The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-09-03
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Roger Qlarles Mills. soldier, states
nan and che OF the most noted free
trade advocates OF his time. was born f.
in Todd county. Kentucky. March 50.
1882 the son Of Charles Henley and
Tabithe tDaniel Mills He received
= good education and. al the age OF
seventeen. removed with his parents
10 Pales- ne. Texas. There he became
clerk in the pOstoffice and. a. the
same time. studied Law in the office
OF his brother-in-law. Hon Reuben \
Reeves Later he was appointed
clerk 10 the legislature and was ad-
mitted 10 the bar al the age OF twenty.
the legislature passing special act
removing The disability ot his mnOr
i,y.
He began 70 practice and met WIN
immediate success. He was demo
c-at OF great SINCERITY and loyalty TO
the time-houoTed doctrines OF his r-r-
ty and identified himself with the sup
porters OF states rights and free nd.
He moved 70 Corsincana. Texas.
1852 and soon held a prominent o.
-.tion al the bar and in political cir
cles. On January :, lSjs. he married
Miss Caroline r, daughter of Col
Henry Jones. a well known planter
and Indian fighter. who later became
one Of the largest ranch owners in
Texas. She bore him three daughters
and one son.
In the matter Of secession Air Mills,
after mature deliberation. fearlessly
stood forth as the champion OF the lib
critics OF the south His speeches
aroused the deepest feelings OF his
listeners and stirred them m 10 take
up arms in defense OF what they con-
Sidered their inalienable rights. -ir.
Mills who had been elected 70 tic
, Texas house OF representatives in
I 1883. abandoned his political prospects
, and his prosperous law practice at t-"
| beginning OF the civil war. and Join
! ed Greer's cavalry, with which IL TOOK
part in the battle of Wilson's Crock
! tOak HID. August 10. 1851 Later ne
vas appointed lieutenant colonel and
! then colonel OF the 10Th Texas lnfar-
/ try. Confederate States Of America
, ne was in command OF the regiment
when It defended Arkansas Post Jan.
nary II. 1862. but was overcome by
superior numbers Col Mills was
made prisoner, but Was afterwa ! a.
changed.
After his exchange he wis given
/ command OF a regiment. with which
| he fought bravely at Ch!cSampugl
/ September 1920, 1868. When General
! James Deshler fell, Col. Mills tooE
command of the brigade. He MAS III
| command OF a regiment at the battles
of Missionary Ridge. Nov. 24-2j, lSa1.
| and was seriously wounded. He also
( fought in the battles Of New Hope
/ Church. MAY p. 1864, and Atlanta,
! July % 1864, where he was aesiH
wounded.
At the conclusion OF the wae he
returned 10 his home in Coraicana.
/ Texas. where he resumed his Wac.ice
and devoted his political effort 20
the advancement OF Texas He
( strongly favored a general revision of
the tariff in favor of home produrcrs
and consumers and favored Amc' can
shipping. He developed great actiy-
, ity in the interest of the free trade
policy and delivered many strong
I speeches on the subject. He was
! elected 10 congress upon strong
/ Zee trade platform in 1872 and be-
came a member of the house of repre-
i >entatiyes in 1875.
Mr. Mills career in the house Of
/ representatives was extremely bril-.
liant He took a leading part in the
tariff agitation and was the author OF
the famous Mills Bill. which kept
congress and the whole country in a
state OF agitation for long time and
later caused a serious reaction. Uhi b
eliminated in the election OF thel
Apostle OF Protection" VIM. McKin-
ley 10 the presidency. While meT-