Deanna Rabkin wrote: > Hi Bonnie, I saw your recent offer to provide highlights of bios from this book. Thanks very > much for your generosity. When you get a chance, could you please give me the bullets on > "Robert Mills, deceased 1867"? It appears that he was a resident of Barnesville, pages > 325-335. Thank you very much. Regards, Deannadrabkin@ex-pressnet.com > Deanna, From "History of Belmont & Jefferson Cos., OH" by J.A. Caldwell, pub. 1880 Barnesville Bios. ROBERT MILLS - Robert, a son of Benjamin MILLS, deceased, came to Barnesville in 1809. He was a saddler, the first in the place, and in later years purchased the Philip ALLEN tannery, managing for many years both trades, and connecting also farming and hotel-keeping with them. He married in 1812 Patience SHORT, a member of the family of James M. ROUND. Her parents died in Delaware when she was a small child, and she accompanied Mr. ROUND's family on their journey to Barnesville. This marriage is said to have been the first in Barnesville. She died in 1860, in her sixty-fourth year. He died in 1867, aged eighty-three. The Barnesville Enterprise of that date contained the following obituary concerning him: "Death of an Old Citizen - On Thursday last Barnesville lost one of her oldest and most respected citizens - Robert MILLS, Esq. - who died at his residence in this place, at the ripe old age of eighty-three. Robert MILLS was born in Lancaster county, Pa., came to Ohio in 1809, and settled at Barnesville one year after the town had been laid out. At that time two or three cabins marked the spot where now stands a flourishing town, and the bears and wolves frequently came to what now are the most prominent streets. For fifty-eight years Mr. MILLS resided in the town he chose in his early manhood, and witnessed all the changes that were wrought in that time. The men with whom he first worked and associated have long since passed away, and others were born and grew old while he remained. For many years he has been a landmark of the past, to whom every one paid reverence due to honorable men. Everybody who has lived in Barnesville remembers Robert MILLS, and all will bear testimony to his honesty and integrity. He was positive in his opinions and positive in expressing these opinions, yet no one doubted the honesty or the sincerity of the man. From his habits he admired the customs of the past, and thought the "good old days" were better for honor, truth and virtue than the latter years of his life. He died as he had lived, respected by all, and beloved by those who knew him well. Time nor space will not permit us to treat the subject as it deserves, and we hope some one better acquainted with the life and character of Mr. MILLS will furnish an obituary for publication." -- Bonnie Burkhardt <burkhard@flash.net> <bburkhardt@juno.com> Let the threads that weave meaning through our yesterdays strengthen the tapestry of our tomorrows. Researching: ALLENDER - OH>WI HYETT - PA>OH ARBO - NB, CAN>MN KEYSER - PA>OH ARCHIBALD - NS, CAN LASHLEY - NY?>OH BERGMAN - DEU>KY>OH>? LONG - PA>OH BURDICK - NY PERVORSE - NY>MI BURKHARDT - DEU>OH PORTER - NB?, CAN DEBRULER - MD RICE - NY>MI DELINE - CAN>MI STERNBACHER - DEU HOLDEN - NY STONE - CAN>MI HATHORN - MD>OH