Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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The undersigned having rented the well-known Pottawattamie Mills . . . . capacity of
1,000 bushels per day, and having been recently thoroughly refitted by the proprietors . . . . James
S. Chapin & Co.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 29, 1871]
POTTOWATOMIE FLOURING MILLS
Going down the race (it is a water mill) we popped into an open window and inquired of
the first man we met who owned the mill, he replied, “Well, indeed I can’t tell you, that matter has
not been settled.” After a number of inquiries concerning the mill, we dotted down the following:
Worth $20,000; five stories high; five run of four feet birs, can grind five hundred bushels daily;
two bolting chests; four sets of cloths; manufacture all grades of flour; do custom work, and ship
flour to all parts of the country. We left the mill under the conviction that if some good, energetic
man would get possession of that mill who would, as Grant says, push things, he could certainly
make money. It being a water power the expense is comparatively small, the capacity of the mill is
good and everything goes to show that a very good business might be done.
[Rochester Union Spy, Thursday, November 20, 1873]
Sheriff’s Sale, Pottowattomie Mills, Feb. 1, 1875.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 19, 1874]
The Pottowattomie flouring mill was sold at Sheriff’s sale on Monday, and was bid off by
Stephen C. Taber at $20,000. . . It was perhaps, the largest sale ever made in the county.
[ibid, Saturday, February 6, 1875]
During the whole summer not a wheel has been turned in the Pottawattomie Mills, and
consequently not a pound of flour or feed turned out. The mill is out of repair, the race dry and the
dam broken. . . . negotiations are now pending between the owners of the mill and Jacob Van
Trump for the rebuilding of the dam and repair of the race and mill.
[ibid, Saturday, October 2, 1875]
J. B. Elliott of this place, and Jes. Jessen of Logansport, have leased the Pottowattomie
Flouring Mill, and now have a force at work repairing the mills, building a new dam and patching
up the race banks. . . . Mr. Elliott is well knon in this county as a thorough business man. Mr.
Jessen has long been the chief miller in the Uhl’s Mills at Logansport . . .
[ibid, Saturday, November 13, 1875]
Ben Elliott says that he will give employment for a short time to 400 men and as many
women if they will apply to him at the Pottowattomie Mill before a heavy rainfall.
[ibid, Saturday, December 11, 1875]
It is rumored that the dam at the outlet of the lake Manitou will not be rebuilt. There is
some talk of either cutting the race deeper, or else putting steam works to the Pottowottomie mill.
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, April 2, 1875]
A company composed of Messrs. Fred Fromm, Jas. B. Elliott and J. Jessen have leased
the Pottowatomie mill, known generally as “the water mill,” and expect to be ready for business
some time during the coming month of December - probably within thirty days.
[ibid, Friday, November 12, 1875]
The water in Lake Manitou has risen, and rushing down the race, has set the wheels of
the Pottowatomie mills in motion.
[ibid, Friday December 31, 1875]
The Pottawottamie Mills are shipping from three to five car loads of flour per week.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturddy, December 23, 1876]
The Sentinel is informed that a new milling firm has been organized in the north part of
town by which the Pottawattamie Mill is to be operated more extensively than ever. The firm will
consist of J. B. and B. M. Elliott, Clark Hickman and Wm. Leiter. . . The Pottawattamie Mill has a
flouring capatity of one hundred barrels per day . . .
[ibid, Saturday, January 20, 1877]