Darius Ogden Mills
Darius Ogden Mills | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date North Salem, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 1910 (aged 84) Millbrae, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, philanthropist |
| Known for | California's richest man of his era; founder of Bank of California; Millbrae estate namesake |
Darius Ogden Mills (September 25, 1825 – January 3, 1910) was a distinguished American banker and philanthropist, recognized as California's richest individual during his era.
Early life
Born in North Salem, New York, Mills was the fifth son of Hannah Ogden (1791–1850) and James Mills (1788–1841), a local official in North Salem. His maternal grandfather, William Ogden (1767–1815), was a member of the prominent Ogden family from New York and New Jersey. Mills received his education at North Salem Academy and Mt. Pleasant Academy.
Career
Following the death of his father in 1841, Mills began his professional journey at age 15 as a clerk in a general store located in New York City. At 21, he relocated to Buffalo, New York upon invitation from his cousin Elihu J. Townsend, where he served as cashier and eventually acquired a one-third ownership stake in the Merchants' Bank of Erie County.
In December 1848, Mills ventured to California via the Isthmus of Panama to join the California Gold Rush, following the path set by his brothers James and Edgar. By November 1849, he had accumulated $40,000 (~$ in ), prompting him to establish permanent residence in California. In 1850, he divested his banking interests in Buffalo and established the "Gold Bank of D. O. Mills & Co." in Sacramento. His cousin Charles Mills, 1st Baron Hillingdon, who managed the London-based Glyn, Mills & Co. bank, played a crucial role in supporting this venture. Rather than engaging directly in mining operations, Mills concentrated on businesses that supported the mining sector such as banking and railroads. He held part ownership in the Virginia and Truckee Railroad, which served as the vital connection between the Comstock Lode and the Central Pacific Railroad. The railroad's primary shareholder was William Sharon, representing the Bank of California.
In August 1884, Mills partnered with mining magnate Alvinza Hayward and others to acquire 720 acres surrounding a mineral spring in Saratoga, California, reminiscent of Saratoga Springs, New York, for $2,000. They inaugurated the 14-room Congress Hall in 1866 and sold it in 1872 for approximately $25,000. In 1864, Mills co-established the Bank of California, which expanded rapidly but later collapsed due to financial misconduct involving chief cashier William Chapman Ralston. Utilizing his personal wealth alongside Sharon’s resources, Mills helped restore the bank’s stability and drew fresh investments; within three years it recovered its footing.
Later life
After stepping down from his second term as president of the Bank of California in 1878, Mills returned to New York two years later. There he developed several properties in Manhattan, including 160 Bleecker Street ("Mills House No. 1"), and invested in the Niagara Falls Power Company, one of America's pioneering major power enterprises. His philanthropic efforts included board memberships at various charitable and cultural organizations; he also served as a trustee of the Carnegie Institution from 1902 until 1909.
Millbrae estate
Mills acquired part of Rancho Buri Buri from José de la Cruz Sánchez and constructed an estate named Millbrae, which subsequently lent its name to the surrounding town. The estate’s construction spanned three years and culminated in an impressive three-story mansion featuring 42 rooms, alongside a conservatory, carriage house, gatekeeper’s lodge, three man-made lakes, a dairy farm, and extensive gardens covering up to 37,000 acres at its largest extent.
A significant fire destroyed the estate in June 1954. Following this event, the property was subdivided and sold; most parcels were purchased by the Paul W. Trousdale Construction Company in 1953 and developed into Mills High School, Spring Valley Elementary School, and Peninsula Hospital. Additionally, about 150 acres adjacent to San Francisco Bay were leased by his grandson Ogden L. Mills for Mills Field, now known as San Francisco International Airport.
Personal life
On September 5, 1854, he wed Jane Templeton Cunningham (1832–1888), the daughter of James C. Cunningham, a Scottish-born pioneer and shipowner. Together, they had two children:
- Ogden Mills (1856–1929), who became the husband of Ruth T. Livingston, granddaughter of Maturin Livingston
- Elisabeth Mills (1857–1931), who married Whitelaw Reid (1837–1912), the United States Ambassador to Great Britain
Death and legacy
He passed away in 1910 from a heart attack at his residence in Millbrae, leaving behind an estate valued at $36,227,391 (~$ in ). His will apportioned the estate evenly between his two offspring, along with several donations to public organizations. He was laid to rest at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.
Numerous establishments carry his name, such as Isabella I of Castile Mills Hospital, the Mills Estate residential subdivision, San Francisco’s Mills Building, and Mills High School. The city of Millbrae, California, derives its name from his estate, and the San Francisco airport was once known as Mills Field.
Within the rotunda of the California State Capitol, there is a statue gifted by Mills that portrays Queen Isabella funding Christopher Columbus’s inaugural expedition.