HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      77

foot of the Old Hill, near the mouth of Splunge creek, but there is dis-
agreement as to the time, whether before or not until after the organiza-
tion of the county. George Donham, of Perry township, who was fre-
quently at this mill and personally acquainted with the proprietor, when
asked this question on the occasion of an old settlers’ meeting at Cory,
said publicly that it was built in 1823. The mill house was of round logs,
with a foundation, or floor, of heavy hewn timber, to afford stability to
the structure. There is also lack of agreement as to the capacity and
products of this mill, whether it ground only corn, or both wheat and
corn. It is generally understood that there was but one pair of buhrs, or
mill-stones; but as it was supplied with a hand-power bolting apparattis,
it may be taken for granted that it ground wheat as well as corn. In the
history of Lewis township, written by G. N. Berry, in 1884, it is said
that Rawley’s mill was erected in 1826 or 1827, and operated until 1839,
when it was abandoned and went into decay. But from another source,
of presumably reliable information, it is said to have been operated up
to the time that work began on the canal and the reservoir, when, as it
stood on the right of way of this improvement, it was condemned, torn
down and removed, about the year 1847. One of the early mills on the
river was built and maintained for some years by Joseph Sanders, at a
point east of Coffee. This mill did not give general satisfaction to its
patrons, for the reason, as claimed, that it took too big a toll. After its
abandonment the mill seat was purchased by the Woodrows, in 1865 or
1866, who proceeded to occupy and improve the site by the erection of a
new mill, which was run until the river cut a new channel and left their
mill without power, a period of perhaps fifteen years. Another of the
pioneer river mills was built at Hooker's Point, near the present bridge
crossing, it is said, by Lucien Hooker, which burned after having been
run but a very few years. And some years back of this, it is claimed, the
original mill at this point was put there by a man named Green.
    The present mill at this point, now owned and operated by Al Gah-
men, was built in 1876, by Mahlon Neal & Sons, or Mahlon Neal & Co.,
and from the year of its building has been known all along as the “Cen-
tennial mill.” Succeeding the Neals, this mill was operated for a time
by Charles Baker, and later by Samuel Porter.
    At as early a date as 1843 or 1844, when work was in progress on
the Feeder Dam, a flouring mill of large capacity and corresponding
equipments was built at Anguilla, by the Wyants, of Terre Haute, which
stood about two hundred yards below the dam, operated by water from
the side-cut. For a time it is said to have done a good business. Pos-
sibly, the name of the large, portly German miller who superintended it,
as well as the quality of the products he turned out, had something to do
in drawing custom and business, who answered to the call of “Layover
Schinstein.” But this mill was of short life and tragic fate. The frequent
freshets encroached upon its foundation, every successive one making the
situation the more hazardous, despite the temporary repairs made for its
protection. Warned by the rising tide of the big flood of 1847, the ma-
chinery, in the main, was removed, when, later on, the building, with its
moorings swept away, toppled over and was borne away upon the crest
of the rushing current.
    Very soon thereafter a sawmill was located here, operated for several
years by Jesse A. Pearce, then by W. F. T. McKee, up to the time of the
Civil war, To this mill was attached also a corn-cracker.