Simeon Mills

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.

Simeon Mills
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 9th district
In office
June 7, 1848 – January 1, 1849
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byAlexander Botkin
4th & 7th Village President of Madison, Wisconsin
In office
1854–1855
Preceded byHorace A. Tenney
Succeeded byPeter Van Bergen
In office
1851–1852
Preceded byWilliam N. Seymour
Succeeded byChauncey Abbott
Personal details
Born
Simeon Mills

(1810-02-14)February 14, 1810
Norfolk, Connecticut
DiedJune 1, 1895(1895-06-01) (aged 85)
Madison, Wisconsin
Resting placeForest Hill Cemetery
Madison, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
Spouses
  • Maria Louisa Smith
  • (died 1884)
Professionpolitician
Known forIntroduced bill establishing University of Wisconsin
Signature

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