Thurman's Saw Mill, one-half a mile south of New Philadelphia, was built July, 1856, by D. and H. McCarthy, and moved away, in 1864, and used as Burger's Mill, described elsewhere. The engine was brought from Fairview, in 1855 or 1856. It was placed on Luther Creek, and did a great deal of sawing while Thurman Bros. run it. It was steam power. D. & H. McCarthy, and Ross and Latham, run it a while before Thurman Bros. took it.
T. McNaughton's saw mill was about eighty rods north of the southeast corner of section 30, township 84, range 24, but did but little business. It was located on Onion Creek, and was run by water power. The impression is that it was taken to Ames by McNaughton and others about the year 1873, and changed into a flouring mill at Ames.
Burger's steam saw mill was on or near the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 32, township 84, range 24. It was built about 1864, but did not remain very long; but it done some sawing. The engine and machinery of this mill is said to be the same the Thurman Bros. had used. And it was the same used by Thos. McNaughton, after Burger had used it, on Onion Creek.
Guy's steam saw mill, near the east quarter section corner of section 26, township 82, range 21, did some sawing.
A water power saw mill at Fairview, (now recognized as Story City), was built by a Mr. Brown, but remained a very short time as the water power was not sufficient to run it. A steam saw mill was built by a Mr. House, in 1856. Remained a few weeks, and left in a hurry.
Scott and Stevens steam mill at Ames, was at the foot of the hill at the southeast side of Ames, and did a great deal of sawing while it remained. Was built about the year 1867 or 1868.
Corey's Mill, on Squaw Creek, was water power, and was on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 83, range 24. It was an early settler and did but little work.
The renowned "Smith's Mill" was situated on Long Dick's Creek, very near the interior center of section 18, township 85, range 23. For a full and amusing description of it see Ballard's account given in his "Early History of Howard and Lafayette Township."
We now notice Mr. Nellis' water power saw mill, on the west side of Skunk River, below the railroad crossing and only about one-third of a mile southeasterly from the Cambridge Depot. This mill now does considerable work in sawing. No others in the County, known to me, are doing a sawing business at this date, 1887, except Nellis' Mill—a regular sawing business is meant.