One of the foremost men in the leather industry in Gloversville and a leader in civic affairs is W. Ellison Mills, president of Mills Brothers Company, Incorporated, of Nos. 9-19 Grove street, manufacturers of shoe leather. Born in this city, on the 28th of April, 1859, he is the son of Darius C. and Andelusia (Leonard) Mills, who were likewise natives of Gloversville. His father was a glove manufacturer and will be remembered by those interested in the history of the industry in this section as one of the pioneers in the production of gloves.
W. Ellison Mills was educated in the schools of Gloversville, where he spent his boyhood and youth and, at the age of sixteen, engaged in the meat business, operating a retail market of his own until he was twenty-one years old, a record that few young men of that age could duplicate. About the year 1880 he became associated with his three brothers in the manufacture of paper boxes, a business the four men continued for four years. In 1884 they sold out to devote their time and capital to the development of a leather manufacturing business, which has continued successfully to the present day under the name of the Mills Brothers Company. Shoe leather has always been the sole product of their tannery. In 1885 they erected the building still occupied by the firm. All of the original owners of the firm are deceased, with the sole exception of the subject of this review. His brother Edward H. died in 1903; Leonard C. died in 1905; and the youngest, Charles O., died in September, 1918. Today the average pay roll numbers one hundred employes, which gives one some idea of the amount of leather the firm produces. The output is entirely contract work done for New York and Boston leather firms, which have long since learned to rely upon the Mills Brothers tannery for good leather and prompt service.
Mr. Mills was married on the 13th of January, 1881, to Miss Elwilda Boyle, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Gibson) Boyle. The Boyles were natives of Herkimer county, New York, who came to Gloversville as pioneer settlers, and Mr. Boyle was for years connected with the glove industry here. Mrs. Mills died August 2, 1924.
In Gloversville and vicinity Mr. Mills is as well known for his public-spiritedness as for his achievements as a manufacturer, for he has always been among the first to lend his support to movements making for civic advancement. For years he has given freely of his time, means and experience in aiding various undertakings and institutions that have contributed to the upbuilding of the community. His first public service was rendered in 1889, when he was appointed trustee from Ward 3 in the then village of Gloversville. He was trustee when the city charter was secured and became alderman from his ward, serving one term. In the fall of 1906 he successfully ran on the republican ticket for a seat in the state assembly and represented his district at Albany for three terms, being twice elected to succeed himself. In the assembly his course was marked by sturdy support of the principles of sound government, the painstaking care with which he studied all proposed legislation and the able work he performed on the important committees to which he was appointed. The people of this district have seldom had the privilege of being represented by so able and efficient an assemblyman at the state capital. Mr. Mills is a republican in his politics and has long been a loyal and dependable supporter of the Grand Old Party. While Mr. Mills has conscientiously felt that a call of the people to public service was too imperative to be refused, he has not aspired to a public career of a political nature and has found his greatest satisfaction in helping those institutions and organizations that bear more directly upon the social welfare of his home city. His connection with the Nathan Littauer Hospital as president of the board for ten years was one that brought important results to the institution which benefited greatly from his advice and support, and he is now one of the life members of the board of managers. Mr. Mills has always been active in the work of the First Methodist church, of which he is a member and the present president of the board of trustees. For the last two years he has been a trustee of Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, Vermont. He is also serving the local Young Men's Christian Association as president of its board of trustees and is one of the most ardent supporters. During the five years that Mr. Mills was president of the Eccentric Club of Gloversville that body built its fine club building and in many other tangible ways he has given evidence of his powers as a leader of men and organizer. His other club affiliations are with the Antlers Country Club, Sir William Johnson Country Club and the Exempt Firemen's Association. The Gloversville Chamber of Commerce accounts this busy manufacturer one of its most influential and valuable members and his advice is often sought and carefully studied on many important steps taken toward promoting the commercial life of this community through this organization. For a number of years Mr. Mills was a member of the executive committee of the local chapter of the American Red Cross Society. One of his foremost contributions to public enterprise came during the World war, when he acted as chairman of the five Liberty and Victory Loan drives — a record held by few chairmen anywhere in the state. Every Gloversville quota was oversubscribed, the total raised by the machine of two hundred workers which he directed amounting to eight million dollars. This represents oversubscriptions of a million and a half dollars. The loans were skillfully floated and the achievement placed Gloversville in a most favorable light before the bankers of the state and did much to increase its financial prestige. Mr. Mills rightfully deserves much of the credit for this work and for assistance he gave in organization work for the Loan drives in every community in Fulton county.
Mr. Mills' connection with financial circles in peace times is that of a director of the City National Bank of Gloversville, a position he has held for years. It is not too much to say that he stands high among the dozen or so men of his generation who have been the leaders in most of the projects for developing Gloversville industrially, commercially and along civic and social lines. Few men have the opportunities that have come to him for public service and none has utilized them more wisely nor more effectively.
While Mr. Mills has been busy with personal and public affairs at home, he has found time to travel and has twice toured Europe since the World war, once on a trip to the World war battle fields and again to the Mediterranean sea and through the Near East.
Few men in any community so isolated from the center of affairs as Fulton county, enjoy the extensive acquaintance among men of affairs in state and nation as Mr. Mills. Brought into touch with them through his public service, in many instances, his own personality has won their esteem and cemented bonds of friendship that have held.