• “now residing in Washington territory.”674

• "There are thirteen families of Barney Mills kindred of which the heads of six are still living. Two near Chatham, Ontario, one in Washington state,...711

• [excerpts] James L. Mills, a lumber manufacturer in Thorp, Washington, has been engaged in the milling business since a boy.
Mr. Mills was educated in Canada and Michigan and is graduated from a commercial school in Detroit. When a boy he started to work in the lumber mills, and in 1868 he took charge of a lumber yard in Toledo, Ohio, for his brother. In 1874 the business was moved to Cleveland, and he continued in charge until 1878, when he went to Colorado for his health. In 1879 he came to Thorp, bought out a homestead and pre-empted the land, and that fall started work on a water ditch for his mill. He commenced to operate the mill in 1880. He bought the J. E. Bates farm in 1884, and later secured one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land, all of which he has under cultivation.
The husband and wife are Good Templars and members of the Methodist church. Mr. Mills is a leader in the church work, is one of the trustees, and has been superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years. He is an honest, upright and industrious man. His property holdings include three hundred and twenty acres of land, besides the sawmill and site.772, p 1

• The James Mills sawmill in Thorp was one of the first sawmills in the valley. The machinery for the mill was freighted into Kittitas over the Squaw Creek Trail from The Dalles. Many of the early homes were built from lumber cut at this mill. Mr. Mills built a small ditch from the Yakima to the mill pond and to operate the light plant. In 1879 mail and messages were left by this headgate for there was no station in Thorp. Many old letters and records are kept that tell the story of the mill. A water right was sold to Horace Hutchinson so he would have water for his flour mill. A marker is at the head of the mill ditch. On the marker is the date 1879.791

• One mill of which we do have some knowledge was also one of the most picturesque old mills in Kittitas. The James E. Mills sawmill in Thorp. Built in 1879, it seems to have supplied lumber to most of the farmers and builders in the country. There are many old letters, papers and records that give reliable historical data.
A letter written by Mr. Nelson Mills [James’ son] reads thus:
“James L. Mills walked most of the way in to Kittitas over the old trail from Puget Sound in 1878. In 1879 and 1880, he dug the mill race and built the sawmill. The water wheel and machinery were brought up from the Dalles by teams and wagons. Later, he sold a part interest in the water to Horace Hutchinson who built the North Star Flouring Mill. In 1902, the sawmill was under the name of J. L. Mills and Son. In 1906, we put in an electric light plant.
“During the next 30 years, the old water wheel turned logs into lumber by day in the mill, and drove the dynamo by night that turned darkness to light for the town of Thorp. The old sawmill and light plant are on Mills’ land and still in the Mills family.”792, pp 109-110

• Lumber from that mill has always been considered the best in Kittitas; the matched flooring, ceiling, siding was perfect. Many pioneer builders said it was the best he had ever used. “So-called matched boards couldn’t be driven together with a sledge hammer.”
“Lumber from Mills fits; it goes together with a tap of a hammer.”
Commenting on this reputation, Mr. Nelson Mills said, “No wonder, I have seen him [Mr. James Mills], file and fit the bits of matched boards; if not perfect, he would try again for half an hour. When he had everything right, you knew the matched lumber would be perfect.”792, p 111

• Received 1/26th of the 1/4 share of the assets of said co-partnership belonging to the Barney Mills estate.739, p 4

• James L. Mills, a pioneer resident of Thorp for the past 48 years, died Tuesday evening at this home in that city. The deceased was 80 years of age and has conducted a mill there with his son, Nelson, for some time.
As a resident of Thorp for the greater part of his life, Mr. Mills had made a vast number of friends who mourn his passing. Besides his son Nelson he also leaves a daughter, Mrs. Ada Beal, residing at College Place near Walla Walla. His wife died some two years ago. The body was taken to the Honeycutt parlors to remain until funeral arrangements were made.
The passing of Mr. Mills thins still further the list of Kittitas valley pioneers.787

• From my records, the “L” in James L. Mills is LUMNEY.789, p 52 I do not know if Lumney was a family name.
[reply]: Likely is was “Lumley.” James L. Mills’ aunt was Eleanor Hamilton Nelson (his mother’s sister) who married James Lumley.785

• 1851 Census: Mosa Township; age 6.298, p 2,299,300, p 7
• 1861 Census: Mosa Township; born U. C., Wesleyan Methodist, age 16.298, p 3,685
• 1870 Census: Toledo, Lucas, Ohio. Age 24, b MI [sic]. Book keeper. Living in household of Sewell Wittlesey.793
• 1880 Census: West Kittitas, Yakima, Washington. Age 34, b Canada, lumberman.790
• 1887 Territorial Census: Kittitas County, Washington. Age 42, b Canada. Farmer.794, p 129
• 1889 Territorial Census: Kittitas County, Washington. Age 41, b Canada. Lumberman.794, p 250
• 1900 Census: West Kittitas, Kittitas, Washington. [unclear]: b Aug 1846, age 54, b Canada (Eng.). Saw miller. Father b Canada; mother b Ireland.795
• 1910 Census: West Kittitas, Kittitas, Washington. Age 64, b Canada English. Parents b Canada English. Married 30 years. Naturalized, 1872.796
• 1920 Census: West Kittitas, Kittitas, Washington. Age 74, b Canada, farmer.797

• ...the Thorp area...often referred to as West Kittitas.798, p 2