Philo Laos Mills (1832,

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

- August 21, 1905) was the cofounder of the dry good house, Mills & Gibb. He had been partners with John Gibb for over 40 years. As a young man, he entered the employ of E. S. Jafiray & Company, and after several promotions, became buyer for the lace department. In 1865, with Gibb, he formed the firm of Mills & Gibb, incorporating in 1903. Mills then moved to England, became a British subject and took charge of all the foreign business of the concern. He resided in

Ruddington Ruddington () is a large village in the Borough of Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, England. The village is south of Nottingham and northwest of Loughborough. It had a population of 6,441 at the United Kingdom census, 2001, 2001 Census, increas ...

and served as

High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire This is a list of the High Sheriffs of the English county of Nottinghamshire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centu ...

in 1897. His home at

Ruddington Hall Ruddington Hall is a English country house, country house standing in the grounds of a garden in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, England. Ruddington Hall has been included in the art work of Nikolaus Pevsner alongside the Elizabethan Wollaton Hall ...

included a noted stock farm. A generous local benefactor, he bred prize-winning pedigree cattle, pigs and shire horses. An article appeared in Country Life, 1903 in praise of 'Livestock at Ruddington Hall'. Game birds, large white Yorkshire pigs and rams were all kept at Home Farm in Landmere. Their fame led to buyers from Britain, Russia, Poland, Austria, Canada, Australia. He was President of the Nottingham Young Men's Christian Association. Although 73 years of age at the time of his death, he had been in excellent health. Mills, who was childless, was survived by his wife (d. 1906), who had greatly helped in his philanthropic work.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mills, Philo L. 1832 births 1905 deaths Businesspeople from New York City American expatriates in England High sheriffs of Nottinghamshire Mills & Gibb 19th-century American businesspeople