Montgomery County, Iowa 

First Bridge and Mills

Source: Submitted by David L. Hemington, Smithville, Texas
Taken from The Red Oak Express

First Bridge Built by County, 1857

First bridge built in Montgomery County by county order was across the Nishnabotna at Silkett's mill. It was ordered by the county court and the contract was let Oct. 11, 1857, to Hiram Atkinson for $995. It is ordered of wood construction and was 84 feet long.

Number of Mills in County History

Early day Montgomery County saw a number of mills in operation on the Nishnabotna and Nodaway rivers and on Red Oak and Walnut Creeks. Included were Stover's mill a mile south of Red Oak and Wheeler mill two miles north of Red Oak; Keys mill near Stennett and the Watson mill also in the Stennett area; a mill at Arlington, Smith's mill at Grant; a mill --- Mortons Mill; one at Climax on Walnut creek and one on Red Oak creek at Eighth and Ma---- streets.

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