• Mother’s maiden surname is Anderson. [2699]

• Mr. Houseman had been prominent in National Insurance Circles since 1936 and had lived in California since 1944. He was graduated from the University of Chicago and a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a member of the Annandale Golf Club; survived by wife, Virgie, son Robert, daughter-in-law Linda, granddaughter Pamela, Mrs. Henry Lumb. [4598]

• 1910 Census: Goldsberry Twp., Howell, Missouri. Age 4, b MO. [4793]
• 1930 Census: Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Age 29, b MO. Single. Lodger. Manager, Manufacturing. Parents b England. [5730]

• He [David Williams Mills] was married in 1909 to Miss Maud Merrell, of Detroit, and they have one son, Nelson. [50, p 684]

• Three Stanford Students, Including Nelson Mills of Santa Cruz, Hurt In Crash [Santa Cruz Evening News, 26 Jan 1929]
Pinned beneath the automobile he was driving when it overturned on the Stanford university campus at Palo Alto early this morning, Nelson Mills, son of Mr. and Mrs. David W. Mills of 39 Highland street, and two others, were injured, The News learned. Young Mills, a student at the university, Miss Elizabeth Doyle of Fresno, and Donald Wright of Pasadena, also students, were those injured. Miss Doyle, the most seriously hurt, sustained three fractured ribs. Mills, though not badly injured, suffered a deep scalp wound on the back of his head and was cut on one hand with flying glass. Wright was cut above the eye. All were pinned under the car, it was reported.
The injured were removed to the Palo Alto hospital, but Mills and Wright were allowed to go to their fraternities after receiving medical attention.
As soon as news of the accident reached them, Mr. and Mrs. Mills left for Palo Alto. They are expected to return home tonight with their son.
Mr. Mills, father of the injured young man, formerly was president of the Monterey Bay Lumber company, resigning several months ago. [7503]

• …Nelson Merrell Mills, formerly of Santa Cruz and now of South Pasadena.
Mr. Mills, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Mills, lived in this city with his parents about five years before leaving for South Pasadena where he is connected with the Standard Oil Company. He is a graduate of Stanford university.
[Note: the connection with Standard Oil was as a gas station attendant] [7440]

• Purchased house at 725 Winthrop Road, San Marino by April 1, 1935. [6720]

• SAN MARINO HOME WINS DISTINCTION
[photo caption] This home at 725 Winthrop Road, San Marino, was selected by the editors of a national magazine for its distinction in design. The residence was bought by Nelson Mills. [7156]

• Nelson Mills Heads Pacific Outdoor
The Board of Directors of Pacific Outdoor Advertising Co., Los Angeles, today announced the election of Nelson Mills as president of the firm, effective July 1, 1949.
A graduate of Stanford University, Mills previously was executive vice president and general manager, and has been with the company 14 years serving in all phases of the business.
The new executive succeeds Hal W. Brown, who continues as chairman of the board. [7157]



• Nelson’s Best Man and lifelong friend was Don Wright, who rose to be Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. He was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1970, and subsequently had many run-ins with Jerry Brown, when he was Governor of California. Don served from 1973 to 1980. Don graduated from Stanford in 1929, Harvard Law School, practiced law in Pasadena, California, was appointed to the Municipal Bench in Pasadena, Superior Court in Los Angeles, where he became Presiding Judge, then was appointed to the California Court of Appeals, before being named Chief Justice - which came as a complete surprise.
Source: Recollections of DWM, 8/20/95
See also [2228] Hon. Donald Richard WRIGHT

• Upon Harriet’s death, [Nelson] sold the Eckart house in San Marino (at 1525 Oak Grove Avenue) in 1967. Nelson and young Don moved to an apartment on Orange Grove in Pasadena, and lived there until his wedding to Virgie Houseman. [7377]

• Dad requested that Gretchen and I arrange for his wedding to Virgie Houseman be conducted in a chapel. He indicated this was important to him.

• Dear Nelson
Many thanks for the penny. I have put it in my savings. In return I am sending you a good luck dime.
Love, Grandpa [3369]

• Former long-time San Marino resident Nelson Merrell Mills died Dec. 22 in Palm Desert, following a lengthy illness.
Mills, born in Cleveland in 1910, was a graduate of Stanford University.
He married his first wife, Harriet, in 1934, and they resided in San Marino until her death in 1966.
Before retiring in 1972, Mills had been president of Pacific Outdoor Advertising for 19 years.
He was a past president of Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena and Marrakesh Golf Club in Palm Desert and a member of Zeta Psi fraternity and Rotary International. [3236]

• 1910 Census: East Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio. Age 3/12ths, b OH. Father b MI; mother b IN. [1772]
• 1920 Census: Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga, Ohio. Age 9, b OH. Father b MI; mother b OH [sic]. [1781]
• 1930 Census: San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Age 20, b OH. Student. Father b MI; mother b IN. Living with parents. [3619]
• 1940 Census: San Marino, Los Angeles, California. Age 30, b OH. Salesman, Outdoor Advertising. Same house for 5 years. [6720]
• 1950 Census: San Marino, Los Angeles, California. Age 40, b OH. President, Advertising. [7781]

• City of San Marino, California
1936: 725 Winthrop Rd, slsmn Sou Calif Tel Co (Pasa)…CO 1522 [6717]
1949: 1525 Oak Grove Ave. [6303, p 1]
1950: Mills, Nelson (Harriet E) pres Pac Outdoor Adv Co (L A), h 1525 Oak Grove Av....SY 2-1846 [6303, p 2]