The Queen Anne style Mills house occupies a large corner lot on a hillside overlooking Lodi's historic downtown. The Mills family emigrated from England to New York State in 1842 and it was there that Richard W. Mills was born in 1843. In 1844, the family moved to Wisconsin and the Mills children were raised on the family farm and were educated in the public schools of the time. Richard W. Mills became a partner in a prominent Lodi grain dealership with his older brother, Job Mills, who was one of the Lodi area's best known farmers and businessmen. Richard and Margaret Mills' new house was one of the fruits of this successful partnership.

The original two-story portion of this house was begun in 1895 and completed in 1896. In 1898, the dining room and kitchen were both enlarged and a new hot air furnace was installed. Although nothing is known about the persons who designed and built the Mills house, the design uses many of the features typically associated with the Queen Anne style and it could have been produced by any competent area carpenter or architect. The house has an L-shaped plan, asymmetrically designed elevations, a cutaway bay window, and a small but elaborate front porch. It also makes use of a variety of siding materials, including narrow clapboards and half-circle pattern decorative wood shingles. The overall design of the house is similar to ones that can be found in historic neighborhoods throughout Wisconsin. Because of its highly original condition the Mills House is one of the best representative examples of this design in Lodi.

The Mills House is a private residence. Please respect the privacy and rights of the owners.