• On March 18th, 1831, there was born a boy to whom was given the name of his great-grandfather, David, and who grew to manhood on his father’s farm in the County of Kent; he was elected to represent the County of Kent in the first parliament that assembled at Ottawa after Confederation, was a Minister of the Crown in the Mackenzie administration, a Senator and then Minister of Justice at Ottawa.
2095, p 2• I have reason to believe that Peter [Mills] and his family removed to Ontario, and later to Michigan as Hon. David visited Nelson W. [sic] in Michigan and he was said to be wealthy, no doubt his descendants are still there.
813, p 8• Complete Federal Political Experience.
2894•
The Hon. David Mills 1831-1903A noted cabinet minister and jurist, David Mills was born in a house on the adjacent property, attended a local school, and studied law at the University of Michigan. Elected in 1867 to the Canadian parliament, he sat as Liberal member for Bothwell until 1896, serving as minister of the Interior, 1876-1878, in the Mackenzie administration, and minister of justice, 1897-1902, under Laurier. An expert in constitutional and international law, he wrote extensively on these subjects and lectured at the University of Toronto. In 1896 he was appointed to the Canadian Senate and in 1902 to the Supreme Court of Canada. He is buried in a nearby cemetery.
2145, p 3•
David Mills, LLB, Bothwell.The family came from near Plymouth, England, proceeded to Holland in the time of Charles I. Thence to New England with the Puritans and the descendants removed to Nova Scotia at the time of the American Revolution. The above was the son of Nathaniel Mills who removed from Nova Scotia to Canada, 1807. Born in the township of Orford, Kent Co., Ontario, 18th March 1830. Graduated at Michigan University.
2895, p 3• The Mills are related to a David Mills that sat as a Liberal (Democrat in U.S. language) member of our first parliament in 1867.
879, p 1