AREA HISTORY:  Historic Old Mill, West Manchester Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/york/
_______________________________________________ 

History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
_______________________________________________

AN HISTORIC OLD MILL SITE – Page 623

The mill on the road from York to Dover is a very old structure.  To the right of 
the road, on the Little Conewago, and 400 years northeast from the present old 
building, was built, about 1738, one of the very first mills in York County, by 
Martin Weigle, who, only a few years before, had emigrated from Germany.  He had 
tried first to build a mill on the Codorus, near York, but found that stream too 
large for his pioneer adventure.  The Indians, who where his neighbors, came to 
view this encroachment upon their territory with weird astonishment.

The ingenious German gave them a draught of whisky.  They, soon became lively, 
and then went to work to assist in digging the mill race.  For considerable time 
that was the only mill west of York.  The old stone one now standing was built 
before the Revolutionary war.  The owner of it, during that period, was not very 
patriotic toward the new government, and on several occasions was censured for 
uttering words that were questionable.  About the time the Revolution closed, a 
company of soldiers on their march westward and toward their homes, put up with 
him several days, encamped in a meadow near by, and made the well-to-do host 
prepare for them the best food his fine flour and other farm products would make.  
The mill was later owned by Michael Beltzhoover, and in 1802 bought by Dr. J. G. 
Schmucker.  Daniel Gross and his son, Samuel, were subsequent owners, and in 1847 
George Neiman purchased it.  John Neiman, the present owner, purchased it in 
1856.