The Daily Bulletin

Thomas Reigstad, professor emeritus of English, presented “The Story of John Harrison Mills, Mark Twain’s Unsung Illustrator and Lancaster Native” at the Lancaster Historical Society on April 7. His illustrated talk highlighted the career of writer, poet, and artist John Harrison Mills, including his friendship with American humorist Mark Twain. The two men worked together at the Buffalo Express from 1869 to 1871, while Twain was the paper’s co-owner and managing editor, and Mills was a staff writer and illustrator. Formally trained as an engraver and painter, Mills illustrated a series of Twain’s stories for the newspaper. He also painted Twain’s portrait in Buffalo.