W. W. (William Wallace) Mills

Born in Indiana in 1836, W. W. Mills moved to what became El Paso in 1858 and spent much of his life in the borderlands of Texas and New Mexico. Historical references describe him as an El Paso pioneer whose work ranged across business, public service, and writing.

During the Civil War era, he was known as a Union supporter in a region where that stance was uncommon. Later records describe him as a soldier, customs collector, consul, and political figure, showing how closely his life was tied to the turbulent growth of the Southwest.

Mills is best remembered as the author of Forty Years at El Paso, 1858-1898, published in 1901. The book remains valuable because it blends memoir and history, offering a direct, personal view of El Paso's early development, its politics, and the people who shaped the city.