1882 History - Chapter 4
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In the year 1817, the first mill ever in Bond County was built by Paul BECK, on quite a primitive plan. It stood in the southwestern part of Greenville, near the cemetery, and is more particularly noticed in the history of Greenville. The fine spring near this mill was called “Beck’s Spring.” In a few years, other mills were built, some of which ground wheat, being supplied with a bolt turned by hand. The first water-mill in the county was put up on Shoal Creek, at Old Ripley, by Samuel LEE, about 1819 or 1820. E. R. WHEELOCK and Wyatt STUBBLEFIELD erected mills on the East
[Page 38] Fork of Shoal Creek shortly after. Both of these mills,
together with their owners, have long since passed away.
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Other manufactories were few in number and on a par with mills in quality and importance. The first settlers being mostly from the Southern States turned their attention early to cotton-growing, and hence establishments must necessarily be erected for its manufacture. So, in the year 1820, Thomas LONG put up a cotton-gin not far from Stubblefield. A year or two afterward Samuel WHITE and Moses HINTON put in operation a spinning-machine in Greenville. Neither of these establishments had a very extensive run, however, for their owners had built them with the expectation of obtaining supplies form the products of the surrounding country. But it was found impossible to supply them with material, as it was soon demonstrated that cotton would not grow to do any good upon the soil of Illinois. A tannery was started by Samuel WHITE in 1820, at the spring west of Greenville, the first in the county. In 1822, James B. RUTHERFORD commenced the manufacture of hats in Greenville, which he carried on for several years. Other establishments of the kind were started up from time to time. Somewhere about 1823-24, Milton MILLS started a wool-carding machine in the county near Wisetown. Many other small manufacturing establishments were started, most of which, however, had but a brief existence. …
Transcribed by Norma Hass from the History of Bond and
Montgomery Counties
