Individual Details

In the 1870 Census J. W. lives next door to his father. Wife is Mary, age 20, born AR.

Joseph W. Mills
Residence: Crawford County, Arkansas, Occupation:
Enlist Date: 23 August 1863 State: Kansas
Union
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Corporal on 23 August 1863
Enlisted in Company L, 14th Cavalry Regiment Kansas on 19 October 1863
Promoted to Full Private on 01 June 1865 (Reduced to ranks)
Mustered out on 25 June 1865
Name of Regiment Date of Organization Muster Date Regiment Type: 14th Cavalry Regiment Kansas, 01 April 1863-25 June 1865, Cavalry
Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 2 Officers Died of Disease or Accident: 2
Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded: 51 Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident: 114
Regimental History of the Fourteenth Cavalry KANSAS (3-YEARS):
Fourteenth Cavalry. -- Col. Charles W. Blair; Lieut.-Cols., Charles W. Blair, John G. Brown, J. Finn Hill, Majs., Daniel H. David Charles Willetts, John G. Brown, J. Finn Hill, William 0. Gould.
This regiment was recruited during the summer and fall of 1863 under authority received by Gen. Blunt from the war department. It rendezvoused at Fort Scott, and was mustered into the U. S. service Nov. 20, 1863. On the same day it started for Fort Smith, Ark., under the command of Lieut.-Col. Moonlight of the 11th cavalry, and arrived at its destination on Dec. 3. It remained there until Feb. 23, 1864, performing picket, scout and forage duty, and then moved on an expedition into the Choctaw country.
It was stationed at Ozark, Ark., from Feb. 28 to April 6, when it moved on the Camden expedition as part of Bassett's (3rd cavalry) brigade, Thayer's frontier division, which formed a junction with the 7th corps, under Gen. Steele on the 11th at the Little Missouri river. It participated in the skirmishes at Prairie d'Ane and Moscow and was complimented by Gen. Thayer for its coolness and bravery.
A detachment of 92 officers and men from the 14th was engaged at Poison Springs, losing 9 men killed and captured. After the evacuation of Camden, Cos. F and G took part in the engagement at Jenkins' ferry, being the only Federal cavalry present.
In May the regiment returned to Fort Smith, where it was stationed for the balance of the year, performing guard, picket, scout and escort duty and sustaining some losses.
During the campaign against Gen. Price in the fall of 1864, Co. E, Lieut. William B. Clark, served as personal escort to Maj.-Gen. Blunt, and distinguished itself at Cabin Creek, Westport, Mine Creek and Newtonia.
On Jan. 1, 1865 the 14th was ordered to Clarksville, Ark., where, with the rest of the 3rd brigade, it guarded the navigation of the Arkansas River and was almost daily engaged with some of the irregular forces of the enemy with which the region swarmed. One of the important services rendered was to succor the wounded soldiers, passengers and crew of the steamer "Annie Jacobs", which had been attacked and disabled by a force under Col. Brooks 15 miles above Clarksville.
On another occasion a battalion of the 14th led by Maj. Willetts made a scout 125 miles northeast of Clarksville into the Bear Creek country.
Sources:
Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas. (KS Roster), Published in 1896 by Hudson

1880 Census. Lee's Creek, Crawford Co, AR, Hh 189
Joseph Mills, age 40, b. MS, father b. Ind., mother b. Ohio
Mary E., age 30, wife, b. AR, father b. Miss., mother b. Ark
John, son, age 8, b. AR

1900 Census. Jasper Twp, Crawford Co, AR, Hh 142
J. W. Mills, b. Nov 1839, age 60; married 34 years, b. MS, father b. Ohio, mother b. IN, farmer
M. E., wife, b. Mar 1845, age 52, Had 2 children, only 1 is living, b. AR, parents b. TN
Henry Ranson, boarder, b. Jan 1877, age 23, b. AR, Farm labor

Birth	14 Nov 1839	Mississippi
Marriage	Abt 1866	Crawford County, Arkansas - Mary E. Rainwater
Death	2 Jul 1907	Crawford County, Arkansas

Spouse	Mary E. Rainwater (1848 - 1925)
Child	John Henry Mills (1871 - )

Father	Caswell B. Mills (1811 - 1875)
Mother	Sarah J. Gates (1818 - 1888)
Sibling	Mary J. Mills (1838 - )
Sibling	John Buchanan Mills (1843 - 1914)
Sibling	Jacob Taylor Mills (1845 - 1926)
Sibling	Lucinda G. Mills (1850 - )
Sibling	Sophie Mills (1854 - )
Sibling	Icypheny A. Mills (1855 - 1874)
Sibling	James C. Mills (1857 - 1901)
Sibling	Martha Elizabeth Mills (1861 - )