Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-05
D. OGDEN MILLS IS DEAD
Noted Philanthropist and Financier
SuCcumbs to Heart Disease.
FOUNDER OF MILLS HOTELS
Notable work in Providing Place for
Respectable Men of Small
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of
WhiteIaw Reid.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5.-Darius Ogden
Mills, one OF the most widely known fl
nanciers and philanthropists in the United
States, a pioneer of California and father
of Mrs. Whitelaw Reid, wife of the am
bassador to Great Britain, died at his
winter home near this city tonight. He
was "a years old.
Death was due to heart disease and came
SO suddenly that his physician was not
with him at the end, although he was
summoned at the first sign of collapse.
Mrs. Reid, who came to California with
her father a few weeks ago to spend the
winter months, was at the bedside. His
son, Ogden Mills, and his wife eft for the
east today, thinking that Mr.. Mills was
in his usual health.
Mr.. Mills, accompanied by his daughter
and Ogden Mills, came to San Francisco
some weeks ago to spend the winter at
the financier's mansion near Millbrae,
twenty miles south Of this city.
He had suffered with heart disease for
several years and had virtually Withdrawn
from his many business responsibilities.
but there was no indication hat death
was imminent.
Founded "MiIIs HOUeIs."
NEW YORK, Jan. News of the sud
den death of ID. Ogden Mills at his Cali
fornia winter nome was heard with sorrow
here, where he had been prominent. Mr..
Mills withdrawal from business and ac-
tive interest in his various philanthropic
enterprises because of i'll health had some
what prepared his friends for the sad
news, although a fatal termination of his
illness at this time was not expected.
Although his active participation in bust
ness affairs had ceased, Mr.. Miss, up to
the time of his death, remained a director
in many corporations. His railroad in
.'terests included the holding of a director
ship In the New York Central and Lake
Shore companies, and he held a place as
well in the directorates of several New
York banks and trust companies and nu-
merous industrial enterprises.
One of Mr.. Mills notable philanthropic
enterprises was the establishment of the
chain of hotels, the name of which
familiar the country over as mills
hotels" These hotels, of which there are
three in this city, were intended as places,
equipped and maintained in efficient mod
ern fashion, where meals and lodgings
could be furnished respectable men at
nominal prices. Mr.. Mills always declared
that he did not class this enterprise as
'phllanthrophy, maintaining that II was
%sagacious public spirit that prompted htm
In establishing them.
The hotels nave been ~self-supporting.
Not long ago Mr.. Mills decided them and
the adjacent Mills dwellings to three
trustees-himself, his son, Ogden Mills, and
his daughter, Mrs. Whitelaw ~Reid-making
stipulations as to succession in the mem
bership in the board, which will take the
work on indefinitely.
Reid HurryinE from England.
LONDON, Jan 4-Ambassador Whitelaw
Reid is arranging to sail for the United
States either on the steamer st. Louis to-
morrow or on the Luisitania Saturday to
allow him to be present at the funeral OF
Mrs. Reds father, d. o.. Mills, who died
in California last night.
The temporary absence from his post OF
Mr.. Reid will detain Secretary OF Embassy
MuIfap, phniins hare and arraugap nants ars