Pearl M Plant Mills

Identified by Ward Mills. Mrs. Pearl Plant Mills, of Chicago, a well known former Crockery young lady was among the victims of the Iroquois theatre catastrophe in Chicago.  The deceased was well known in Coopersville and throughout all Ottawa county. She was born in Nunica 32 years ago, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Plant.

Married to Ward Mills on 25 Aug 1898.

Pearl had graduated from the Muskegon, Michigan high school and was still taking classes at the University of Chicago. She was teaching school at the James Wadsworth school at Lexington Avenue near 64th Street in Chicago's 6th district.

Tribune:
FUNERAL OF MRS. WARD MILLS
Mrs. Ward Mills, Ottawa County's single victim of the Iroquois Theatre holocaust in Chicago, was laid to rest yesterday for all time, in the quiet little cemetery at Nunica. Hundreds of country people, her relatives and friends from far and near, were present at the last sad rites.
The funeral was a particularly sad one, and was held from the old family home of Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Plant on the River Road. Her husband, bereft of a wife and a sister in the same catastrophe, was nearly heart broken, as were the parents, brothers and sisters, all of whom were at the funeral, except Miss Myrtle Plant of Portales, New Mexico, who was unable to get here.

Rev. Archibald Hadden of Muskegon conducted the funeral services which were impressive. A trio from the first Congregational church of Muskegon rendered several vocal selections. The remains were laid to rest in the family lot. E. Pruin & Son of Spring Lake had charge of the funeral arrangements. The casket was not opened at the funeral.

Mr. and Mrs. Mills, Miss Mills, a sister and another young lady, a teacher in the public schools (James Wadsworth School) of Chicago, formed a happy theatre party at the Iroquois that terrible Wednesday afternoon. It was holiday week and the spirit of happiness and good cheer were apparent in the large audience which turned out to see the famous extravaganza "Mr. Blue Beard". The little party mentioned, occupied seats well in front in the first balcony.

When the flames started on the stage the blaze and smoke were carried almost immediately toward them by the terrible, fatal draft, which in less than fifteen minutes made corpses of 600 people. In the panic which ensued Mr. Mills became separated from his wife and the balance of the party and he never saw them again in life, for all were killed in the death rush.

Reaching the exit, Mr. Mills scanned eagerly every face which came from the burning building. His wife and sister were not among them.
Then with hundreds of others, Mr. Mills formed in line at the different morgues until finally he discovered the body of his wife. His sister's remains and that of the friend who accompanied them were also found in one of the death houses. The remains of Mrs. Mills were prepared for burial and brought here Saturday. Mr. Mills, who is principal of the schools at Roseland, returned to Chicago this morning.