Simeon Mills Explained

Simeon Mills
State:Wisconsin
State Senate:Wisconsin
District:9th
Term Start:June 7, 1848
Term End:January 1, 1849
Predecessor:Position Established
Successor:Alexander Botkin
Order1:4th & 7th
Title1:Village President of Madison, Wisconsin
Term Start1:1854
Term End1:1855
Predecessor1:Horace A. Tenney
Successor1:Peter Van Bergen
Term Start2:1851
Term End2:1852
Predecessor2:William N. Seymour
Successor2:Chauncey Abbott
Birth Name:Simeon Mills
Birth Date:14 February 1810
Birth Place:Norfolk, Connecticut
Death Place:Madison, Wisconsin
Restingplace:Forest Hill Cemetery
Madison, Wisconsin
Profession:politician
Party:Democratic
Signature:SimeonMillsSignature.png
Known For:Introduced bill establishing University of Wisconsin

Simeon Mills (February 14, 1810  - June 1, 1895) was a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate from Dane County in the 1st Wisconsin Legislature. He introduced the bill which became the charter for the University of Wisconsin.

Biography

Mills was born in 1810.[1] Named assistant postmaster, he walked from Chicago to Madison, Wisconsin Territory, arriving in June 1837.[2] Mills met John Catlin and became the first Deputy Postmaster of Madison in 1837, housing the post office itself in his own store. He was the Clerk of the District Court of Dane County and the Clerk of the Supreme Court of the Wisconsin Territory. Mills was the last treasurer of the territory and was elected to the 1st Wisconsin Legislature in 1848. During the American Civil War, he was the Paymaster of Wisconsin. Mills died in 1895.[3]

"Elmside"

His former home, known as the Simeon Mills House, "Mills Folly," or "Elmside", was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[4] It was built in 1863 and he resided there until 1867, when he sold it to J. W. Hudson. The structure, now a multi-family residence, suffered $100,000 in damage in a fire June 21, 2012.[5]

An area where a number of his businesses were located, now known as the Simeon Mills Historic District, is also listed.

Career

Prior to serving in the Senate, Mills was Treasurer of the Wisconsin Territory, President of Madison, and a Justice of the Peace.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Simeon Mills. Political Graveyard. 2011-12-12.
  2. Web site: "Mill's Folly" - The Simeon Mills House. Blooming Groves Historic Homes and Places. 2011-12-12.
  3. Web site: Mills, Simeon 1810 - 1895. Wisconsin Historical Society. 2011-12-12.
  4. Web site: Simeon Mills House. Landmark Hunter.com. 2011-12-12.
  5. News: UPDATE: Fire At Historic Building In Madison; One Person Dead. WMTV. 2012-06-20. 2012-06-20.