Columbia gazette., 1854-05-13

@ We copy the following from the
Westchester Herald, published at Sing
Sing, New York:
DRArH OF JAMES Mills, Esq.-A
deep and poignant sensation spread
through the community here on Satur-
day last, on the announcement of the
sudden demise of JAMES Mills, ESQ,
ofSacramento, and formerly of this VII
lage, who expired that evening, ut the
residence Of his brother, w. .. Mills,
Esq, of this place. aged 81 years.
Mr.. James Mills, the deceased, left
this place for California in 1919, and
arriving there he established himself as
among the earliest mercantile men there
in business in San Francisco and Sacra-
mento, and by his energy and business
tact soon acquired handsome property,
and high reputation among the frxt
busincss men there.-He nf: rwards
formed . copartnership with his brother,
D. o. Mills, Esq, in the Banking Bus
mess, under the firms INTERCHANGEABLE
Of james Mills & Co., and ID. o. Mills
& Co., and here the happicst form, and,
by course Of probity and liberal bust
ness enterprise, secured as wide d repu-
tation and business credit if not surpass.
ing, any other Banking House in
California. Their united fortunes poba-
bly, exceed 100000
These young men, while prospcring
so finely, have not been unmindful Of
the public interests, but with public
spirit worthy Of all praise, the Banking
House Of D. O. Mills 4 Co., have with
the aid Of their extensive credit. rclicv-
cd and rc-cstablish the credit of Sacra-
mcuto City; as well MS in other ways
contributed to the general welfare Of
that thriving people.
But the chief enterprise in which
these brothers engaged has been the es-
tablisling of Water Companies for sup
plying the Miners with water for wash
ing etc. The acute and comprehensive
mind Of James Mills soor. saw that run
ming water was indispensable to the bus
mess Of mining, and conceived the idea
of turning the mountain streams from
their accustomed channels along in wind
ing canals and trunks, the sides of the
hills Of the mining districts for the use
of the workmen. Accordingly a COM
pany for this object was formed, under
the auspices of James Mills & Co.. by
the name of the Tuolumnc County Wa
ter Company S25O,OOO was raised for
the work, aud when this was expended,
the work was but half complete; still
with unfaltering confidence they press
cd on; another quarter of n million was
raised by the issue Of scrip and the
extensive credit Of their Banking House,
the enterprise was pursued with vigor,
and the indcfatigablc projectors and
stockholders bad the satisfaction Of see
ing at the end of their half million of
dollars, the water flowing along the sides
of the hills in the Southern mining dis
tricts in various directions and for thirty
miles in extent, supplying the miners by
their ''fucs" of running water with the
best possible facilities for washing their
dust, and to realize in their rcl.ts there
for from to s per cent. per month up
on their large investment This is un-
qucstionably the greatest work in Cali
fornia in its bearings on the mining bus
mess, and as the pioneer in many other
similar works now progressing in several
other mining districts of the State, re-
fleets the highest credit upon the origin
,tors and successful prosecutors of it.,
and confers incalculablc advantages up
On the business operations Of that peo-
pie.
The Mcssrs. Mills arc widely and ia
vorably known throughout the State,
and they arc prominently connected
with many other public enterprises
there, as the frequent illusions there
to in the Calitoraia papers sufficiently
attest; and this melancholy intelligence
of the demise Of the senior partner of
the firm cannot fail to produce a deep
sensation in the business circles there
MIR. Mills was man of amiable and
kind manners, warm friendships, and
strong attachment to kindred, and al
though struck down by the insatiate
archer in the prime of age, he lived to
accomplish much, and gather around
him large circle of devoted friends in
his adopted State, and to return to the
scene ofhis carly manhood, where it has
pleased the allwise Disposcr through the
attacks of a fatal disease he should
breathe his last amid the Affectionate at
tentions Of his sympathising kindred and
friends here. His memory is cmbalm-
ed with the fondest recollections in the
hearts Of his afflicted relatives and
friends both here and in California.
The funeral of the deceased took
place at the Episcopal Church in this
village, and attended BY large con-
course Of sympathising friends, and the
members Of the Westchestcr Masonic
Lodge of this village in mourning. The
impressive exercises of the solemn occa-
sion were pronounced BY the Rev. Mr..
Halsey, and after the Choir had per-
formed a funeral dirgc, his remains were
conveyed to Tarrytown Cemetery. and