New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-13

Mr. Mills was born in OnOndaga County, ~ Y, about
December l, 1915 The exact date is not known, the
family Bible, in which his birth was recorded having
been destroyed In fire which burned down his mothers
humble home Mr. Mills lost his father early in life and
for some years he lived with uncle by marriage. In
1923 or 1929 he away from this uncle and became
wanderer, spending his time In farming, in obtaining
little education in driving lumber wagon, in working
on a canal and in cutting timber For two years lie
worked with cabinet-maker and for one year he had
charge of a plaster and cement mil in New Orleans
Then he went to Charleston to learn the stuccO trade
This trade followed for nine years. and in 18l5 he be-
gan to model buss in clay. About the time he dis
covered patented way OF taking casts from the
living fare. In 1916 before he had statue
he made Il marble bust OF John c. Calhoun, which was
purchased for the city hall of Charleston he City
Council also awarded him gold medal as mark of
respect for his genius for sculpture and incentive
TO further exertions" Three leading citizens made up
purse OF 900 send him to Italy but before he could
leave the country he invited TO Columbia by Colonel
John Preston who had sent Powers to ITALY, There he
took casts of Colonel Preston, Colonel Wade Hampton
Miss Kate Hampton and John Manning, 1t being in
tended that he should finish them when further ad.
vanced in his He finished the bust of Miss Hamp-
tom and IL Is now the Smithsonian Institution. w. C.
Preston advised Mr. Mills 10 the statuary at Wash
ngton before going to Italy. lie followed this advice
stopping at Richmond to look for the first time upon
statue, Houdon's Washington.
Mr. Mills reached the National capital in 1913, and
there he was afterward joined by his mother who lived
with him until she died Soon after his arrival in Wash
ngton he was invited by Postmaster General Johnson
of tennessee the president OF the Jackson Monument
Jackson Mr. Mills declined. he had never Jack
son. lie at last persuaded, however, and he made
the model which was adopted. His model was looked
upou Dy many people as the work OF IA lunac, for he
ponosd to have the statue balanced upon
the horses hind legs alone The opposition
strong that the committee stopped advancing money to
him His chief Opposer PrOessorPage tue sculptor
convinced by practical demonstration This ended all
serious opposition, and Mr. Mills erected foundry and
began learn the practical business Of casting for there
was then establishment for casting large OF
metal different busts aud portraits he took what
were considered 10 be the best features and In October
1852, after many accidents, he produced perfect cast
On January }, 1858, the statue was unveiled In Laay
ette-square, in front of the White House. His loss on
the statue $1,000, but Congress voted him $4,000
Mr. Mills made two copies of his statue of Jackson One
OF these was placed In Jaekson-squafe, NewOrleans
The other was intended for Capitol Hill, Nashville but
the war came before the gentlemen who were going
to buy could pay for 1t. Although Mr. Mss original
price the statue 100000 he offered two years age
to sell Ii to Tennessee for 5000. In 1860 Mr. Mss
equestrian statue Of Washington for which Congress s
popriated $50 600 unveiled at the capital and In
1863 he finished the statue OF Liberty (desigaed by
Crawford which crowns the dome Of the Capitol
few years ago his design for the Lincoln monument was
adopted