William J. Mills, now engaged at Riverside in the manufacture of bodies and wheels for automobiles, is a man who has struggled hard against adversity and come out victorious in spite of discouragements which would have induced another man to declare that fate was against him, and because of his courage and determination is all the more entitled to credit for his prosperity. He is a man who understands his business in every detail and is recognized as one who not only lives up to the letter of his promises, but the spirit as well.
The birth of Mr. Mills took place in Ontario, Canada, July 28. 1857, and he is a son of James and Catherine (Hanley) Mills, natives of Canada. James Mills, now deceased, was a carpenter by trade, and during the last years of his life he resided at Dacre, Ontario, Canada, where he conducted a tavern. During one period of his life he was postmaster at Balmer Island, Canada. He came from an old English family of Irish extraction. Mrs. Mills survives her husband and is now living with a daughter in Canada, being in her eighty-sixth year, and in spite of her age is in excellent health and in the enjoyment of life. She, too, is of Irish extraction.
William J. Mills received his educational training in the public schools of Canada, and when he was sixteen years old began to learn carriage building at Renfrew, Ontario. Canada. After he had thoroughly mastered his trade he came to the United States, in 1887, and located at Riverside. For a time he worked at carpentering, and later at his trade for Clarence Stewart, a carriage manufacturer. After a year Mr. Stewart sold his business to ex-Mayor Peters, and Mr. Mills continued to work for the new firm of Thayer & Peters for several years.
In 1891 Mr. Mills embarked in a business of his own, opening a shop at the corner of Eighth and Orange streets, but after two years sold to a Mr. Hudson. For a year he worked for Silas Masters, and then resumed operations for himself at his old stand on Eighth and Orange streets, with A. Difani is a partner, the firm being Mills & Difani. Six years later Mr. Mills sold to his partner and went to Alaska in July, 1897, being influenced to do so on account of the gold excitement. He went by way of Saint Michaels and up the Yukon River to Rampart City, and remained in that district until August of the following year, when he had the misfortune to meet with an accident which necessitated his return to Riverside.
For a time after his return home Mr. Mills worked for the firm of O'Connor & Covey, carriage builders, and then was engaged by A. W. Miller, who began building automobiles on the site now occupied by the Cresmer Manufacturing Company. After a year's work at building automobile bodies Mr. Mills returned to O'Connor & Covey.
In 1900 Mr. Mills dared fate once more and started in business on Ninth Street, near Orange, continuing there until February 2, 1915. when his business was destroyed by fire. He next conducted a shop in the alley back of the Glenwood Garage for about three years, and then moved to his present location at 826 West Seventh Street where he does body and wheel work for autos, and is the only specialist of his kind in the country.
Mr. Mills married at Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. Miss Agnes Sterrick, a native of Canada and a daughter of James Sterrick, a native of Dundee, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Mills have five children, as follows:
David M., who married Annie Elser, of Sawtelle. California, has two children. Hartley and Dorothy, and is now engaged in the wholesale hardware business at Los Angeles, California, for the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company;
William W., who is married, has a son, Edward, is a barber by trade at Riverside, and although he was beyond the age limit of the draft, volunteered and was in the service at Camp Kearney;
George Albert, who is a bookkeeper for the Nash Auto Agency of Riverside, served as a volunteer with the Ninety-first Division in France as corporal and later as sergeant, and was in line for his commission as lieutenant when the armistice was signed, at which time he was on the firing line, and had been trained at Camp Lewis;
Pearl Forbes, wife of Frank Parker, of Riverside, and they have two children, George and Madlon; and
Arthur R., who married Miss Alda Byle. of Riverside, has one child, James, and is engaged in farming in Imperial Valley.
Mr. Mills has never taken any active part in politics, has not connected himself definitely with any party, preferring to cast his vote for the man he deems best suited for the office in question. Although he owns some acreage in Oregon, he has never engaged in any agricultural pursuits, his talents lying in another direction. During the late war he did his full part as a loyal citizen and sympathizer with the Allied cause. The membership which he maintains with the Independent Order of Foresters is his only fraternal connection. A hard-working, persistent man. Mr. Mills has finally succeeded in making his efforts yield him an ample income, and as an expert in his line he has no rival in the state. Personally he stands very high in the confidence of his fellow citizens, and, as before stated, he deserves his success, for he has earned it through many adversities.
