the people of Mulvane was returned.  I am proud to be his daughter.

Contributed by Madeline Mills Farber.