Educator, municipal official.
Born at Lifford, Ontario on 27 February 1863, he was educated at Port Hope and later graduated from the Ontario Normal School. In 1883, he began his teaching career at Lotus, Ontario, coming to Manitoba in 1890 where he was the Principal of Holland School from 1892 to 1904. Described as being “of splendid physique, tall, well proportioned, strong and active”, he encouraged his students to excel, especially in baseball and other sports. In 1904, he moved to Treherne to become Secretary-Treasurer of the Rural Municipality of South Norfolk. He retired due to ill health in April 1924.
In 1891, he married Caroline Stinson (1867-?) of Janetville, Ontario and they had three children: Olive Lilian Mills (1895-?), John Garnet Mills (1898-?), and Mary Edna Mills (1903-?). He was a member of the United Church of Canada, COF, and Masons. He served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Treherne Agricultural Society for 20 years and Secretary-Treasurer of the Treherne School Board.
He moved to Winnipeg in 1926 where he died at his home, 40 Luxton Street, on 6 June 1928 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery.
Birth registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.
“Death of R. J. Mills, pioneer educationist”, Manitoba Free Press, 7 June 1928, page 11.
Memoirs of a School Inspector: Edward E. Best, 1888-1932 by Gladys M. Best and Hazel M. McFadyen, c1977. [Copy in library of the Manitoba Historical Society]
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 9 April 2021
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