MILLS, PTE. G.H. Reg. # 886
There was a George H. Mills living in Chapman Twp. in 1901, son of William Mills. George was shown as being born January 23, 1882.
However, this does not seem to be the George H. Mills who is pictured at right.
In the Military Records, George Henry Mills of Magnetawan is identified as also known as George Henry O’Brien. The summary note is shown below:
The actual file is only 4 pages long and simply includes the note below:
A review of soldiers with Reg. # 886 identifies 13 men with this Number. One of those is George Henry O’Brien.
In his Attestation papers, signed September 21, 1914 in Valcartier, George Henry O’Brien identified that he had been born in Magnetawan on January 29, 1886. He identified that his next of kin was Nettie Ellen Mills, living in Magnetawan.
George indicated that he had spent 9 years with the U.S. marines and that he was a Marine Engineer.
George was wounded in action April 28, 1915.
He was taken as a prisoner of war. While a prisoner, he had to have part of his leg amputated. He was returned to England where several operations later, his leg was further amputated to just several inches below the hip.
Stepping back for a moment.
At the time of the 1911 census, living in Chapman Township on Lot Pt 98 (?) Concession B were John Mills, head, age 33, farmer; Sarah, his wife age 23 and daughter Mary age 5.
There was also a Wiilliam Mills, age 60 living on Lot 104 Conession A , farmer.
In the 1891 census of Chapman Township, we do find a George H. Mills, age 8 living with his father William age 37 (no mother) and with siblings including a Netty A Mills age 3.
At the time of the 1901 census, we again find George H. Mills, age 19, born January 23, 1889 (?), son of William Mills, age 45. And again we find sister Nettie E. Mills born December 13, 1887 age 13.
If we search for Edith Nettie Mills, we find the family. The parents were William John Mills (born July 12, 1852 in Mono Twp.; died December 27, 1918 in Magnetawan) and Edith Melissa Woodruff (born 1861 in Pickering and died August 15, 1890 in Magnetawan.
George Henry Millls is shown as having died May 3, 1921 in Nipissing District. (He is shown to have been born January 23, 1882.
George Henry Mills, age 20, of Magnetawan, labourer, is identified as having married Martha Jane Nicholson of Toronto (born in Orangeville) in Parry Sound District on August 12, 1903. They had four children.
In the 1911 census, Martha is shown under her maiden name Nicholson, with three of her children: Martha, April and Blanche (if family trees are correct).
In 1921, Martha Mills is identified as living in Orangeville (the place of her birth) together with children William, Blanche and Francis.
Of note, a George O’Brien is identified as enlisting in the US Marines on January 6, 1908.
