There have been but few permanently located mills in this township, and they, to some extent, have been written of in speaking of the pioneers. Of course, there have been more or less of portable mills located temporarily in various parts of the country, which, after remaining a short time, having performed their mission, were moved elsewhere. The first mill we gain any knowledge of having been erected in this township was a grist-mill, built by John Alkire, in 1810-12, on Deer Creek, on the spot where the present mill now stands. When we consider the limited number of settlers in this neighborhood at the above-mentioned date, and also, that in that day the early settlers as a general thing were accustomed to go many miles distant with a sack of corn on horseback to get it ground into meal, and seemed to be quite contented with that arrangement, we may imagine somewhat how little inducement was given to any person to think of erecting a mill right here at their doors; also, when we take into consideration the limited means which most of the settlers were possessed of, and the difficulty to obtain the materials with which to construct a grist-mill, then we may, to some extent, appreciate the enterprising spirit and courage which Mr. Alkire possessed to undertake that work at so early a day. But he accomplished his undertaking; he erected a plain log mill, with raccoon buhrs and bolting attachment run by hand, the mill being operated by water-power. After running the mill a few years, which, though of the primitive kind, yet it was a great convenience ot the community, it passed into the ownership of John J. Smith, son-in-law of Mr. Alkire, who subsequently rebuilt and improved the mill, also attached to it a saw-mill. He was succeeded, probably about 1836-38, by Otho Williams and William Leach; they [sic] by William D. Wood, and he by Elijah Atkins, who ran it till his death, since which it has remained the property of his heirs. Farther up Deer Creek, just above where the cemetery is now located, at a ltaer period, Mr. William D. Wood erected a grist, saw and carding mill. At just what date this was built we did not learn, or just how long they were run does not appear, but they have long passed out of existence, and are only remembered by the older settlers.
About 1820, William Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, located in the north part of the township, on Deer Creek, and erected a grist and saw mill, about where the present Wood Mill now stands. He ran the mill several years, when he sold out to John Kious. After running it a few years, he tore down th eold mill and rebuilt and improved it, making it much larger, with a greater capacity. Subsequently, he was succeeded by Michael Sullivan, who, after a few years, was succeeded by William Wood, and he by his son, Courtney Wood, who now remains its present owner and proprietor. This mill has proved a great convenience, as prior to its erection the neighborhood was compelled ot go several miles to procure their grinding, most of them going to the Darby, near Georgesville.
About 1830, George Puckett built a tannery at or near Mt. Sterling, and carrie don quite an extensive business for those days, for nearly twenty years. At that time tanning leather was an important and reasonably profitable business. There were then no railroads or shipping facilities by which they could get either leather or shoes from the East, or, if they could obtain them by the slow process of their being hauled through by wagons, over the then almost impassable mud roads, it would make them cost enormously, so that the people of pioneer days would be unable to buy them. In those days, the present quick process of tanning leather in a few days by means of chemicals was not known, but it took weeks and months even to tan and dress leather ready for use. Neither had they machinery for making shoes, by which a man could make several pairs per day, as they have at the present time; but everything worked on the slow hand process. Hence, a tannery in this country at that time was a great convenience, and not merely that, but it was quite profitable to the man who carried on the tannery and profitable to the consumers of the leather, for, after the tanner had established his prices upon his leather, so as to give him a good profit, it came to the people for use, much less than ehey would purchase it from the far East. Therefore, for many years, Mr. Puckett was enabled to do a good and profitable business. But in the course of time, it becmae unprofitable from the above-mentioned changes, and Mr. Puckett closed out his business.
The first mill in the township was undoubtedly that of John Alkire, which we have described above. Farther up Deer creek, just above where the cemetery is now located, at a later period William D. Wood erected a grist-, saw- and carding-mill. At just what date this was built is not known, not just how long it was run. But it has long since passed out of existence and out of the memories of all but the very oldest residents of the county.
William Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, located in about 1820 in the northern part of the township and erected a grist- and saw-mill where the Wood mill stood. Wilson ran the mill for several years, when he sold out to John Kious. After running the mill several years, he tore it down and rebuilt and improved it with a much larger capacity. He was succeeded by Michael Sullivan, who was afterward succeeded by William Wood, and he by his son, Courtney Wood.
A tannery was built in or near Mt. Sterling in about 1830 by George Puckett and carried on quite an extensive business for nearly twenty years. At that time leather taiming was an important and reasonably profitable business. There were then no railroads or other shipping facilities by which they could get either leather or shoes from the East, or, if they could get them by the slow process of being hauled through by wagon, it made their cost prohibitive to the pioneers. In those days, the quick process of tanning leather by chemical means was unknown and the operation required weeks and months. Neither had they machinery for making shoes, by which men could make several pairs a day, but everything must be done by slow hand processes. Therefore, a tannery in this country at that time was a great convenience to the people of the community and a source of great profit to its owner.