The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-08-09
MILL and Dam TO CO.
The Whitemore Plant at River to
be Dismantled.

The j. 8. Whitmore mill and dam
al the water works station on Skunk
river will soon pass into history.
The family finds too many other
things engaging their time to look
after the mill property, and if the ma
chinery is sold to man in Minnesota
who holds an option, the building viii
be torn down and the dam abandon
ed. II this is done ii will remove
from Mahaska county an old.time land
mark and one Of the most pictures
que structures in this section Of the
state. II will also necessitate i'm.
proyements by the water company,
as the removal Of the dam would ex.'
pose the company's intake pipes TO
frost in winter time.
The Whitmore mill was the first
structure of the kind in. Mahaska
county and dates back to 1874 It
was built by George Duncan and his
mechanical lieutenant was Samuel
Gossage. II is related that one even.
ling in 1914 when NJ p Crowder,
father of Dr.. W. L. Crowder, was re-
turning from oskaloosa, following an
Indian trail, he noticed a horseman
coming toward him and could readily
see from the careless manner Of the.
rider that it was a white man So
he waited for MIN. The two men
had never met betore, but after some
conversation each learned that the
other belonged to the same common
brotherhood Of homeseekers in the
New Purchase. There was almost no
reserve among strangers in those
days There was kindred fellow.
ship thar made each confde in the
other. Mr.. Crowder told him he was
opening a new nome over on Middle.
creek and asked the stranger Of his
plans, He said he was building
mill on Skunk river norm Of oska.
loosa, but lacked sixty dollars Of hav.
ing enough money to purchase the
necessary machinery to equip the mill
The idea Of having mill so near to
himself and his neighbors appealed
SO strongly to Mr.. Crowder that he
said, without a moments hesitation,
not even knowing the strangers name
that ne had that amount Of money in
| the house with which he had intended
to enter his land as soon as it came
into market, and that If the stranger
would return the money when needed
ne would let him have it to use for
so Iaudable a purpose. The stranger
went home with his newly made
friend and the evening was spent in a
pioneer conference The next morn
ing Mr.. Crowder counted out to his
guest, who proved to be Mr.. George
Duncan, sixty-five dollars. in silver.
sfxty-ive dollars was snug sum Of
money in that day, especially when IT
had been sacredly laid aside for the
purpose OF purchasing home for the
family. No obligations or specified
rate OF interest was thought Of by Mr..
Crowder in making this loan. He
simply thought OF the unmeasured ad
vantage Of nearby grist mill to the
whole community and to his own fam
lily. Mr.. Duncan went to Burlington
and completed the purchase OF the
necessary machinery for his mill.
Samuel Coffin was given the task Of
bringing the first milling outfit to
this county. We are told that 1t re.
auired six yoke OF oxen to bring the
heavy castings from the river. Mr.
conn was Titan Of strength and
endurance IN his early life, a typical
frontiertnan, who was equal TO any
occasion. He visited Tits county IN
is42 and brought his family IN 1914