Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1871-12-30
"Reminiscences of Texas.

IteniinisenCes of Texas.
DEATH of lUDGE JunS I. Mills.
We learn from the Marshall pa
pcfs, that Judge John 7. Mills died
at his residence in that place, at }
o'clock on the morning oi the goth,
and WAS bul led ut 10 A. NJ. the next
day. For many months the deccas-
I'D had been in bad health. and for
weeks his death was anticipated
but still, such an event is ever un
welcome.
Judge Mills belongs tn tare past.
IJjs history runs back to tho organ
iaation OF civil government in Tex
as. He was the assotinte and com
peor of that array Of lawyers and
statesman, which distinguishes Tex
as history, and of which her people
may Justly be proud We tender
TO the family Of the deceased our
warrnesl sympa,hies in t 'cir sad
bcrcavemcnt.-[ jefferson Times.
The record above tells the tale
that is sooner or later to be told of
all of us, and its brief reference to
personal history will bring up fresh
" in the minds of many hereabout,
the personal presence Of the second
Judge of tho Red River District Of
Texas The first was Judge Hans
tord, ,f Harrison County, who es-
capped impeachment by resignation
Judge Mills and the writer OF this
article came from Austin together
Red River was a terra inroynita TO
both ofus, but Judge Mills had at
he instance of Robert Potter, Scna
tor from Red River, and with the
concurrence of the members Of the
lower house Of Congress, received
the position by election Of Congress;
and the writer Of this had looked AT
the coniguration Of Red River
County on the Map, and also at the
instance of all the members of Con
grcss from the District, had reso!v
cd to seek the far off rich land -
Gaily we rode to it, led Ly Potter
who knew all thn intermediate
country, and selected tho t.opping
places. then not so frequent or conA
ven!cnt as now The route now
followed WI, IL wi!dcrne =. Mon.
lague had just come through the
first man--and said that Fannin Co.
WAS nearly north of Austin No
body could believe it. All thought
that the Red River County was tar
East of North The travelled route
in those days and for Two or three
years after, was from Austin to III.
Grange, through Washington by
Crockett. DougIassviIIe, Nacogdo.
ches, Marshall (Which then had Il
tavern, II blacksmithshop, and the
one room log residence of the coun-
ty Clcrk.) to Smi,hland, by Col.
Grahams, Epperson ferry. Ben
Booths, Henry Darnalls to Clarks-
Vile: rather a circuitous route, 500
miles in length In the fall of AZ,
when We moved our family, Berry
Durham had little log hut and a
ferry at the embryo city of leticr.
son, and the route ran by Reese
IIughs' and the Trammuel trace, by
Hambrights, and the crossing at
Stephcnsons.
Gaiy rs we have said Bob Potter
led The way, and enivened it with
wit and story, for his experience
had been extended and sometimes
brilliant and Tom Smith of Fan
min, sang songs and repeated his
own verses. Tom was q bibulous
Poet, an honest man, and good fel-
low. We all had the experiences OF
the just expired session TO rehearse;
end all had had intimate relations
with it. Potter was a leader of the
Senate, and for that matter, a lead
er generally, agraceiul speaker, and
an unsurpassed conversationist.-
Tom Smith was a member Of the
Ho use Of Representatives from Fan.
min. Mills had been Judge of the
San Antonio district but much
about the Capitol, and the writer Of
this had been head of the Stock bu-
rcau, Reporter to the House of Rep
resentatives, and editor of a daily
paper supported entirely by Con,
grcss, which took a .e% hundred
sheets; the paper only published foI
the session We all had political
likes and dislikes, for IN those days
political and personal preferancct
and antiquities ran high. Old Saft
had Just been elected President and
there was no good feeling between
him and Lamar, and generally be
tween their friends; and Houston
was already suspected Of an ineli
nation 10 move the seat Of Govern
tnsnt frofh Austin, though 4ustir
and the West had supported him
Notable men were about Austin 10
those DAYS, either in Congress, "
Judicial positions, or holding place'
in the new or the retiring admins
trstion There was Judge Webb
ur-L.rI N-..l.m~ Me-