Felix Mills 1799 - 1873
Felix was the son of David Alexander Mills (1775-1838) and Mary Ann "Polly" Summers (1782-1860). He was born 29 August 1799 in Wilkes County, Georgia, USA.
Felix married Rachel Owens (1805-1880) on 19 March 1819 in Posey County, Indiana. They had the following children:
Elizabeth Mills (1822-1859)
Polly Mills (1823-1850)
Thomas Mills (1825-1908)
David Alexander Mills (1827-1898)
Sarah Ann Mills (1829-1831)
Rachel Mills (1831-1866)
Romelia Jay Mills (1833-1900)
James Henry Mills (1836-1924)
Permelia Jane Mills (1838-1894)
Harriet Mills (1840-1866)
Felix J. Mills (1842-1893)
Fielden Nicolas Mills (1844-1846)
Pulura Aline Mills (1849-1849)
Felix and Rachel (Felix as the named head of household and Rachel listed under the "Free White Females - 16 thru 25: 1" column) showed up in the 1820 census in Posey County. There were no children as yet, the last census for which that would be the case. (census image here)
By 1830 the household had grown to seven people, two adults and five children. Looking at the list of children and their birth years, that appears correct. (census image here)
By 1840 the household had grown in size to 10 people. This actually works out, which is impressive with these old census records. Sadly, Sarah Ann had died in infancy, but on the plus side Felix and Rachel's oldest daughter Elizabeth had married Thomas Downen the year before. (census image here)
With the advent of the 1850 census (the first one to list all the occupants of the household by name) we have something we can actually get our teeth into. However, the passage of time was now having the opposite effect, the household was getting smaller as the children were married off. Polly was gone, having married first John Lane and then James Gale after the death of Mr. Lane. Tragically, Polly would not live to see the end of the year, dying just 11 months after her marriage to James, in December 1850. Thomas married Lucretia Barton in 1846, which launched a quite successful mini-dynasty in Posey County for the next few decades. David married Amy Posey in 1848 (I have not been able to determine if Amy was a member of the well-known Posey family that the county was named after, unfortunately). Rachel married Timothy Downen in 1849 (Timothy was a nephew of the Thomas Downen who was her older sister Elizabeth's husband). The five youngest children were still home, although sadly the two youngest, an infant boy and an infant girl, didn't live long enough to make it into the census. (census image here)
More changes were in the offing. Romelia married Caroline Bush in 1852. James married Minerva Allyn in 1855; Minerva was a member of another prominent Posey County family, much like the Mills, Barton and Downen families. In 1854 Permelia married John Thomas Robb. Harriet married Bryant Nesler in 1857. Of the surviving children, only Felix was still around as of the 1860 census. One of Polly's sons from her first marriage, Felix Lane, was living with Felix and Rachel during this census as well, leading to an amusing situation which I call the "Census of the Three Felixes"; all three males in the household, father, son and grandson, were all named Felix. Other than the changes in the family composition, there was an additional change in location. For some reason Felix and Rachel had moved to Wayne County, Illinois. The move was not as drastic as it might sound: The driving distance on today's roads from Mt. Vernon in Posey County to Fairfield, the county seat of Wayne County, is only about 50 miles. Nothing to sneeze at, especially back then, but it wasn't as if the family were packing up and moving to California. (census image here)
Felix Jr. married Orilla Ann Barton in 1862. Orilla was Felix's older brother Thomas's wife Lucretia Barton's first cousin, once removed, again reminding us how tightly the Posey County genealogy bonds were woven. Felix Lane had moved out as well, possibly out of state if I am reading the census records correctly. Ironically, another Felix was staying with Felix Sr. and Rachel as of the 1870 census. Permelia and John Robb's son Felix was living with his grandparents at that time. There was another change of scene as well, Felix and Rachel were now living in Gallatin County, Illinois. Gallatin County is southeast and south of Wayne County, right across the Wabash River from Posey County. (census image here)
Felix died on 4 September 1873 at the age of 74 years. Some accounts place his death at Mount Vernon, Indiana, where he lived for so many years. This is certainly possible since so many of his children were still in Posey County, but I have found nothing documented in terms of whether he died in Posey County or Gallatin County. In any event, he is buried in Posey County in the Timothy Downen Cemetery. Rachel died a little over 6 years later in 1880 and is buried next to Felix.
Other Links
Felix Mills page at Find A Grave
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