The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-27
ALFRED MILLS
PASSES 8OTH
YEAR
Is Oldest Lay Deputy to
Episcopal Convention.
Esteemed by Bar.

Absolutely honest and truthful, one
of the ablest lawyers in New Jersey, a
model man, a patriotic American! a
good citizen and neighbor, an indulgent
father and a true Christian gentleman
in public and in private life"
An old resident of Morristown paid
the above tribute yesterday to the VEN
cradle Alfred Mills, who was born in
the town eighty years ago, and other
citizens, rich and poor. said the tribute
was a just one.
Mr.. Mills is now at Spring Lake, and.
therefore, his friends and admirers, who
comprise nearly all the people in Nor
ristown and Morris County, could not
extend to him last Wednesday, which
was the eightieth anniversary of his
birth, their personal congratulations at
his law offices on the second floor of the
First National Bank, opposite h Com
mons, or at his residence in MacCulloch
avenue.
Several of his old friends said they
believed he went to Spring Lake to
avoid a demonstration in his honor at
his home town, for he is a modest man.
He has rarely appeared in public except
in the performance of his duties as
counsel in many important cases In the
courts of the State. q
Mr.. Mills has served longer as a
lay deputy to the general convention
of the Protestant Episcopal hurch
than any man now living, has been
senior warden of st. Peters Episcopal
Church in Morristown for Lhirty-three
years, a member of the parish since
childhood. He has also been a dele
gate to the annual convention CT the
Episcopal diocese of Newark for many
years, has served on many of the COM
mittees and has been a legal adviser
to the bishop and the church for a
long period. He and Cortlandt Parker
and Vice-Chancellor John r.. Emery
are the most active laymen In the
diocese.
In 1S47 MI. Mills was graduated from
Yale College, being the first honor man
of his class. The anniversary of the
class was held last June, but he was
unable to be at the reunion and. meet
the few aged men who were his class
mates.
He studied law In Morristown in the
office of Edward w. Whelpley, who
was appointed chief justice of The Su-
preme Court of New Jersey in 1861, and
Jacob w. Miller, who was elected
United States Senator for New Jersey
in 1910 and again in 1853.
Former Vice-Chancellor Pitney, who
celebrated his eightieth birthday last
February, vas a law student III Nor
ristown at the same time as Mr.. Mills.
Mr.. Mills became a counsellor in 1855.
Next to Cortlandt Parker, who is 90
- AZ. AHslI- L. 81 4 ~ the
Oldest member of the New Jrsey bar in
years of service. Mr.. Parker has beer
confined to HIS residence in Newark fol
a month by illness. Mr.. Mills enjoy:
fairly good health, and when in Morris
town is at his offices every week day.
Mr.. Mills's ancestors, paternal and
maternal, fought in the Revolution
one of them being Major Estee, who
was a gallant officer in the patriot
army. Mr.. Mills. however, is not ac-
tive in organizations formed IN ac-
count of ancestral relationships, but
he is a member of the Washington
Headquarters Association OF mis- native
town. He is a director in local finan-
ciaI institutions, an active member of
the Morris County Golf Club. where he
occasionally engages in. a contest on
the links with old friends. He is a
Republican in politics, but ne never
sought public office, devoting his time
and talents to his profession and church
n charitable work.
In 1857 Mr.. Mills married Catherine
Elmer Coe, who died nearly a score of
years ago. They had six children, four
of whom are living. They are Judge
Alfred Elmer Mills, Miss Catherine
Mills, Miss Edith Mills and Edward X.
Mills, law partner of his father. Mr.
Mills has one grandchild, a son of Ed
ward K. Mills. The Misses Mills have
charge of their fathers household af-
fairs.
Mr.. Mills is a large real estate owner
in Morristown. He is of medium height
and stoutness, with snowy hair and a
clean-shaven face. He dislikes to talk
about himself and his success as a
lawyer but his fellow townsmen and
Judges and lawyers throughout New
Jersey recognize his legal ability and
hold him in high esteem, personally and
professionally.