Sumner Amos Mills was born near West Newton, Indiana, Oct. 20, 1895, the son of Edwin Seth and Margaret Jane (Carter) Mills, prominent area Quakers. He graduated from Earlham College in 1920, the same year that he married Lela Weatherly. In 1926, with his father and brothers Howard, Sr., and Newlin, he founded Maplehurst Farms Dairy, which developed into an important Indianapolis business. He died at Mooresville, Indiana, Dec. 24, 1985. A birthright Friend, Sumner Mills was active in Quaker affairs for most of his life. A conscientious objector in World War I, he served two years in France in reconstruction work. From 1922 to 1927 he was a trustee of Earlham College. He served as presiding clerk of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends from 1943 to 1947, and of the Five Years Meeting (now Friends United Meeting) from 1955 to 1960. In 1943, he was one of the founders of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. During World War II, he and his wife served as directors of the Civilian Public Service camp at Coshocton, Ohio.

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