Tombstones of the Four Mills Children

Isaac Mills was born in Sandusky in 1830. His grandfather, Isaac L. Mills, was one of the co-founders of Sandusky. His father, Isaac A. Mills, died of cholera in 1852. According to records at Family Search, Isaac Mills married Annette Tilden in November of 1855. Annette Tilden was the daughter of one of Sandusky's earliest physicians, Dr. Daniel Tilden. Between 1856 and 1863, Isaac and Annette Tilden Mills had four children, all who died young.























Daniel Tilden Mills, who was named after his maternal grandfather, was born in 1856, and died in 1859. Isaac Augustus Mills, named after his paternal grandfather, was born and died in 1859. A tombstone honoring these two young sons of Isaac and Annette Mills is located at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

A scripture verse from Isaiah 40:11 is inscribed on a circular shaped adornment on the tombstone for Daniel and Isaac. Their names were inscribed on the vertical portion of the tombstone, though weathering has made their names illegible. The verse reads: He shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom.














Two more children were born to Isaac and Annette Tilden Mills. Allan Phelps Mills was born in 1861, and he died in November of 1869. Annette Tilden Mills was born in 1863, and she passed away in October of 1869. It must have been so difficult for Mr. and Mrs. Mills to face the loss of two children in such a short time span. The monument at Oakland Cemetery which honors the memory of Allan and Annette Mills is in the shape of a cross.



A Bible passage from Second Samuel, verse 23, I shall go to them, but they shall not return to me, is inscribed on the tombstone which honors the memory of Allan and Annette Tilden Mills, children of Isaac and Annette Tilden Mills.



Having scripture references on the tombstones of their children, indicates that Mr. and Mrs. Mills may have had a deep faith which helped them sustain such losses. The Mills children came from two pioneer families of Sandusky, and they would have had a bright future, had their lives not been cut so short.

An obituary for Annette Tilden Mills, who was called Annie, appeared in the November 2, 1869 issue of the Sandusky Register. (Click on the article for an enlarged view.)










To read more about the early families of Sandusky, as well as the homes in which they lived, see AT HOME IN EARLY SANDUSKY, by Helen Hansen. This title is available for borrowing, or for purchasing, at the Sandusky Library.