Born in Canton, Hartford Co., Conn., April 16, 1817, and the son of Harlow and Faith A. (Spencer) Mills, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. When the family moved to Trumbull County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was but two years old. There he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools, supplemented by a partial course at the academy. In 1841 he came to Iowa and settled in Keokuk County, where he spent one year, and then returned to Ohio, and in Ashtabula County, that State, and married Lucetta Stone, a daughter of James Stone, one of the prominent farmers of that county. Soon after their marriage they came to Iowa, and Mr. Mills made a claim to 160 acres of land in Keokuk County, and there engaged in farming, following that occupation up to 1864. In 1842 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held that office four years. In1864 he was elected a member of the Tenth General Assembly, and was one of the active members of that body. For a number of years, as opportunity was afforded him from the labor of his farm, Mr. Mills read law and subsequently entered the office of Samuel Clinton of Fairfield, spending sometime under his instruction. After passing a creditable examination he was admitted to the bar and licensed to practice in all the courts in the State. Since its organization he has been quite active in the councils of the Republican Party, and has served on various committees in county and State. In 1872, he settled in Brighton where he engaged in the practice of his profession.