Think I'll get in on the discussion of "Why Ohio?" Another reason why people from Essex/Union Co., NJ were some of the first to come into the OH Valley was because of Benjamin STITES and his influences on SYMMES who purchased the land known as the Miami Valley. Benjamin and his STITES family were from Westfield Twp., Essex/Union Co., NJ. He explored the land, then went back with the news of the rich fertile soil and convinced SYMMES to apply his influence from the government to purchase land. Benjamin hired John Reading MILLS as one of the surveyors. Benjamin married bigamously to Mary "Polly" MILLS, dau/o Wm. I & Amy MILLS of Westfield Twp. and took her to OH with him. For those of us who are descendants of Jacob & Elizabeth "Betsey" (MILLS) ROLL, Mary "Polly" (MILLS) STITES WOODRUFF was her sister, and their brother was also my Wm. II MILLS. Polly returned home after learning of Benjamin's lie, but did have two children by him. He already had a number of children by Rachel who was living in Redstone, PA. [Gossip of the day!! Benjamin writes to the newspapers saying she left his bed & board, and Polly responds with accusations that he brought to her parents' home in NJ a rotten nutmeg which almost killed her family!!!] John Reading MILLS' family was from Elizabethtown. His brother, Isaac MILLS, was a squatter in OH before the sale of land ca 1788. Isaac laid out the town of Elizabethtown, Hamilton Co., OH. Their parents were Rev. Wm. & Mary (READING) MILLS. This MILLS family also emigrated to the OH Valley. Relationship to our Wm. MILLS I is unknown. Haven't been able to find a connection....YET. Philemon Elmer MILLS laid out the town of Sharonville, Hamilton Co., OH. He was of Wm. & Amy's line. Recognize the Philemon name? He was related to Philemon ROLL, s/o Jacob & Elizabeth "Betsy" (MILLS) ROLL. Well, anyway, I shall end my epistle. From my research I believe many went to the OH Valley from Essex/Union Co., NJ because of STITES and the MILLS family. One person's opinion though. Audrey (MILLS/LEHMANN-CREAGER/SHIELDS) HANCOCK