Not all windmills are the same. Some turn or turned grindstone, some pump water, and some make electricity. Windmills have basically the same design since 1933. There are only three types of windmills today. Windmills are really wanted in rugged lands or places without electricity.
Some people still have old windmills.
The first windmills were used for irrigation about the 5th century AD in Persia. By the 12th century BC windmills had spread around Europe. The early European windmills turned grindstones or pumped water. The Dutch windmills were made of wooden frames and canvas was stretched to make a sail. In the late 19th century in Europe thousands of windmills were being used.