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Mills, Edgar Papers, 1852-1888.
MANUSCRIPT 2413
Collection Overview

Title:

Papers, 1852-1888
Edgar Mills papers, 1852-1888

Creator/Contributor:

Mills, Edgar, 1828-1893, creator

Creator/Contributor:

Mills, Darius O. (Darius Ogden), 1825-1910

Abstract:

Papers of Edgar Mills, dating from 1852-1888, bulk 1880s, ca. 120 items. Primarily business papers (1852-1888); some personal correspondence (1879-1887).
Business papers: Documents relating to real estate ventures in Menlo Park, Colusa County and San Francisco. In Menlo Park, Mills was involved in the development of a residential subdivision; documents include deeds, a plat map, financial statements. In Colusa County near Maxwell, Mills owned agricultural acreage for growing wheat; documents include financial accounts with various grain merchants and property tax statements. John Boggs, mentioned in several documents, was an early Colusa County settler and the president of the Colusa County Bank. Mills also owned rental properties in San Francisco; documents include land titles and correspondence with C. S. Capp & Co. Real Estate Brokers and Agents. Miscellaneous financial documents refer to land in Oregon, New York stock accounts from the firm of C. A. Harden & Co, and checks drawn on the Bank of California by Mills.
Personal correspondence is primarily incoming, 1879-1887; correspondents include D.O. Mills, Ogden Mills, Benjamin B. Redding, Jerome Madden and Albert Gansl. As might be expected, the personal correspondence between early California's premier bankers occasionally involves financial affairs. D.O. Mills writes about the construction and leasing of his building in New York and the engagement of his son, Ogden. Ogden also writes about his engagement and honeymoon plans. An 1882 letter from B.B. Redding and Jerome Madden, of the Central Pacific Land Office, requests Mills to use his influence in obtaining employment at the U.S. Mint for a Mrs. Kennedy, left destitute by the death of her husband. In a 1881 letter Albert Gansl, past San Francisco agent of the Rothchilds, writes about wingshooting in Buckinghamshire with Sir Nathaniel de Rothchild and an American who shot against the legendary Captain Borgardus. A thank you note, which also notes the social activities of an elite debutante, is written on mourning paper.
For related matterials, see the National Bank of D. O. Mills and Company collection.

Date:

1852 (issued)

Subject:

n-us-ca
Mills, Edgar -- 1828-1893 -- Correspondence
Mills, Darius O. (Darius Ogden) -- 1825-1910 -- Correspondence
Bankers -- California -- Correspondence
Businessmen -- California -- Correspondence
Capitalists and financiers -- California -- Correspondence
Real estate development -- California -- Menlo Park -- History
Wheat trade -- California -- Colusa County -- History
Menlo Park (Calif.) -- History
Colusa County (Calif.) -- History

Note:

Edgar Mills was born in North Salem, New York, in 1828 and trained as a civil engineer. After surveying a railroad along the Hudson River, he arrived in California in 1849 and made the first surveys of the Feather and Sacramento Rivers for Samuel Brannan and John A. Sutter. Subsequently he entered the banking business with his brother D.O. (Darius Ogden) Mills, of Sacramento. In 1852, with brother James Mills, he established a branch of the Sacramento Bank in Columbia, Tuolumne County.
When James died in 1856 the Tuolumne County bank was sold, and Edgar temporarily retired. He later returned to the Sacramento Bank and took charge of it while D.O. Mills was associated with the Bank of California. After D.O. Mills relocated to New York in 1873, Edgar remained in California, overseeing the family businesses. In addition to banking, Edgar's business dealings involved commercial land development and several railroad ventures. He spent the latter part of his life in San Francisco, where he died on January 10, 1893. He was survived by a son, Edgar Mills, Jr., and two daughters, Adeline and Florence.
Edgar Mills papers, 1852-1888
Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.

Type:

biography

Physical Description:

print
1 ms. box (ca. 120 items)

Language:

English

Identifier:

MANUSCRIPT 2413

Origin:

California

Copyright Note:

Unrestricted. Please credit California State Library.