Historic Hood River
“Dr. and Mrs. Mills”
3-18-2025
Notes
This striking portrait is from our “M Bios” file, inscribed with the caption “Dr. and Mrs. Mills”. Scratched in the reverse is a note which appears to say, “Dr. and Mrs. Mills, lived on Jerhies Lane 1910.” It’s very possible I’m misreading the caption. Can anyone offer additional information or speculation?
Jeffrey Bryant
Erastus Webb Mills –
Doctor. Civil War Veteran.
126th Regiment, Illinois Infantry F&S, First Assistant Surgeon, Assistant Surgeon
4 Sep 1862 to 8 Jul 1865. Bvt Captain
Aug 30, 1864 to July 8, 1865
—
Morning Oregonian, October 29, 1913
Dr. E. W. Mills Buried
Funeral of Pioneer Portland Physician Is Conducted
The funeral of Dr. Erastus W. Mills, a pioneer Portland physician and veteran of the Civil War, who died at his home in Hood River Valley Saturday, was held yesterday at Zeller’s chapel, Williams avenue, the interment being in Riverview Cemetery. Rev. James Bennett, of Hood River, conducted the services.
Dr. Mills was 86 years of age and had lived in Oregon for about 40 years. In spite of his age, he practiced his profession practically up to his death, his last patient being Rev. Mr. Bennett, who officiated at the funeral.
During the Civil War he was a sergeant and served under General Grant until stationed at Little Rock, Ark., in charge of a hospital containing 3000 soldiers. He practiced medicine in Portland for a number of years and then spent several years in Tillamook.
For the past seven years he lived and practiced medicine in Hood River Valley, a considerable portion of his practice being for the relief of the poor who could not pay for professional services. He was widely known in Hood River. A wife and one son, John Mills, of Salem, survive him.
Jeffrey Bryant
After the death of his first wife, he remarried to Bessie Electa Flower in 1902. This was also her second marriage. She died in Salem, Oregon in 1926.
Jeffrey Bryant
He lived in the South Hood River Precinct in the 1910 census. Street names and numbers were not provided. He is not listed in the 1905 Hood River telephone directory. Later directories, which the Museum may have, could provide his place of business.
Jeffrey Bryant
His death certificate shows his death at Jericho Lane, Hood River, Oregon.
ArthurB
Yep, no way I would have gotten “Jericho Lane” from the cursive script on the rear. Looking at it knowing what it says, I can see they spelled it “Jehrhico”. It looks like they stopped for a second after the “r” before launching into the rest of it.
nels
So where is/was Jericho Lane?
L. E.
Sounds like a doctor well worth knowing about.
Jeffrey Bryant
The 1950 Census indicates that Jericho Lane ran north from where it intersected with Orchard Road. There were 13 houses on the left and 8 on the right. I figure it was south of the airport. I can provide some family names if that would help.
Greg Oates
Back in the fifties a fellow named “Shorty” Mills lived at the bottom of Yeck Hill where the golf course is now. He and his wife raised goats for milking and also propagated “Indian Creek Dahlias “. I have no info about his possible relationship to the Dr. But that area could be called part of the south HR district.
Dale Nicol
Initially, I wondered if Jack Mills might be related, but it seems unlikely based on Jeffrey’s good research details above.