My Genealogy Hound

DR. ELIZA B. MILLS is the youngest of six children, and was born in Springfield, Illinois. She is a daughter of Preston H. Burch, who was born in Harrisburg, Va., in 1809, and when a small boy moved with his parents to Kentucky, while that region in fact was the dark and bloody ground. In 1820 he emigrated to Illinois and located at Lincoln, where he continued to reside till his death. He was intimately acquainted with the illustrious man for whom his adopted town was named, and was an ardent admirer and warm supporter of “honest old Abe” in the embryonic stage of his political career; and when his fame as a statesman burst upon the dazed vision of the world, as the great war president, Mr. Burch was still a follower of the flag of the Union and Lincoln, determined to share their fortunes whatever they might be. At Port Hudson, La., while filling the responsible postition of brigade quartermaster, he succumbed to the hardships and ravages of war. He died at his post of duty in the service of his country while his honored chief and friend was guiding the ship of state upon a tempestuous sea of a cruel and bloody civil war.

The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Elizabeth Suter. She was born in Charleston, S. C., “the beautiful city by the sea,” and at an early age moved with her parents to Louisville, Ky., where she was educated. She died in 1864, at the age of forty-six.

Mrs. Mills received her education at Eureka college in Woodford county, Ill., and began the study of medicine at the age of eighteen, of which she has been a student ever since.

She was graduated an M. D. at the college of physicians and surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1881, and also took a course of lectures at the Woman’s medical college of Chicago, Ill., during the session of 1882 and 1883.

Since her graduation she has devoted herself exclusively and assiduously to the practice of her profession.

Mrs. Mills has done much to allay the prejudices in localities where she has lived. In fact, if her large practice is any test, she has succeeded in turning the tide in favor of woman as man’s equal and co-laborer in the professions as well as the manual trades.

She was married, July 2, 1874, to Dr. George M. Mills, and in May, 1885, she came with her husband to Kearney, Nebr.

She is a splendid type of western womanhood, imbibing the spirit of her surroundings, and is energetic and progressive; not only as a healer of the body is she so favorably known, but many a ragged and hungry family, unable to keep the wolf of want from the door, bless her for the good she does. The poor and sick of her adopted city are pensioners upon her bounty and skill. As a physician she ranks high; as a generous, kind hearted woman she is without a superior.