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Taken from a history of Summerset, written by Mrs. Mary Tufts (date unknown)
John Parmalee built the first mill in Summerset; first a saw mill in 1848, and in 1849 he added the grist mill. the mill at Summerset was run by water power. The first millers were Beach and Parmalee and others in order were: Spray, Rogers, Patton, Edwards, Wright and Davis, Sprague, Black, Smiths, Welch, Howard, Brown, Marshall, Utterson, and Freeborn. The first mill was replace in 1865 on the same site at the Parmalee mill by Mickel Gilman. Wright and Davis ran the mill, making a good quality of flour. In early days men came quite a distance from other counties and as far away as Missouri to the mill to get their blacksmithing done. They would have to wait three or four days sometimes for their turn at the mill. They would bring their blacksmith work to John R. Welch Sr. east of Summerset.
Beach's Mill
Iowa Land of Many Mills, by Jacob A. Swisher, Iowa Historical Society, 1940, p.80
In 1855 two pioneers of Marion County made a trip to Beach's Mill on Middle River near Summerset in Warren County. At that time there was, on the route to this mill, "neither a tree, trail nor mound to guide the traveler" on his way. Only a few stakes had been driven in the prairie sod at wide intervals. The pioneers with a wagon and two yoke of cattle had arrived at the mill and remained there two days waiting for their grinding. Being in some haste to return, they set out in time to reach Hammondsburg before nightfall. Arriving there they decided to remain only long enough to get a lunch and feed their teams, hoping to reach home before midnight. After dark, however they were unable to discern their way, and so thought it advisable "to trust to the instinctive sagacity of their cattle to pilot them through." But alas, the oxen, too, were lost, if indeed they gave heeed to direction. At all events, after plodding along for a time, the pioneers made new calculations and found they were going in the wrong direction. To add to their vexation their wagon "ran into a slough," and caused some delay. Again on solid footing, the pioneers sighted certain stars and following that guidance, arrived at home before morning.
Indianola Herald, Indianola, Iowa, Thur., June 5, 1879, p.3, col.3
From Summerset -… By this time we have arrived at the mills and are made acquainted with one of the best natured millers we ever met with. We learn that Mr. Davis has been almost raised in a mill and thoroughly understands his calling. The mill is running to its full capacity and is turning out a No.1 grade of flour. Mr. Davis took us up several flight of stairs to the wheat cleaners, showing us how they thoroughly cleaned and graded their wheat so as to be able to turn out nothing but first-class work, so that they are able to guarantee every sack of flour a No.1, and are willing to refund the money for all flour not just as recommended. Mr. Davis stated that having bought a half interest in the mill, he as well as Mr. [Sinclair] Wright, are determined that their mill shall be second to none in the State, and to this end they have raised their dam eighteen inches, repaired their wheels, thus getting plenty of power with very steady motion, the one essential point in the manufacture of first-class flour. |
