Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-27
Remains Of Robert Mills Laid to
Rest Yesterday.
TAPS HAVE SOUNDED, LIGHTS OUT
A Late Spanish- American War Soldier
Finds Resting Place In tho Homo
OF His Fathers Aftcr Having
Given All for HIS Country.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
Taps have sounded; lights are out;
and another Ottumwa boy has found
a resting place in the home of his
fathers, after journey OF ten
thousand miles. Three military fun
erals have taken place in Ottumwa
since the beginning of the Spanish
American war, the last one of which
occurred yesterday, when the body of
Robert Mills, Jr., late corporal sn
Troop e, Eleventh United States vol
unteer cavalry, was laid to rest with
impressive military honors in the OF
tunlwa cemetery. The funeral was
held yesterday afternoon from the
residence of his father, Robert Mills,
ST., at $3.50 o'clock, conducted by DR..
f. w. Hinitt, in the presence of large
number of sorrowing friends and rela-
tives. The funeral cortege left the
home, led by company G, I. N. g., fol-
lowed by members of Cloutman post,
G. A. r., and the Sons of Veterans.
The pall-bearers were George Schaub,
S. G. Rayl, Jr., Bert Warren, VERNE
McGraw, Fred Strong and Geo. Kelley,
the last two OF whom have seen serv-
ice in the Philippines. At the grave
the dead soldier was accorded mill
tary burial. Three volleys were fired
over the mound of earth by a firing
squad composed of Privates Carl Hoo
yer, Ed Smith and Edward Rosenauer,
in charge of Corporal John Mier. 1t
was with these honors that Robert
Mills was laid to rest, after bravely
facing death in foreign land. He was
not destined to die on the field in the
face of whistling bullets or shrieking
shells, but nevertheless met his death
as a soldier should, bravely and I'M
fiinchingly, in military hospital, the
result of disease incurred on the
field.
Robert Mills, Jr., was born Decem-
removed with his parents to farm
near Murray, Clark county, and in
1882 came to Ottumwa and entered
the employ of the American Express
company under A. Christensen, agent
for that company. He afterwards en-
tered the employ of the Burlington
road and held different positions until
the great strike in 1855. At this time
he was fireman on the western Iowa
division, but gave up his position and
went west, where he secured position
as fireman and subsequently engineer
on the Oregon Short Line, out of
Glen's Ferry, Idaho At the outbreak
of the Spanish-American war he en-
listed in the First Idaho volunteer i'm
fantry and Immediately went with his
regiment to the seat of war. He was
in the battle of Manila when that city
was taken by the United States army,
and was actively engaged with his reg
iment until its recall. He received an
honorable discharge at Manila in Sep
teInbtr, 1899, but Immediately re-en-
listed in the Eleventh United States
volunteer cavalry, and was chosen cor
poral of Troop E. He was in all the
engagements of his regiment up to
within few weeks of his death. Rela-
tives in this city have received letters
from the Red Cross nurse in whose
ward Corporal Mills was, containing
the information that he was unwilling
that il he had left the firing line soon
en-, in all probability he would have
escaped from the effects of the disease
with which he was then suffering. Fol
about four months he was a sufferer
from chronic diarrhoea, but refused tc
leave the front until about thres
weeks prior to his death. He was
conveyed to the Santa Mesa hospital
Manila, where his death occurred
January 49, The body was immediate.
ly prepared for it's long journey across
the sea and half way across a cont.
nent to. the home of his people. The
remains arrived in San Francisco
March 10, and in Ottumwa March 20
Thus ends fhe chapter in one life SC
far as this world is concerned of :
young man who was always faithful
to, the trust imposed in him. His SUI
:periori officers say of him that he was
q good soldier and that conveys vol
,u1nes. While a civilian his employees
have nothing but words of praise tc
say. Of his intelligent devotion to his
duty. His family has the sympathy o,
the people Of Ottumwa. in this, thei,
hour of affection.
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