MILLS FAMILY REUNION COOKBOOK E+lynlls F amlly 1939

80 Pages·2010·22.28 MB·English

by  Bryan Personal

MILLS FAMILY
REUNION
COOKBOOK

.Mills Family 1939
(Doltie, Ollie, Wendell, Everett,
Harold, Chloe, Marion, Florence)

aly 5, 2003

Intredetion

July 5, 2003
Dear Mills Family Members,

‘Ata reunion a couple of years ago, several of us were visiting about how
delicious the food always was and how we always wished after the fact we
hhad asked fora specific recipe or two. You know how it goes ~ I mentioned
|how neat it would be if someone would make a reunion cookbook and
‘promptly found myself volunteered for the postion of someone. I didn't
‘know at that point what fun it would be to talk with family members across
the year, to hear all ofthe wonderfal stories of previous reunions, to see
ineredible photos of days gone by, and to realize that the Mills family has
‘always enjoyed passing along recipes asa part ofits heritage. For example,
Aunt Olle (Mills Petty) had a cookbook that she kept across her lifetime,
recording the iver ofeach recipe and the occasion from which she asked
for it. She passed along that set of memories and tastes to granddaughter
‘Cathy (Overby Kight) and no doubt Cathy will keep the tradition going to
pass along that heritage as wel.

Some of the recipes in this book are family favorites that reflect special
‘memories (Infamous Chocolate Pie, Banana Pudding, Gumdrop Cake,
Buttered Noodles, Vanilla Sauce). One set of recipes in particular (Stuffed
Cabbage) was passed along several times in the family with many revisions
and I've printed all that were given to me. Other recipes are family.
inventions (Bonita Harris's desserts, Mike's Chicken & Rice). All ofthe
smells and tastes bring to mind special people and special times. They are
also a reminder of the incredible blessing of being a part ofthis family.

Each of us plays a role in making this family memorable, enjoyable, and
{aulilling, Itis my hope that what was started so many years ago asa small
{gathering on Sunday afternoons atthe park in Bernie will continue to be an
important part of our future together asa family. Afterall this is the 30"
“anniversary ofthe gathering of the Mills Family at the Dexter Legion Hall.

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Introdtion

‘TABLE OF CONTENTS:

‘The cookbook is designed to expand with time as we have more entries.
‘Therefore, each section is independently numbered and has a colored
divider to identify its start

2 Breads and Beverages Yellow

3 Fruits and Vegetables Blue

4 Soups and Salads Light Groen

5 Main Dishes Orange

6 Desserts Red

7 Smorgasbord Purple
Index Dark Green

RECIPE KEY
‘The abbreviations used within this cookbook are explained below.

pkg = package

z= ounce

pas
Introduction

MEMORIES OF FLORENCE AND MARION MILLS
(As gleaned trough phone conversations with Inge)

My parents lived on the same farm where Ls ives now. They aways lve there,
from when they were first married. They were maid for ity years, They grew up
together in the same community and had known eachother practically al of thie ves.
The farm has ben in the family for over 100 sears. Dad's father had ened

My dad vas very interested in education. He believed in ll of is children getting
‘high schoo edcation. This was at time wben you had to get yourself o schoo He
‘ras progressive in other ways as well He owned one ofthe fst cars inthe county and
(One ofthe frst tractors. He drove his 1917 Studebaker home after buying i Inthe fll
‘ven the rai would begin, Dad would put the ear the ea shed and prop i up of of
the ties. He woud take the battery insite the house to heep it fom freesing. A that
time, horses were scared to death of ar. Horse nthe field would un when we would
pass by inthe car When he meta horse and buggy onthe road, Dad would have dive
{he car off ofthe road and top tlt the other travelers lend her buggy aroind the ear

My mother was always working to take care of us. She dd some sewing, canned a

tot, and raised a big garden. My parents were good, honest, upright people They red 0
teach ut todo what was ight and to work to make oUF OWS Wey

pas
Intodvetion

(nthe farm we raised cor, cotton, wheat, anda litle oats. We also had stock
(orl horses, hogs, cows) and raised what we ate. Everett and Ole were already,
‘married when Iwas young, but weal worked together on the farm. We helped with
‘verything, but each of us had specific chores. Some ofthe things I remember are
Everett and Haro plowed and planted. Wendell fed the stock and got the cows
don't remember Olle’ specie chores tol ran the milk Urough Us separator 1
{gathered wood, helped with cooking, refilled the lamps, and eggs We got up
Sround 4 am andthe gis ot breakfast ead. Weal did our chores and cleaned the
Inoue before gong to schol. Afterschool we would take care four evening chore, As
children, we did't play much, There was lotto do to keep the frm working. We did
‘play games ocasionally ike Ante Over, where we threw arg bal ver the rot ofthe
‘house forthe opposing team to catch. We als played hide and see, tg, hopscotch,
rolled hoops and ol tires, and had sings inthe res.

‘The house had two bedrooms with two beds each one There were also two
‘beds inthe living room, The couch made a bed, too. A room off of the teen ad = 3/4
‘bed in it Sometimes we even had a bed inthe dining room! Sometimes hired hand
‘would stay with us. Das half brother, Bll Rhine, lays lived with us. Weal called him
Bil. He was a builtin babysitter. He walked with a cane. During the war (WWI) when
‘Sharon wat 20 , she wonld get ano catalog and siti Bis lp everynight. He
‘would say, "Dammit, Sharon, Fm not going to put up with tha." But he let her sit in his
lap and look at the eatalog

Fora while we went to church in Powe, We started to Bethany when Iwasa
tcenager. Weall fit inthe ear together. We dda think anything about having to stn
cach other lps It didn take long to get to church on the old rad, Allof my siblings
{aught school at some point Everett was farmer and sold farm implements st a
‘company in Dexter. He taught the upper grades at Powe while Oli taught the lower
gad Setup acoaforyear Hao waa fer, ght scl nd tr
pastor. toil was homemaker, but sbe also taight school. Wendell went nto
the Navy. He was the only one to gta college degree through the government programs
fle his service. He taught highschool and woul frm during the summer.

up fe was simple. We were just ike all the other country folks. We each
Jnada place atthe table Hectic, and therefore lights, did't get pt in unt ater
Homer and I married. We didnt travel much or make alarge production out of holidays
forbirthdas. Occasionally we would go visit Aunt Ida Mati Cardwel, Missourt and
Say overnight. Christmas was ike ti now. We didnt have tres and desorations and
‘Such, Fora birthday, we would give the birthday person a whipping with ick foreach
$year. You had to watch outs that you didn get put under the bed on your birthday: We
fought ke toth and nail agains but there were always enough others to win.

~Chioe Mis Book
Introduction

"had knoven Mr. and Mrs Mills since Iwas 1. They took me in just ike I was
‘their own and loved them ike they were my own. Ms: ils was a working woman. I
a called her Mrs. Mls remember her always taking time to lek eaton for extra
Spending money, We had cousins that came up from Kennet to belp. After a hard day's
Picking Mrs Mls would tea with fe The ice had to be bought ax chunk ce and pot
{nthe te box. Mes. ils would always say, "that te is the best thing there s"The Mis
house had big oak res and a chicken yard. Mrs. Mil taught Dolly and Chloe and Eto
and me howto quit. We would quilt a each others homes.

‘When {marred Harold lame up tothe house to wash together. Asal the

sand uncles were around to help, ad spol, the babies, ol
{ind Chloe helped me alot remember Harold being so proud of his children, Wien
Don was practice teaching, Mary was born and he commented he was 0 proud of her,
just as head been of each ofthe others.

Lois (White) Mis

| never knew Me Mil wel. He died bofore Wendell and I married He was well,
‘known over a wide area ~ Dexter, Berle, Campbell and to some extent, Malden and
Bloomfield. He was ver eivie-minded. He believed in education te ued wih Tt of
‘common sense and an awarenes of what physical labor means and contributes tif
He was alvays avare of advances in farming equipment and methods developed. He
‘wa among the rst to use these. Mr. Mills was known to bean educated mat People
Drought questions to him for answers they could not find eisewhere. For some reason,
‘we were never able to learn exactly were he reelved his formal education ~ grade
‘School through advanced education.

1 became beter aoquanted with Mrs. Mills. She was avery giving and compatible
person nthe short time she lived after Wendell and I were maid, she led forme to
{ke her shopping n Poplar Blu. She said she didn fel pushed to make up her mind
about purchases, She liked to look around in the dime sores.

~ Lara (Cook) Mills
[MEMORIES OF THE MILLS FAMILY REUNION
(by Lara Mls 9/5/02),

though he decent of Maro and Freee Mila Feu eins
‘throughout the Years they established the custom of meeting atthe American Legion
all in Dester Misouri, on Saturday, July 6, 1974. 62 family members (tat inlded

In-laws) plus 4 guests atiended that meeting, At that time there wre 69 family members
(Gliding in-laws). Since tat meeting in 1974, yearly reunions have been held at the
Dexter American Legion Hall on the Saturday closest o July 4 Fay members have
slays mad enough contributions to take care of expenses ~ rental fe, money fr some
food items, eating wens,

For several years, Wendell Mills made and decorated cake forthe reunion. A
‘tremor in his ands prevented his doing so in recent years. Everett Mills was th

my records the least member attending wa 52 982, Acording to my record there
‘were 92 present in 1996.

‘sof September, 2002, Cie (ils) Book the surviving child of Marion and
Florence Mil

Harold Mis died 1976- 5-22
36

Eli Mill) Howe © 1984-
Olle Mil) Pety 99a 1-22
Everett Mill 1999- 4-19
‘Wendell Mis 2002 7-12

Since Evert gave up his duties as president ofthe group, Mike and Charlotte
Dis have taken ove his dies. Other young members ofthe family have helped them.
Mike and Charlotte ar the on-site personnel

"Thaw the firs three guest register books I maintained for the reunion as Mil
family secretary wil as these on to Glenn

_Atthis point there are descendents of Florence and Marion Mil ving in 14
states within the United States: Alabama, artona,Arkanst, Calf, Georgia,
lnois, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, ONahoma, South Carolina, Tennesse, Texas,
and Wyoming,

pas
Introduction

ATHIRTY YEAR SAMPLING OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ON THE
‘MILLS FAMILY REUNION.
(1970 anil also speaks ofthe Mills Family Reunion)

‘The Advertiser p. 1, July 1974

‘Mills Family Reunion. Sixty-two of the siy-nine members of the Mil family met
Saturday, Jul 6, 1974 for thei fst annual reunion at the American Legion Hala
Dexter Misour These people are the descendants or spouses ofthe desendents ofthe
late Marion and Florence Mil, who lived west of Borie, Missouri. Family members,
resent were Olieand Roy Petty, Tey and Sandy Harris, Joye, Diane, Karen and Lisa
Srerby, Harold, Lois and Mary Mil of Bernie, Missourl; Dots and Harris of
Bismark, Missouri; Randy, Shearon, and Angela Haris, Everett and Doli ils of
Dexter, Missour; Francis, Linda, David and Derek Mil of Crystal Lake, lois; Don,
Jogee, Mares, Ter, Randi, and Melanie Mil of MeKinney, Texas; Claudia and
Marsha Mils of Columbia, Missouri; Graydon, Bonnie, Pamela, Ronald and Mitchell
Mills of Potosi, Missur; CaerolD., Ruth An, Donna, ryan and John Mill of Lincoln,
Nebraska; Tom and Martha Mill of Cabool, Misour: Mike, Sueand Michael Mills of
(ulin, Missouri tol and Jack Howe of Detroit, Michigan: Dense and Doviann Misia
‘of Craswell Michigan; Chloe and Homer Book of Festus, Missour: Michae, Sharon,
Inge and Gretchen Rapp of Conway, Arkansas; Leon and Patria Book of Cape
Girardeau, Missouri; Wendell and Lara Mil of Poplar Blu, Missouri; Glenn, Chaltte
‘nd Barey Mills of Mableton, Georgia. Family members unable to attend were Vernon
Farris, im and Kathy Overby, Nell Book, Carola, Richard and Bil Misiak. Guests
present were Gary Sides, Berle, Misour, Terry Lay of lino, Terr Jones of
Eglvile, Missouri and Jim Feldman of Champaign, tino. The 1975 reunion is
planned for Saturday, July § atthe Dexter American Legion Hall

1974 Men's Quartet: Roy Petty, Homer Book, Wendell Mil, Everett Mills
Introduetion

_Malen Prese-Merit July 19,984,

“Mills Family Reunion, Members ofthe Marion and Florence Mills family eld their
‘eleventh family reunion Saturday, July 7, tthe Dexter American Legion bulding, Sixty
three persons were preset for the event Attending were: Lais Mile, Randy, Shearon,
“Angels and Bonita Harts, Terry Quinete, Misty and Tke Haris, Joyce and Jim Overby,
Oe and Roy Petty, Berne; Chloe and Homer Book, Malde: Lavonda, Debble and
‘Angi Cameron, Parma, Everett and Dole Mil, Mik, Chariot, Mile and Matthew
Mills, Dexter; Don, Joye and Melanie Mls, MeKinney, Texas; Tery Langley, Nebraska
(ity, Nebraska; Mike, Inge and Gretchen Rap, Conway, Arkansas; Tom, Martha, Aaron
tnd kelly Mills, West Pains: Graydon, Bonnie, Mitch and Brad Mil, Potosi; Dave,
Mary and Daniel Waller of Salem and Barbara Kien of Switaerand who Iived wit
‘Wallets and attended school there the past year, Brad and Marsha English and daughter
Lindsay, Jefferson ity; Panel, Linda, aand Derek Mil, Lake St Louis; Gary, Diane,
{ura ad Ryan Sides, stu; Carrol and Rath Ann Mil, Eis; Jim, Claudia, Jared
fd Evan Vessel and Lisa Overby, Columbia Karen and Erik Green, House Spins

1983 Books (Chloe & Homer Book: Neil & Gil Book; Leon Book;
‘Sharon, Inge, and Gretchen Rapp)