and his wife

Mary Ann Tays Sides Mills (Jun 27 1838 - Jul 19 1914)

Elcania Mills born Jan 29, 1838 in Rockcastle, Kentucky.  Nothing is presently known about his parents or family or their nationality.  Married (#1) Amanda McElhany and had one child, Ora Price (male) Mar. 16, 1862 in California (Elcania joined the Army in 1865).  We do not know what happened to Amanda.  Ora Price lived his adult life (possibly never left California) in San Jose, California, married to Della F. McElhany.  He and Della had 4 children, lived in San Jose, California and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, San Jose, California.

The next records we have are that he was married to (#2) Mary Mahala Fleenor or Fleener and had two children.  Hattie Belle, about 1871 in Missouri and George W. born June 9, 1873, died Sept. 4, 1874.  Mary died July 15, 1874, leaving Elcania with two small children.   Hattie Belle, as an adult, lived in Waynoka, Oklahoma, married William A. Blank. She had very blonde hair until her death (little or no gray) and blue eyes.  She is buried in Colorado.

He married a widow,(#3) Mary Ann (Tays) Sides on Dec. 9, 1874.  She had one son, William F. Sides, born Jan.18, 1859 in Statesville, Iredell county, North Carolina, died Oct 25, 1881 and is buried in Morris Cemetery, Bates County, Missouri.  Elcania then had three daughters with Mary Ann,  Minnie Tays (8/31/1876), Fannie M. (1/13/1878) and Lula Emma (12/31/1879).    Elcania volunteered for the Army of the United States on March 28, 1865 in San Francisco, California for three years.  He served in Company B, 4th Regiment California Infantry.  His physical description at his enlistment is: Hazel eyes, light hair, fair complexion, height 5 ft. 11 inches.  "He incurred loss of teeth about the year 1878 and received a fracture of right fore-arm on or about the 28 day of June 1872 and he received fracture of left clavicle about the 22 day of July 1864 while in the line of duty.  That said disabilities were not due to any vicious habits."  [Written to obtain veterans benefits].

Elcania made the run into Oklahoma Territory in 1889 and claimed 160 acres of land in Sec.3, T12N-R4W, which is now in the southwestern end of Lake Hefner.  He apparently farmed this land until his death in Sept. 5, 1899.  

Mary Ann Tays was born June 27, 1838 in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina. Mary was age 15 when a younger brother, William Rufus died and was age 16 when her mother, Frances R. James died Sept 26,1854 Mary assumed responsibility for her 4 brothers and sisters. The youngest being 2 years old. Mary was age 19 when her father Robert S. Tays died April 30, 1857.

Mary was 20 when she married Christopher Sides on 20 on July 22, 1858.  Mary Ann and Christopher Sides had one son, William F. born Jan 18, 1859 (William died October 25, 1881 in Bates County, Missouri).  

Mary lost her husband and a brother in the Civil War.  John Thomas Tays died May 31, 1862 in the "Battle of Seven Pines". Christopher Sides died Oct. 23, 1862 in Winchester, Virginia.   

Exactly when Mary moved to Missouri is still unknown, but possibly shortly after she learned of the death of Christopher, in 1862. Her uncle William C. Tays and sons appear in Buchanan County, Missouri in the 1870 census. Her brother, Abner Smith Tays appears in the 1870 census in Holt County, Missouri living with a Campbell family, probably related to the wife of William C. Tays,  Dorcus Caroline Campbell.

Mary Ann (Tays) Sides married Elcania Mills on Dec. 28, 1874 in Lafayette County, Missouri. They had three girls, Minnie Tays, Fannie Mae and Lula Emma. They made the run into Oklahoma Territory in 1889 and claimed 160 acres in Sec. 3, T12N, R4W.  Elcania died not quite 10 years later. 

Mary Ann died at age 76 on July 18,1914 at the home of her daughter, Lula Emma Reynolds in Hydro, Caddo County, Oklahoma. Buried: Olive Hill Cemetery, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma - 103rd & Rockwell Kay F. Clay has the Tays/Mills family Bible.

OBITUARY: 07/20/1914 


CHURCH MEMBER FOR SIXTY YEARS
The body of Mrs. Mary A. Mills, who died at Hydro, Okla., Saturday night, was brought to Oklahoma City at 10:30 p.m., Sunday. Funeral services are to be held at the home of Mrs. Mills' daughter, Mrs. F. R. Ford at 226 West Eleventh street at 10 o'clock Monday morning. Rev. H. E. Van Horn will officiate. Burial will be at Olica Hill cemetery 12 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.
Mrs. Mills was twenty-one days past 76 years of age at the time of her death.

Notes for Elcania Mills:

___________________________

ELCANIA MILLS:

Elcania Mills born Jan 29, 1838 in Rockcastle, Kentucky. Nothing is presently known about his parents or family or their nationality or how or when he got to California. He married Amanda McElhany Oct. 25, 1860 and

had one child, Ora Price (male) Mar. 16, 1862 in California (Elcania joined the Army in 1865). We do not know what happened to Amanda. Ora Price lived his adult life in San Jose, California, married to Della F. McElhany.

He and Della had 4 children, lived in San Jose, California and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, San Jose, California.

The next records we have are that he was married to Mary Mahala Fleenor or Fleener about 1870 and had two children. Hattie Belle, about 1871 in Missouri and George W. born June 9, 1873, died Sept. 4, 1874. Mary died

July 15, 1874, leaving Elcania with two small children. Hattie Belle, as an adult, lived in Waynoka, Oklahoma, married William A. Blank. She had very blonde hair until her death (little or no grey) and blue eyes. She is

buried in Colorado.

Elcania then married a widow, Mary Ann (Tays) Sides on Dec. 9, 1874. Elcania then had three daughters with Mary Ann, Minnie Tays (8/31/1876), Fannie M. (1/13/1878) and Lula Emma (12/31/1879).

Elcania made the run into Oklahoma Territory in 1889 and claimed 160 acres of land in the NW 1/4 of Sec.3, T12N-R4W, which is now in the southwestern end of Lake Hefner. He apparently farmed this land until his death in Sept. 5, 1899. He is buried in a small cemetery at N.W.103rd and Rockwell called Olive Hill Cemetery in Oklahoma City, OK

___________________________

1880 Census - Father born VA - Mother born KY

More About Elcania Mills:

Burial: Olive Hill Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK [72]²⁷

Military service: Civil War - Union²⁸

Occupation: 1880, Blacksmith

 

Notes for Mary Ann Tays:

OBITUARY: 07/20/1914; p. 8

___________________________

CHURCH MEMBER FOR SIXTY YEARS

The body of Mrs. Mary A. Mills, who died at Hydro, Okla., Saturday night, was brought to Oklahoma City at 10:30; p.m., Sunday. Funeral services are to be held at the home of Mrs. Mills' daughter, Mrs. F. R. Ford at 226 West Eleventh street at 10 o'clock Monday morning. Rev. H. E. Van Horn will officiate. Burial will be at Olica Hill cemetery 12 miles northwest of Oklahoma City.

Mrs. Mills was twenty-one days past 76 years of age at the time of her death.

___________________________

Mary Ann Tays was born June 27, 1838 in Statesville, Iredell Co, North Carolina. Mary was age 15 when a younger brother, William Rufus died and was age 16 when her mother, Frances R James died Sept 26,1854 Mary assumed responsibility for her 4 brothers and sisters. The youngest being 2 years old. Mary was age 19 when her father Robert S Tays died April 30, 1857.

Mary was 20 when she married Christopher Sides on 20 on July 22, 1858. Mary Ann and Christopher Sides had one son, William F. born Jan 18, 1859 (William died October 25, 1881 in Bates Co, Missouri).

Mary lost her husband and a brother in the Civil War. John Thomas Tays died May 31, 1862 in the "Battle of Seven Pines". Christopher Sides died Oct. 23, 1862 in Winchester, Virginia.

Exactly when Mary moved to Missouri is still unknown, but possibly shortly after she learned of the death of Christopher, in 1862. Her uncle William C Tays and sons appear in Buchanan Co, Missouri in the 1870 census. Her brother, Abner Smith Tays appears in the 1870 census in Holt Co, Missouri living with a Campbell family, probably related to the wife of William C Tays, Dorcus Caroline Campbell.

Mary Ann (Tays) Sides married Elcania Mills on Dec. 28, 1874 in Lafayette Co, Missouri. They had three girls, Minnie Tays, Fannie Mae and Lula Emma. They made the run into Oklahoma Territory in 1889 and claimed 160 acres in Sec. 3, T12N, R4W. Elcania died not quite 10 years later. Mary Ann died at age 76 on July 18,1914 at the home of her daughter, Lula Emma Reynolds in Hydro, Caddo Co, Oklahoma. Buried: Olive Hill Cemetery, Oklahoma Co, Oklahoma - 103rd & Rockwell Kay F. Clay has the Tays/Mills family Bible.

 

1 i. Minnie Tays Mills, born 31 Aug 1876 in Tabo, MO; died 05 Nov 1962 in Oklahoma City, OK; married (1) Franklin Robert Ford 25 Feb 1896 in Miller, Oklahoma Co, OT; married (2) Max A. Kluge Bet. 1946 - 1954 in OK.

ii. Fannie May Mills^30,31,32, born 13 Jan 1878 in MO; died Bet. 1900 - 1968 in OK?.

iii. Lula Emma Mills^{33,34,35,36,37,38}, born 31 Dec 1879 in Bates Co, MO; died 13 Aug 1961 in Weatherford, Custer Co, OK; married Joseph L. Reynolds 26 Mar 1899 in Miller, Oklahoma Co, OT³⁹; born Nov 1879 in KY; died 08 Mar 1950 in OK.

Notes for Lula Emma Mills:

OBITUARY: 08/16/1961

___________________________

HUGO -- REYNOLDS, Mrs. Lula, 81, died Sunday at Weatherford; services 2:30 p.m. Wednesday Hydro Christian Church.

More About Lula Emma Mills:

Burial: 16 Aug 1961

Obituary: 16 Aug 1961, Daily Oklahoman

 

Notes for Joseph L. Reynolds:

Father b. TN Mother (Elizabeth) b. Oct 1848 in KY

 

3 i. Mary Ann Tays, born 27 Jun 1838 in Iredell Co, NC; died 19 Jul 1914 in Oklahoma City, OK; married (1) Christopher Sides 1858 in Iredell Co, NC; married (2) Elcania Mills 09 Dec 1874 in Mayview, Lafayette Co, MO.

ii. Sarah E. Tays⁴⁴, born 1840 in Iredell Co, NC; died Bet. 1850 - 1930.

iii. John T. Tays⁴⁴, born 1843 in Iredell Co, NC; died Bet. 1850 - 1933.

iv. Frances L. Tays⁴⁴, born 1845 in Iredell Co, NC; died Bet. 1850 - 1935.

v. William R. Tays⁴⁴, born 1848 in Iredell Co, NC; died Bet. 1850 - 1938.

 

1. Census 1880 - MO - New Home, Bates Co; p.92; ROLL: T9_673; ED: 150.

2. Census 1900 - OK - Spring Creek, Oklahoma Co; p.1B; ROLL: T623_1340; ED: 158.

3. Census 1910 - OK - 1-Wd Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co; p.223B; ROLL: T624_1265; ED: 200.

4. Census 1920 - OK - Oklahoma City Ward 2, Oklahoma Co; p.4B; ROLL: T625_1474; ED: 133.

5. Census 1930 - OK - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co; p.9A; ROLL: 1919; ED: 67.

6. Letter from J. Ford.

7. Census 1870 - MI - Dwight, Huron Co; p.787; ROLL: M593_674.

8. Census 1880 - MI - Dwight, Huron Co; p.71A; ROLL: T9_582; ED: 110.

9. Census 1900 - OK - Spring Creek, Oklahoma Co; p.1B; ROLL: T623_1340; ED: 158.

10. Census 1910 - OK - 1-Wd Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co; p.223B; ROLL: T624_1265; ED: 200.

11. Census 1920 - OK - Oklahoma City Ward 2, Oklahoma Co; p.4B; ROLL: T625_1474; ED: 133.

12. Letter from J. Ford.

13. Census 1930 - OK - Greeley, Oklahoma Co; p.9A; ROLL: 1917; ED: 21.

14. Census 1860 - CA - Napa, Napa Co; p.64; ROLL: M653_61.

15. Census 1870 - MO - Camp Branch, Cass Co; p.523; ROLL: M593_767.

16. Census 1880 - MO - New Home, Bates Co; p.92; ROLL: T9_673; ED: 150.

17. Letter from J. Ford.

18. Letter from Beverly Ford Fearnow, (Nov 13 2001).

19. Olive Hill Cemetery Grave Marker.

20. Census 1850 - NC - Not Stated, Iredell Co; p.457; ROLL: M432_634.

21. Census 1860 - NC - South of the River, Iredell Co; p.250; ROLL: M653_902.

22. Census 1880 - MO - New Home, Bates Co; p.92; ROLL: T9_673; ED: 150.

23. Census 1900 - OK - Spring Creek, Oklahoma Co; p.2A; ROLL: T623_1340; ED: 158.

24. Census 1910 - OK - 1-Wd Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co; p.223B; ROLL: T624_1265; ED: 200.

25. Letter from Beverly Ford Fearnow, (Nov 13 2001).

26. Olive Hill Cemetery Grave Marker.

27. Olive Hill Cemetery Archives.

28. Letter from J. Ford.

29. Olive Hill Cemetery Archives.

30. Census 1880 - MO - New Home, Bates Co; p.92; ROLL: T9_673; ED: 150.

31. Census 1900 - OK - Spring Creek, Oklahoma Co; p.2A; ROLL: T623_1340; ED: 158.

32. Letter from J. Ford.

33. Census 1880 - MO - New Home, Bates Co; p.92; ROLL: T9_673; ED: 150.

34. Census 1900 - OK - Frisco, Canadian Co; p.7A; ROLL: T623_1335; ED: 19.

35. Census 1910 - OK - Caddo, Caddo Co; p.4B; ROLL: T624_1245; ED: 51.

36. Census 1920 - OK - Caddo, Caddo Co; p.2B; ROLL: T625_1453; ED: 41.

37. Census 1930 - OK - Carnegie, Caddo Co; p.20A; ROLL: 1894; ED: 15.

38. Letter from J. Ford.

39. Oklahoma County Marriage Records Index 1889-1907.

40. Census 1850 - NC - Not Stated, Iredell Co; p.457; ROLL: M432_634.

41. Letter from J. Ford.

42. Census 1850 - NC - Not Stated, Iredell Co; p.457; ROLL: M432_634.

43. Letter from J. Ford.

44. Census 1850 - NC - Not Stated, Iredell Co; p.457; ROLL: M432_634.

Genealogy last updated: Friday, June 12, 2009