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COMMODORE MILLS,
who owns a large farm in Bond county, Illinois, is one of the leading agriculturists in that section of the country. He was born in the southern part of Indiana, on the 6th of January, 1863, the son of H. E. and Mary E. (Chewning) Mills. Mr. H. E. Mills was a native of Indiana and was born on the 5th of February, 1829. Indiana was his home state until 1878, when he came to Illinois and located in Bond county, northwest of Greenville, where agricultural pursuits engaged his attention. At the age of twenty-one he was united in marriage with Miss Chewning, of Indiana. To this union nine children were born, Mr. Commodore Mills being the sixth child. Mr. Mills spent the later years of his life in Greenville, and passed away there on the 18th of February, 1909. Mrs. Mills was called to the eternal rest in January of 1892.

The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed in the state of Indiana. When he was fourteen years of age the family moved to Bond county, Illinois. Until he was twenty he attended school each winter for a short time, after the fall farm work was finished. Later he worked on a rented farm for a period, but in 1893 he purchased the farm, extending over one hundred and ten acres, upon which he now resides.

On November 1, 1891, Mr. Mills and Miss Stella Hilliard, of Bond county, the daughter of Jerry and Emily (Cushing) Hilliard, entered the holy bonds of matrimony. To this union six children were born: Helen, Blanche, Mildred, Dorothy, Bernice and Isaac.

Like his father, Mr. Mills places his trust in the Republican party, which he has served faithfully for many years. He is affiliated with but one fraternal organization, - the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are both devoted attendants of the Baptist church, in which they are earnest workers. Mr. Mills takes an active interest in the educational affairs of his neighborhood and acts as school director of his district. He is also the director from Central township in the Farmers' Institute. He is respected by all who come in contact with him for his upright character and loyalty to the loftiest ideals of citizenship.