Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-28
BenniS0n Bros

oped, bank stocks and various booming
corporations were invested IN. All OF
these ventures reaped rich harvests,
and in another year d. o. Mills was one
OF the rich men of California. Every
thing he touched seemed to turn into
money, and every concern that sue
ceeded in interesting him became sue
cessful through his shrewd and WE'LL
chosen energy.
One OF his best ventures was the pur-
chase of tract of land about eighteen
miles outside of San Francisco. On
this land he erected an elegant country
residence. He also started large
dairy farm which in short time sup
piled most of the residents of San
Francisco with milk.
The farm he called Millbrae, and to-
day thriving village is located there.
A shortdistance from the farm were the
Spring Valley water works. which sup
pied San Francisco with water. Mr..
Mills became big shareholder in the
water works company, which resulted
in the building of the village Of Mil
pitts.
In the latter part of the "fifties" he
became associated with William G..
Ralston, who started the Bank of Cali
fornia. John Mackav completed the
trio, which subsequently controlled the
Is
made millions for hundreds and made
beggars of thousands.
Just before the close of the war green
backs in California were worth but 80
per cent of their face value. With clear
fOresightedness ID. o. Mill saw the only
outcome OF the struggle and it's conse-
qu3nt effect upon government green
backs and securities. Bank stocks, min
ing stocks and everything were sacrl-
feed to raise gold with which to pur-
chase government bonds and green-
backs. Several months later, when
everything went back to par, d. o.
Mills fortune was almost trebled.
One OF the few set-backs he received
was in the failure of the Bank OF Cali
fornia in 1877 and the death on the fol-
lowing day of William G.. Ralston1 Pc
cuniarily Mr. Mills suffered but little,
as II few years before he had sold out
almost his entire interest in the bank to
come east and speculate in gold. He
returned to California on the death OF
Mr.. Ralston and succeeded iu setting
the Bank OF California again on its feot.
About twelve years ago he moved to
New York with his wife and two chill
dren-a daughter and a son. He pur-
chased an elegant house at No 634
Fifth avenue. A short time after his
daughter married Mr.. Whitelaw Reid,
the editor of the New York Tribune,
who resides in the palatial home on
Madison avenue formerly the residence
of Henry Willard.
In his private life Mr.. Mills is very
simple man. He cares siduously for
his business interests and is still as act
i've In financial matters as he ever was.
He is now the possessor OF yearly in
come of $500 600. but he does not spend
over one-tenth that sum and In conse-
quence his fortune is increasing at q
rapid rate every year.
One-fourth OF his i'm mcnse wealth Is
invested in the vast Office building in
Exchange place and Broad street which
bears his name. He is also big share
holder in the Erie road. In tinan cial
matters he and G.. p. Huntington are
as violently opposed to the Vanderbilts
as the democratic party is TO the repub-
lican.
His only diversion Is an occasional
trip abroad, and while he is away his
son looks after his many business a:felYs.
Caring neither for horses, yachting, nor
any OF the aInusements men with great
fortunes usually take up, he spcads
most OF the day in his office In the Mills
building, and the night in revolving
the schemes that always make the M
selves felt in the financial void.