The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1905-04-20
cAAprsR rlrrEEN.
Mahaska County Mills - Some His
tory Relating 10 lnelr
establishment.

One OF tho most difficult questions
which the pioneers had to solve was
the question which can only be solv.
ed by good grist mill Tho
ground was productive and brought
forth abuhdantiy but grain In the
crude state was annoying 10 use.
Hominy and boiled wheat would not
remain fresh long, especially in
warm weather All OF the old set
tiers with whom we have talked
speak OF the long milling trips with
remorse. Hence 1t was great RELIEF
when good mills were established
within the limits OF the county. The
mill that supplies the family with
bread becomes dear old land mark
and every home is made 10 feel a
sense Of gratitude TO TIE miller, ana
the entire establishment which made
home feasts possible There are
many Things OF interest connected
with the establishing OF especially
the earlier mills OF this county which
II they could be written, would make
an interesting chapter. We give some
of them.
The first mill built and put IN
running order IN Mahaska county
was the work OF Mr.. George Dun.
can. There ~ no record OF the for.
mer life Of Mr.. Duncan, who was CIV.
identity an enterprising man, with
the fullest confidence in his business
ability. Samuel Gossage did the me
chanical work on this mill. He was
cabinet maker by trade and oper'
ated the first shop for that kind OF
work in Oskalooga. He came TO tho
county in 1874 Was representative
from Monroe county in the state leg
islature in 1856 and mayor OF ottum.
wa during the war period. For some
years befor his death nc was pro.
prletor Of the old Blackstone House
in west oskaloosa.
One evening in 1874 when NJ. 7.
Crowder, father o. Or. NIL. Crow
der, was returning from oskalooga,
following an Indian trail, he noticed
a borSeman coming yoward hem and
could readily see from the careless
manner of the rider that IL was a
white man. SO he waited for him
| The two men had never met before,
but after some conversation each
learned that the otner belonged TO
the same common brotherhood Of
hOmeseekers In the New Purchase.
There was almost no reserve among
strangers in those days. There was
a kindred fellowship that made cacn
confide in the other. Mr.. Crowder
told him he was opening new home
over on Mlddlecreek and asked the
stranger Of his plans. He said he
was building mill on Skunk river
north Of Oskaloosa but lacked sixty
dollars Of having enough money d
purchase the necessary machinery
10 equip the mill The idea OF hay
ing a mill 80 near 10 himself and his
nelghbors appealed 80 strongly u
Mr.. Crowder that he said, without q
moments hesitation, not even know
ing the strangers name, that he had
that amount Of money in the boust
with which he had intended TO en-
ter hIs land AZ soon an ~ came int
market, and that II the stranger
would return the money when need
ed he would let him have 70 10 nsf
for so Iaudable purpoSe. The
stranger went home with HIS nevis
made friend and the evening wal
spent in pioneer conference. Tho
next morning Mr.. Crowder counted
ont TO his guest, who proved 10 b.
Mr.. George Duncan, glxty.fye dol
lars in silver. Sixty,fye dollars wal
a snug gum Of money in that day, es
peclally when It had been sacredlJ
laid aside for the purpose OF pur
chasing home for the family. M
obligations or specified rate Of in
terest was thought Of by Mr.. Grow
der in making this loan. He simply
thought OF the unmeasured adyan
tage Of nearby grist mill 10 thu
whole community and 10 his own fam
fly. Mr.. Duncan went TO Burlington
and completed the purchase OF tn
necessary machinery I or his mill
| Samuel Conn was given the tasI
Of bringing the first milling OUTFIT q
this county. We are told that it re
quired SIX yoke Of oxen 10 bring TN
heavy castings from the river. Mr.
CONN was Titan OF strength ant
endurance in mis- early life, typics
frontierman, who was equal TO an.
occasion. He visited This county Il
1912 and brought his family in 1874
Mrs. Sarah Cruzen, hIs daughter, re
lates that on his first VISIT her fatte
and his two companions, Daniel Va
taw and Vim. Rouse, came SUDDEN
upon FIVE hundred Indians in camI
They at first thought they woul
have trouble, but were treated kint
ly and allowed TO 70 on in their me
anderings. Mr.. Coffin was the fathe
Of sixteen children, represented thi
county in the state legislature ON
term, and was always a leading gpiI
It in public enterprises.
When Mr.. Crowder learned tina