Sheriff Clark Mills

Sheriff Clark Mills served as Sheriff of Grant County from 1903 to 1906

​Sheriff Clark Mills was born on October 27, 1855 and died on October 4, 1920

Sheriff Clark Mills was a businessman and cared about the community. He was the Sheriff when the old jail at the corner of Branson and 3rd Street was built. Here is a biography on Sheriff Mills.

Clark Mills. Among the men who have been actively associated with the business and political world of Marion and Grant county for many years may be mentioned the name of Clark Mills. Mr. Mills is a native of this section and is consequently deeply interested in the welfare of the county and its people. He is now engaged in the contracting business and has made a great success of this work, as the number of contracts he has carried out for the city of Marion indicate.

Mr. Mills was born in Franklin township, Grant county, Indiana, on the 27th of October, 1855. He is the son of Job and Elizabeth (Willcutts) Mills, both of whom were natives of Grant county. His father was a farmer and died many years ago in October, 1872. His mother only lived a month after his father's death. Eight children were born to Job Mills and his wife, all of whom are now living. These children are as follows: Clark Mills; Sarah A., who married Thomas L. Shaw, a farmer of Liberty township, Grant county; Curtis Mills, who is engaged in farming in Fulton county, Indiana; Job Mills, also a farmer in Franklin township, Grant county; John Mills, a resident of Liberty township; Jehu Mills, of Marion; Otis Elton Mills, of South Marion, and Mary G. Mills of Marion.

Clark Mills lived on the farm where he was born until he was sixteen years of age. He attended the common schools of the district, but as the eldest in a large family he was early forced to leave school to aid in the support of the family. He went with his family to Kansas when he was just a boy, but after living there for a time he returned to his old home and there engaged in teaming. After a while be married and then went back to farming. He operated the old home place in Franklin township for many years with a considerable amount of success. In 1902 his first election as sheriff of Grant county took place. He served until 1906 in this office, two terms in all, having been re-elected in 1904. He made a highly efficient officer and won the respect of everyone for the way in which he carried out the duties of his office.

After retiring from the office of sheriff he resided in Marion for a year and then returned to the farm. For two years he operated the farm and then he came back to Marion and here went into the contracting business, doing a large amount of sewer and street building. As has been mentioned he has done a large amount of work for the city of Marion, and has handled other large contracts.

Mr. Mills was married on August 16, 1880, to Miss Almeda Overman, a daughter of George Overman and Mary J. (Jones) Overman, of Grant county, Indiana. Mrs. Mills having been born in Marion. Seven children have been born to this union, namely: Myrtle, who married Harley Farr, of Marion; Edgar G., of "Wayne county, Pennsylvania; Mary, the wife of Arthur Shuggart, of Franklin township; Maud, who is Mrs. Ed Clemens, of Marion; Wilbur G., who lives with his parents; R. Lou, who is deceased, and Georgia, who also lives at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Mills are members of the Friends church. Mr. Mills is a member of the Republican party and a member of the American Mechanics.

Marion Chronicle

April 11, 1920

FORMER SHERIFF OF COUNTY DIES

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Clark Mills Expires After Long Illness; Funeral Services Monday at Friends Church

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Clark Mills, 64, former sheriff of Grant county, and one of the first leaders of prohibition campaigns in this section of the state, died at 2 o’clock this morning at his home on West Thirty-eighth street after a long illness. Mr. Mills suffered a stroke of paralysis six years ago from which he never fully recovered. He is survived by his wife, Amanda Overman Mills; four daughters, Mrs. Harley Farr, Ms. Arthur F. Shugart, Mrs. Randall Smith of Marion and Mrs. Ed Clements of Indianapolis; and two sons, Edgar G. Mills of Marion and Wilbur Mills of Indianapolis. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Monday afternoon at the First Friends church of which the deceased was a life-long member. The services will be in charge of the Rev. D. I. Foster. Interment will be made in the Odd Fellows cemetery.

Clark Mills was born in Franklin township, Grant county, October 27, 1855. He was the son of Job and Elizabeth (Wileutts) Mills, and the eldest of 8 children. He lived on the farm where he was born until ten years of age, when he entered the common schools of the county. Both parents died when he was a child, and he was forced to leave school to aid the support of the large family. He went with the family to Kansas while yet a boy, and after living there for a short time returned to Grant county and went back to farming.

Mr. Mills took a prominent part in republican politics, and was elected sheriff in 1902. He was a highly efficient officer and won the respect of citizens by the manner in which he conducted the office. He was re-elected in 1904 and completed his term two years later.

After retiring from the office of sheriff, he resided in Marion for a year and then returned to the farm in Franklin township. After two years, he returned to the city, and entered the contracting business, doing a large amount of sewer and street building.

When the “dry” forces opened the first campaign in Grant county, Mr. Mills was one of the leaders of the “dry” cause.