Edward H. Mills, vice president and business manager of the William B. Collins Company of Gloversville, publishers of the Leader-Republican, a daily newspaper serving Fulton county, is one of the city's native sons, his birth having occurred September 22, 1886. Edward H. Mills, Sr., his father, was likewise a native of Fulton county and a lifelong resident of Gloversville, where he died in 1903. In his early life Mr. Mills was identified with the infant glove industry that has since made the city famous, but later he became a furniture merchant. For some years prior to his death he was retired and lived quietly in his home here. Mr. Mills' mother was Rena Cohen before her marriage, the daughter of one of the early settlers of Sprakers, Montgomery county, where she was born. She passed away in February, 1916.
Edward H. Mills of this review was reared and educated in this city, where he graduated from the grammar school. He began his newspaper experience as a boy, delivering papers, and in 1901 became an employe of the William B. Collins Company for the large wage of three dollars per week. Since then he has worked his way up in the organization to his present position of business manager and vice president of the company, having held the posts of circulation manager, advertising manager and business manager prior to his election as vice president in 1913. The Leader-Republican was founded by William B. Collins in August, 1887, and was controlled and edited by him until his death. Its circulation now amounts to seventy-five hundred and it is read widely throughout Fulton county. The present business manager is a wide-awake, energetic young business man, whose enterprising methods have done much to increase the circulation and prestige of the Leader-Republican in recent years. He keeps in close touch with the work of other news agencies through his membership in the American Newspaper Publishers Association, the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World, and the Associated Dailies of New York State, and has been prompt to introduce and try out new methods that he has had reason to think would benefit his paper.
Mr. Mills and Miss Edna Terry were married in September, 1913, and have become the parents of three children: Meredith, born August 2, 1914; Max Terry, born September 10, 1917; and Antoinette, born June 10, 1919. Mrs. Mills is the daughter of John Terry and his wife, Eva (Snow) Terry, natives and lifelong residents of East Brookfield, Massachusetts. Her father died in 1913, but her mother is still living. Mr. Mills belongs to the Eccentric Club of Gloversville and the Advertising Club of the same place. His political affiliations are with the republican party. He is a prominent layman of the Congregational church here, where he holds the offices of clerk of the church society and chairman of the board of trustees. Gratifying success has waited upon Mr. Mills' efforts and he has well earned his position in Gloversville as one of the leading younger business men and citizens.