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From: "Pat C. Cloninger" <>
Subject: RE: [CATAWBA-WEST] 1880 Mill in Jacob's Fork Township, Catawba Co NC
Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 04:33:46 -0400
In-Reply-To: <3B381F63.E8E11C65@swbell.net>


Malinda,
The person who operated the Mills which ground wheat and corn to make bread
was called a miller. The word Miller was never associated with the
operation of textiles. The Miller was well educated in knowing just how to
adjust the mill stones so the corn meal or flour from wheat would be of
exactly the right consistency. Corn Meal that makes good corn bread and
jush-puppies is not ground as fine as flour made from wheat. To me it seams
that the corn ground with the old water powered stones did not grind the
meal as fine as the more sophisticated roller mills.
If an attempt was made to grind the meal too fine, the stones would wear
away and there would be rock dust in the corn meal. It was also a major
operation to reface the stones so they would not be too smothe to grind the
corn and wheat.
The Ambrose Costner Mill which was located on Hoyles Creek and was last
operated by John Plonk, my great Uncle, was powered by an over shot water
wheel. Instead of belts most of the power was transferred by ropes from one
pulley to another. The stones were driven by wooden gears. The Milwrights
were also very intellignet men. They had to have a great imagination as
well as lots of common sense.
I have not been able to learn what happened to this mill which had been
located at Hoyles Creek on the High Shoals Alexis road. The last time I was
at the location there was nothing there that would indicate that there had
ever been a mill at this location. I feel that someone dis mantelled the
entire operation and carted it away. It would be interesting to know where
it is located.
Currently I am working with the Yoder Family in trying to put together the
family information so that it can be up-dated and found that there were some
mills in that area. I had known of the Coulter Mill just east of the
Catawba River near the Fork. There was also a yoder mill I believe on a
branch just off Jacob's Fork of the South Fork River. These mills were very
important in the lives of the early settlers.
The basic early industry was the Millers and the Tanners. All was well if
you had bread to eat and shoes to wear and of course harness made of leather
for the team to pull the wagon and the buggie as well as to be used in
making the saddle to save your seat.
Later industry included the iron to make the plows and wagon parts along
with more cast iron pots and pans.
There is no doubt that your ancestor helped to operate a mill which ground
grain, both wheat and corn.

Hope this helps you to understand his way of life a little better.

Join me in having a great day. It is a great time to be alive and learning
about our place in God's Creation.

Pat C. Cloninger

-----Original Message-----
From: malinda [mailto:]
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2001 1:37 AM
To:
Subject: [CATAWBA-WEST] 1880 Mill in Jacob's Fork Township, Catawba Co
NC


Hello,

Lawson KEEVER is enumerated on the 1880 Catawba Co NC Census in
Jacob's Fork Township as a Miller. Does anyone happen to know what kind
of Mill he might have had ? ...or worked in ?

Thank you,
malinda jones



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