HISTORY OF THE MILLS OF THE COUNTY.
MILLS—FLOURING.
A good flouring mill and two elevators at Nevada.
During the summer and fall of 1867 there was an effort made to secure a good grist or flouring mill at Nevada. The writer hereof spent considerable time in working up a bonus of $2,000 subscribed to be given to any safe and responsible party who would guarantee to build a good flouring mill, and to be put in good running order. The time given in the offer expired, I think, at the end of one year from the time the offer was first made. A committee was appointed at the following meeting for carrying out the proposition, as follows:
"MILL MEETING.
"The public who are interested in building a good grist mill in Nevada are requested to meet at the Court House this evening, August 5th, at the ringing of the bell, to consult on the matter. Two gentlemen from Marshalltown, practical millers, will be with us at the meeting. Let the people turn out."
Here follows the action of the meeting:
"Resolved, That W. G. ALLEN, Chairman; T. C. McCall, H. F. Murphy, J. H. Talbott and I. A. Ringheim be appointed by the donors as a committee to contract with any person or persons giving satisfactory guaranty for the building of a good flouring mill at any point in Nevada, Story County, Iowa, where a sufficient quantity of water can be had at all times for the use of said mill. * * * Said committee is hereby authorized to propose to the party building said mill a bonus not to exceed $2,000."
Well, the proposition was not accepted; but, but very soon after the offer expired, J. H. Talbott and E. G. Day added to their elevator a set of burrs, which made very good flour; also for grinding corn. From that our excellent flouring mill of to-day had its origin, now owned and operated by E. W. Lockwood & Son, and who have bad control of it for many years.
AMES—FLOURING.
The flouring mill at Ames was built about 1873-was burnt in 1881, and rebuilt in 1882 by Haverly & Lanning, its present owners, assisted by citizens.
COL. SNYDER'S MILL AT SHELDAHL—STEAM POWER.
This flouring mill is said to have been a good mill and cost probably $4,000. It, however, was destroyed. by fire about the twenty-fifth of December, 1886, and was surely a heavy loss to Col. Snyder. It is understood he is rebuilding it; in this he ought to have the assistance, (and perhaps he has,) of the citizens of Sheldahl and the community.