Orville "Red" Mills (1910-), has spent the greater part of his life in public
  service.
     Born at Lake City, a son of Orville (Tonk) Mills (1855-1932) and Lora Agnes 
  McColl (1872-1957), he attended grade school at Manhattan where the family lived
  from 1916 to 1924 for the specific purpose of educating the children.
     In 1924 the family returned to the ranch and Red attended Lake City High his
  sophomore year. He then came to Medicine Lodge to live with great-uncle Landon
  Mills during his junior and senior years and graduated from Medicine Lodge High
  in 1927. Here he met the girl who in 1930 would become his wife: Ruth DeWitt
  (1911-), youngest child of another pioneer Barber County family, Matthew Pleasant
  (1857-1926) and Alice Atwood DeWitt (1868-1947).
     Red was accepted at Harvard but became homesick and returned to Kansas, graduating
  from K.U. in 1932. He completed his preparation for the Bar by studing lay with
  Samuel Griffin, a local attorney, and being coached by a good friend, attorney
  Orin Wheat. He was admitted to the Bar in 1934.
     Son Tonk (1931-) a Wichita dentis, and daughter Nancy Alice (1942-) a Denver
  housewife, complete the family.
     Red was appointed Postmaster (1940) and transferred to Rural Route 2 (1952) in
  Medicine Lodge where he served until his retirement in 1972.
     He volunteered in the Air Force (1942) and spent two years with the 15th Air Force
  in Italy. Red was most pleased to see two soldiers from hime, his brother-in-law
  "Dutch" DeWitt and Jim Bertoglio.
     He was discharged in 1945 and returned to his job as Postmaster. Ruth was happy
  to be at home again.
     Red served two "hitches" in the Kansas House of Representatives, one 1935-1939
  and another 1977-1979, where he devoloped a philosophy of opposing oppression by the
  state and vigorously defending the rights and privileges of the private individual.
     He served for 18 years as a member of the Local Draft Board.
     Ruth graduated from Medicine Lodge High (1928) and attended KSU for two years.
  She served the Democratic Party in various capacities continuously since the mid-
  thirties. She is a charter member of Self-Culture Club and active in book and bridge
  clubs.
     Red and Ruth enjoyed several freighter trips, most in the company of Red's sister,
  Ethyl, and husband, Wilmer Ward, of Protection. Included were a six weeks cruise of
  South America and another of like duration to the Orient.
     Other family highlights include son Tonk's graduation from Dental School, attendance
  at a Wichita Banquet naming him Outstanding Young Man of the Year (1965) and attendance
  at 1975 Wichita Chamber of Commerce meeting installing Tonk as President.
     Nancy graduated SMU 1966 (organ major) and was a successful vocal music teacher
  for several years.
     Beloved grandchildren are Davbid, Susan, Sarah, and John Mills; Amber and Joe Bob
  Carpio.
  
        
               
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 330 
     Submitted by: O. Mills