Biography and Genealogy of

EDMUND OSCAR MILLS

Ed's parents, Alice and Charles Mills

Contents

Ed's Ancestry
   Maternal line
   Paternal line

Ed's Biography

Genealogical research and photos compiled by Ed's sister, Jean Wilson (nee Mills), Ken and Gail Wilson
(Ed's nephew and his wife), Bill McLatchy, and Ed's son, Michael Mills (email: memills@aol.com) 

Ed's ancestry -- maternal line.

Circa 1855    Ed's maternal grandmother, Mary Jane McLatchy (nee Harris) (1833-1893).  She had 8 children, the last one, at age 49, was Ed's mother Alice (born in 1882).  Mary was born in Nova Scotia and died in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

On the right, Ed's maternal grandfather, Samuel Harris McLatchy (1831 - 1912) .  He was born in Weldon, New Brunswick and died in Oxnard, California.

On the right, Ed's maternal grandfather Samuel Harris McLatchy later in life. The child in the photo is unidentified.  Photo was most likely taken near Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

The name "McLatchy", is a shortening of the name of a Scotch Clan, living, for many generations, in the mountainous highlands of Scotland, known as the "MacLatchie" family.

The first McLatchy immigant to New Brunswick was John McLatchy, who emigrated in 1783 and settled in Weldon. He was born in Shire of Ayr, Scotland. He is Ed's great, great, great grandfather.

In December, 1812 John purchased over three thousand acres of timber land on the south shore of the Peticodiac River, of the Province of New Brunswick, Canada, about ten miles from the mouth of that river, where it empties into the Bay of Fundy. John purchased the 3464 acres from Joshua Hauger, paying him 1,380 pounds. John's occupation was shown as a blacksmith, so where managed to scrape together that large sum of money is a mystery. John married a woman named Rebekah and they had four children, two of which were named "James" -- the second, James McLatchy, 2nd is Ed's great great grandfather. 

John McLatchy constructed a shipyard at what is now the village of Hillsborough and he and his sons became shipbuilders of wooden sloops and schooners for coastal navigation, down the coast of Canada and the United States as far south as the West Indies. Some of his descendants became ship captains or sailors.

When John McLatchy died, the family property was divided between two of his (surviving?) sons, John Jr. and James, 2nd. The property transfer was made on April 14, 1825.

James 2nd married Jannet Scott. The 5th child of James and Jannet McLatchy was Edmund Mills' maternal grandfather, Samuel Harris McLatchy. Samuel Harris McLatchy was born in 1831 in Weldon, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He resided in the family home and farm in Weldon with this family, and then with his widowed mother, Jannet, until his marriage.

Samuel Barnes Smith, who was married to one of Samuel's daughters, wrote in 1936 to his son that: "Samuel Harris McLatchy, the youngest and youthfully well-to-do, good looking, member of his immediate family, "ditched" school before finishing." He courted Mary Jane Harris of Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. They married on 9/21/1861 and had 8 children. The last of which was Ed's mother, Alice McLatchy. Alice was born on November 24, 1882. On Edmund Mills' birth certificate, her last name has a different spelling: "MacLatchy".

Samuel Barnes Smith wrote that:

"Samuel built a fine big home on his own land at Hillsborough, living the life of a country gentleman, until their home caught fire and was destroyed, with no insurance upon it. The family then lived temporarily in the original McLatchy homestead. During my own several visits at Moncton, N.B. I have been entertained at this fine old residence on the bank of the Peticodiac River, by your Mother's (Mary Eugena McLatchy) Aunt Jane and Vinie (Lavinia), the maiden sisters of your Grandfather (Samuel Harris McLatchy)."

Apparently, however, Mr. Smith's recollection of "Aunt Jane" is incorrect because Samuel had no daughter by that name. Other than Lavina, the only other daughter was named "Mary Janet" (perhaps she was nicknamed "Jane"?). According to another source, Lavina was a teacher, who eventually had to give up her career to care for Mary who had a mental illness. The family house that was the original McLatchy homestead (to which Mr. Smith refers above) apparently also caught fire, a fire perhaps started by Mary.  Lavina apparently attempted to rescue Mary, but Mary died a few days later.

The Samuel McLatchy family remained in Weldon, New Brunswick until 1889 when they moved to Moncton, New Brunswick for Samuel to accept a position of caretaker of the "Almshouse" (?).  He held this position until April 30, 1896.  

In October, 1907, Samuel McLatchy followed three of his children who had moved to Oxnard, California.  

These children were:

1. Oscar J. McLatchy (7/22/1871 - 8/21/1940).   This uncle of Ed's is apparently  the source of Ed's middle name, "Oscar".  Oscar was  reported by one source to have worked as a fireman.  However, his obituary in 1940, below, suggests otherwise:

OBITUARY Oscar Inglis McLatchy was born in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, Canada, July 22nd, 1871. His father was Samuel Harris McLatchy, and his mother Mary Jane Harris McLatchy. In his early youth he decided to settle in the United States, and entered the machinists trade in New York City. In 1900 he was married to Fannie Louise Hamilton, after which they went to Virginia and resided until 1905. At that time they moved to Los Angeles, California, where the first child, Edith May, was born. In 1906, Mr. McLatchy connected with the American Beet Sugar Company in Oxnard. The second daughter, Dorothy, was born there in 1909. Between the years of 1925 and 1932, he was employed by the Oxnard Municipal Water Department, where his brother, Reginald, has served for many years. About seven years ago, Mr. McLatchy purchased property near Ojai, where he was residing at the time of his death. Mr. McLatchy for the past three years had been working during the campaign season only at the American Crystal Sugar Company in Oxnard. On the night of August 21, 1940 on his way home from work at 10:15 P. M., a few miles east of Ventura, an accident occurred involving his automobile and a stage driving in the opposite direction. The collision threw him from his car onto the pavement, causing a brain concussion, from which he never regained consciousness. At an inquest held August 23rd, the driver of the bus was exonerated from all blame and the death declared accidental. His loss is mourned by his wife, Mrs. Fannie L. McLatchy, who has been ill for a number of years; two daughters, Mrs. Ray Chapin of Oxnard. and Miss Dorothy McLatchy of Glendale; two grandchildren; a son-in-law, Ray Chapin of Oxnard; a sister, Mrs. Alice Mills of San Francisco; a brother, Reginald McLatchy of Oxnard; several nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends. He was ever a loving husband and father, and his friends knew him as one whose word was "as good as his deed," loyal and true under every condition and circumstance.

 

2. Reginald W. McLatchy (1877 - ?).    According to Oscar McLatchy's obituary above, Reginald worked for the Oxnard Municipal Water Department "for many years".  According to Ed's sister, Jean, she recalls her mother, Alice, saying that Reginald was one of her mother's favorite brothers.  He taught Alice how to ice skate on a frozen lake by first pushing her around in a chair with her ice skates on.

3. Mrs. Lillian Parker (nee McLatchy).

Samuel Harris McLatchy died in 1912 at Oxnard, CA.  According to Samuel Barnes Smith, he died of pneumonia  after his leg was broken from a kick by a horse.

At right, Ed's mother, Alice with her father, Samuel Harris McLatchy, mostly likely in San Francisco or Oxnard, circa 1908.

Ed's maternal grandmother, Mary Jane McLatchy (nee Harris) later in life, circa 1890.

Samuel Barnes Smith wrote in 1936 of Mary Jane McLatchy:

" (she)  ...was of the Harris family of Grand Ere, Nova Scotia. Her Father owned the farm on which was located the famous spring of water around which the poet Longfellow builded his great poem "Evangalin".    According to Smith,   Mary Jane's father, Robert Laird Harris, had two prominent brothers.  One of the  brothers was the Queen's Council of the Province of Nova Scotia during the reign of QueenVictoria.   "That office is similar to that of the Attorney General of California. Another (of her father's brothers)  was the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist-Episcopal Church for the Province of Nova Scotia."

Smith writes that Mary Jane "... McLatchy died very suddenly during 1893. It was thought from an error of a physician from an over-dose of morphine as she was subject to severe attacks of neuralgia. She was sixty years old at her death."

For more information on the McLatchy Family see the Descendants of John McLatchy  (1756 - 1832) (http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/mclatchy/) website by Bill McLatchy (mclatchy@nbnet.nb.ca).   

Bill McLatchy wrote in a 1999  email regarding his research into McLatchty ancestors: 

"A couple of months ago, I hit the genealogical goldmine with one of our ancestors. Through different lines, we are both descended from James Harris (b.1740 Colchester, Conneticut). His grandmother was Sarah Rogers b.1676 who married James Harris b.1673. Sarah Rogers has a very, very well documented ancestry, including some well known people. According to the info I have come across, we are descendants of Kings and Queens, Earls, Counts and Countesses, Dukes and Duchesses, etc., etc..  Edward I "Longshanks", King of England. Ever heard of him? Ever seen the movie "Braveheart"? Anyway, once I hit royalty, the files are very extensive. I suppose they had people who just looked after that kind of stuff. Leofric III, Earl of Mercia (England), you probably haven`t heard of him but what about his wife, Godiva, Countess of Mercia? Yes, Lady Godiva. How about Charlemagne, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire... or his grandfather, Charles Martel? If you want to check it out, go to: http://www.familysearch.org/ An amazing ancestry website by the Mormons.  Gotta run, Bill McLatchy"

And, he emailed on July 23, 2000:

Subj: Hello
Date: 7/23/2000 7:57:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: mclatchy@nbnet.nb.ca
To: Memills@aol.com

Hi Mike,

I spoke to John Hatt a couple of weeks ago. He`s nearly 84 and lives in Fredericton, NB, CA. I think you asked me once if I could find out something from him, but I forgot what it was.

I hope to visit him sometime, he says he has info about brothers and sisters of John McLatchy.

I`m still working on the gedcom file. I have new software that will convert it to html. It won`t be fancy, but it will be a quick way to post all of the info that I have. I expect it to take some time, albeit. Anyway, John hatt told me that the "Almshouse" was a general name for "poorhouse" and "orphanage". Perhaps the unidentified young boy (in the photo with Samuel Harris "near Moncton"), may have been an orphan and the photo taken outside the Almshouse. Although, the info I have states that he went to California in 1896.

In John Hatt`s McLatchy book, he says he was informed that Samuel Harris remarried, but was unable to confirm this. Can you clarify this for me?

Thanks,
Bill McLatchy
mclatchy@nbnet.nb.ca
http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/mclatchy/

Another email from Bill McLatchy on September 23, 2000:

Subj: Robert Laird Harris
Date: 9/23/2000 11:53:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From: mclatchy@nbnet.nb.ca
To: Memills@aol.com

Hi again Mike.

I met with John Hatt about 4-6 weeks ago. I have copies of info that he had on hand. There is a mountain of papers, and I am going through them as meticulously as possible. 99% of the info, I already have, but that 1% can make all of the difference. Anyways, it will take me some time to go through it all.

I have just come across info about Robert Laird Harris, Mary Jane Harris` father. I recall that you mentioned your aunt Jean searching for more details. Here is what I have now:

Robert Laird Harris was the son of Abel Harris and Christina Jane Hill. I have some info about the ancestors of Christina Jane Hill. Her father was John Thomas Hill Senior, the High Sheriff for King`s County, Nova Scotia, from 1792 until 1800. As for the Harris line, I have too much info to relay and am currently adding. If you would care to wait for my new work to be completed, you will find many details. I presently have about 4200 names (not all descendants - some spouses and their ancestors), but I have added details to many of the previous entries. I seem to be addicted to adding every little fragmant of info that I come across. It`s important to me to add all that I can, even though it will add more time to publish. Anyway... for now, you need the name of Robert`s wife. I can give you this:

Robert Laird Harris born 21 Dec 1809, at Horton Township, Kings County, Nova Scotia married on ? to Susan J. Rathburne They had six children, although, I only know the name of one - your great great grandmother, Mary Jane Harris.

Who was Susan J. Rathburne? I cannot locate anything. Was she of the Rathbone (or Rathbun) family in Nova Scotia? The further you go back, the more likely you will find "corruptions" of spelling. We see this over and over with the name McLatchy.

I will tell you that I have uncovered information that states John McLatchy, (born 1756 Scotland and emigrated to Nova Scotia in 1783), was in fact Christened as John McLatchie (ie) at Dalmellington, Ayreshire, Scotland in 1758. His father was James McLatchie (99.99999% certain). John also had brothers, William and Ivie, and sisters, Margaret and Janet and Isobel. These siblings all remained in Scotland. It is also believed there was another brother, Walter McLatchie, who was Christened 7 June 1753. This indeed fits in, but was he a brother or perhaps a cousin? It is quite likely he was a brother, but what became of him? Did he die young, or did he emigrate like John? I have just recieved copies of letters written to John from the family in Scotland. They mention all of the brothers and sisters (with many details), except Walter. Some of the letters are dated as early as 1802. Some are signed McClatchie, but most as McLatchie, and none are signed McLatchy. John appeared to have a good education, with elegant handwriting, yet, records show that he was a blacksmith. How did he ever acquire the wealth to purchase such a large tract of land (about 3600 acres) in Albert County in 1811? He later purchased an adjoining 300+ acres. Sometime later, he transfered the Albert County lands over to his sons John Junior and James. He frequently bought and sold properties in Nova Scotia. When he died in 1832, he had no less than a half a dozen properties which he divided among his children there. I have seen his last will and testament, as a matter of fact I actually held it in my hands (I had to enter the climate controlled vault to preserve - they don`t want such old documents exposed to outside air). It was quite fancy handwriting, and a large document. Because the writing differs from today, I did not have time to decipher it. I did get a copy. I later noticed that it was signed John McLatchy, ESQ. I thought that this implied that he was an attorney, but when I checked with a professional at the Provincial Archives of Nova Scotia, I was informed that quite often an owner of land would consider themself as Esquire. This was a "title" that was personally attached. Regardless, John wrote his will with an educated penmanship and clearly signs it as John McLatchy. Why would a literate man have changed the spelling of his surname? Was it done intentionally? Did he want to be certain that he was the progenitor in "Northern America"? When John came to Nova Scotia, he was a 27 year old Blacksmith. I believe that in the late 1700`s most people were illiterate. Let`s consider the possibility that he only learned to read and write after he came to Nova Scotia. You know how to pronunciate the name, now spell it!

None-the-less, a question remains... how did a blacksmith become so wealthy? There is the old "yarn" passed down the in the family. Some know it only as the tale, others may have heard it but prefer not to pass it on. As a genealogist, I want to know everything. It is, however, difficult to find anybody to even entertain the thought. There is no proof, nor do I believe it may ever be proven true or false. Although, it may explain the influx of wealth and it`s not that unbelievable. I am not ready to publish this, so I would appreciate your discretion. It has been told that there was a child brought up in the home of John McLatchy, that was not John`s child. Here`s the kicker, the youngster is said to be the illigitimate child of a "roving" member of "The House of Hanover". Let`s face it... it`s not so hard to believe, yet it remains much harder to prove. I have only once been told who this child was, and that was by one of her descendants. It was told to me that she was brought up in the family, yet, did not have the surname McLatchy, so it was appropriate that she marry a McLatchy. I do not believe that somebody woke up one day and just decided to make up such a tale. The person I was told doesn`t seem to fit into the time frame, but her mother does, and perhaps this was an oversight by the descendant.

Anyway, I spend too much time sending personalized e-mails now. I wish I had all of my info enetered into the gedcom, so I could move on. I really enjoy talking to my cousins and trading info. I have been communicating with some new cousins in the past few weeks, they just find me even though I have yet to advertise the site. Anyway Mike, I still need a little info from you. Only specifics, so I will ask later.

Robert Laird Harris + Susan J. Rathburne daughter Mary Jane Harris

If you find more, or can verify, let me know. I still may, or may not, be having trouble with the e-mail. Please let me know if you recieve this,

Bill McLatchy
mclatchy@nbnet.nb.ca
http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/mclatchy/

Circa 1888.    Ed's mother, Alice Thaxter McLatchy (1882 - 1968).    

Alice McLatchy was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada and died at the Playa del Rey district of Los Angeles, California.   After her mother, Mary Jane McLatchy (nee Harris) died in 1893, Alice was sent to be raised by her older sister, Lilly, in New York city.  There Alice attended nursing school.   Lilly moved to San Francisco, and Alice followed in 1906.

Bible given to Alice by her mother, Mary Jane McLatchy.  Dated 1888 (?)

Circa 1899.   Ed's mother, Alice.  

When Alice was a child, she was taking glass jars of jelly that her mother had made for storage to their cellar.  She tripped down the stairs, the jars broke, and she cut a gash in her face on the right side.  Note that in pictures Alice usually turned her head to the right of the camera to conceal the scar.

Circa 1906  

Alice moved to San Francisco in October 1906.  There she met Charles Mills when he was a patient in a hospital in San Francisco where she was working as a nurse. He had been hospitalized with typhoid fever that he contracted during the epidemic after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

My mother worked as a nurse -- apparently that's where she and my father met, when he was in the hospital. That was their first meeting place, because they didn't seem to have anything else in common that would have brought them together.

Alice and Charles were married October 27th, 1907.

Ed's ancestry -- paternal line.

Ed's paternal grandparents were James Albert Mills (1852 - 1907) and Amy Emma Mills (nee Toner) (1869 - 1946).  There apparently are no photographs in which James Albert Mills is identified.   

Emma was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died in Oakland, CA.

Photo is believed to be of Ed's paternal grandmother, Emma ("Nanna") Mills (nee Amy Emma Toner).
Photo circa 1880 in Whitesboro, CA.  Note the cut trees -- Whitesboro was a very small,  isolated lumbering and
milling village established by Lorenzo E. White on the coast of Northern California.

Whitesboro, circa 1880. Trees were felled, milled, and the lumber was sent 
down the coast to San Francisco in schooners.

The lumbering operations of Whitesboro are gone today -- above is how the area appeared in 1998.  
Photo was taken James and Emma Mills' great grandson, Ken Wilson and his wife Gail when they
visited the area in search of genealogical records.

The Salmon Creek Hotel in Whitesboro, circa 1882.

Whitesboro, looking inland.  From these photos, apparently there
were few amenities -- life there must have been pretty difficult at times.

L.E. White Lumber Company & Mill (circa 1885)

Emma and James Mills had their first child here Whitesboro  in 1883, Charles
Albert Mills (Ed's father).

Looking inland from the area where Whitesboro used to be, as the area appeared over a century
later,  in 1998.  It appears that many of the trees that were cut down have still not yet been replaced 
with new growth.

Note: Given that James Mills' date of birth was 1852, his age should have been 28 in 1880.  Perhaps the number "8"
was mistaken for a "3"?  His occupation is listed as "lumberman".

Ed's sister Jean's research notes re James Mills, and any possible relatives in the area at the time..  In 1882 James would have been 30.

Inscription in a book, Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier, given to James Albert Mills as a
Christmas gift by "Nellie" in 1887.

A photo found in Emma's photo album -- the date and people are unidentified.  The hills in the background and the style of dress suggest that this photo taken at Whitesboro.  Is Emma in the center?  The man on right has a passing resemblance to Emma's son, Charles Mills -- could that be James Mills?  Below, note the similarity in facial features, particularly in the chin, mouth and eyes.

Is this James Albert Mills?

James Albert Mills' son, Charles Albert Mills

Photo in Emma's photo album -- location and persons are unidentified.

James A. Mills' signature -- one of the few remaining traces of the man...

This photo was found  in Emma's photo album, but the individuals are unidentified.  Since these were time-exposure photographs at the time (where the subjects had to remain still for a minute or two), note that the eyes of the man in the center are seen as both open and shut. Could one of them be James Albert Mills?  (Ed's sister, Jean Wilson, nee Mills, suggested that James Mills might be the man on the left, and the woman sitting might be Emma -- although there isn't too much resemblance to other the photos of James and Emma.  However, Jean  remembered the jacket the woman is wearing.  She recalled that It was given as a gift to her (Jean) by Emma.)

Notice of the death of Emma's brother, William F. Toner.

Given the letter above, the marriage between Emma and James Mills was close to ending in 1893.    

Apparently the reconciliation between Emma and James was, as the attorney above  predicted, short lived.  Above, James Mills transfers over mortgage and property ownership to Emma Mills.  It reads: "San Francisco, Nov 16, 1894.  For valuable consideration I hereby sell, assign, transfer and set over all my right, title, and interest in and to the within contract and to all money paid thereunder to Emma Mills.  J.A. Mills."

I never met my grandfather on my father's side (James Mills) -- by that time he and my grandmother, Emma, had divorced. I don't recall my father ever speaking of his father. My grandmother, Emma, lived in Oakland, and I remember her quite well. She was quite experienced in the matrimonial field, and had been through a couple of marriages, the last name that I remember she had was Tilgner.

Apparently the mortgage was either cancelled between the parties, or paid off.

Emma marries Frank Tilgner on August 8, 1899.  Note that the witness is "Nettie Keating" -- could this be
the "Nellie," above, who gave the book Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier to James Albert Mills in 1887?

However, the plot thickens: 

The receipt for a cemetery plot for the grave of "J.E. Mills" child.  For "grave 1, Sec C, Infants".   Apparently Emma lost an
infant in early September 1899.   However, if she married Frank Tilgner a month earlier, why was the child given the surname
of Mills?   Was Emma pregnant with James Mills' child when she married Frank Tilgner?

1891   James and Emma Mills' son (Ed's father), Charles Albert Mills (1883 - 1925), far right, 2nd row from top.  He was born in Whitesboro, Mendocino County, California and died while on a business trip to Detroit, Michigan.

1891

Charles Mills collected stamps.  Apparently, he requested that postcards be sent to him from various countries.  The above postcard is dated 1898.

Ed's father, Charles Albert Mills, circa 1903

My father was a very intelligent, ambitious businessman who was a self-made man. He took a correspondence course for salesmanship, and eventually he set up his own business as a manufacturer's agent selling equipment to hospitals -- sterilizers, surgical equipment, etc. He had his own office in downtown San Francisco, on Market Street, the Charles Mills Company. I remember that very well. He would drag me down there and I would help open up the crates that the equipment came in.  And every once in a while he would take me with him on his sales trips to hospitals in the San Francisco area. He was a very ambitious guy, and apparently he did very well financially. It seems to me that he was very successful -- he worked strictly on a commission basis. He had only one employee -- a stenographer.

From Charles Mills' business envelope.

Charles' mother Emma (Ed's maternal grandmother).   Photo was probably taken by her son, Charles (Ed's father), who had taken up photography as a hobby.

Notice of the death of Emma's last husband, Frank Tilgner in 1904.

James Albert Mills passed away in July, 1907 at the age of 55. The cause of his death is not recorded.  His son, Charles, who was 24 at the time, purchased his grave plot.

Notice of the death of Emma's daughter (Ed's father Charles' sister), Rosella.

Photo taken by Charles Mills, circa 1910.

Notice of the death of Emma's father, Hugh Toner in 1911.   Note that he was born in County Tyrone, Ireland.

To continue, click here.

All text and photos copyright (c) 2001 Michael E. Mills (memills@aol.com).  All rights reserved