Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/512

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��of their duties according to the laws of the- State, and from the well-known business char- acter and integrity of these officers, the success of the institution is assured.

��To get giinding done was one of the most difficult problems for the early settlers to solve. It required capital and skilled workmen to build a mill, and as both were scarce, mills were cor- respondingl}- scarce. All sorts of expedients were resorted to, corn being frequently grated and ground by hand between two stones. A mill was considered a public blessing, and was resorted to by the early settlers from great dis- tances. The earliest settlers in Madison Town- shij) were compelled to go first to Mount Ver- non for this purpose, carrying their grists upon their horses or mules, if so fortunate as to own one of these animals, otherwise being compelled to pack the grist themselves on foot.

The first mill in the township was built by Jacob Newman, on Eocky Fork, about three miles southeast of Mansfield, where Goudy's mill is now located, and where the first settle- ment of the county occurred. It was a saw- mill, but he shortly afterward erected the first grist-mill in the township. For some time, however, this mill ground only corn, and the settlers were compelled to go to Mount Vernon, and afterward to Fredericktown, for flour.

Among the first settlers in Mansfield, was Clement Pollock, a wheelwright, who erected the first mill in Mansfield. It was located near where the new jail is to be erected, and was a tramp-wheel mill, propelled by three yoke of oxen. He sawed lumber and ground corn. This Pollock, or his brother Robert, also erected a carding-mill, in those days, on Fourth street, on the lot now occupied by T. J. Robinson. It was propelled by horse power, and simply pre- pared the wool for the spinning wheel.

The first saw-mill propelled by water power was erected by an Irishman b}' the name of

��John Wright, near the planing-mill of McVay & Allison, on the opposite side of the stream from that establishment. This was about 1820. Afterward, Henr}' Le^^man built a gi'ist-mill near it. This was the first grist-mill in Mans- field, propelled b}' water. Later, John R. Rob- ison owned this mill, improved it, and for many years it did the custom-work for Mansfield and vicinity. Sometime about 1S6G or 1867, it came into the possession of John Damp, who added steam to the power, putting in a thirty- five horse-power engine, and called it the Rich- land City Mill. It was, while in his possession, destroyed by fire, about 1868.

Not long after Wright erected his mill, Mr. Robert Bentlj', Sr., built a saw-mill and after- ward a grist-mill, on his farm, about two miles south of Mansfield, obtaining water from a fine spring on his farm. This Bently mill was in use a great man}^ 3'ears, but has gone into de- cay. After that came what has been known as the Tom Clark mill, a little west of town, on Toby's Run. The present City Mill, of Gil- bert, Waugh & Co., was built in 1847, for a warehouse.. This was about the time the San- dusky & Mansfield Railroad was completed, and the track was laid up to this warehouse. The old Sturges & Tracj' warehouse, and the old building where Niman's furniture shop is, once a warehouse, were built about the same time. What is now the City Mill was purchased by Burger & Brubaker, who put in mill ma- chinery, and converted it into a flouring-mill. Dr. Joseph Hildreth once had an interest in it. In 1865, it was purchased b}^ Gilbert Brothers, who conducted the business for three or four years, and sold an interest in it to Mr. J. M. Waugh, and the firm became Gilbert, Waugh & Co. They have greatly improved it, and do a large business, having kept the mill in opei-a- tion, night and da}-, for the last three years.

The fine brick four-stor^' mill of Hicks Brown & Co., located near the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad depot, was built in 1876, and is

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