Miller Co Mills

The Mills of Miller County, Missouri...

by Kelly Warman-Stallings

(Posted to "Window to the Past" website on 15 March 2022)

Peggy Smith Hake wrote various articles about the mills of Miller County throughout her years as an historian. Below is a few of those mills and a brief history.

For complete stories, please visit: Miller County Mills

Anchor Roller Mills at Tuscumbia

The Anchor Milling Company dates back to 1876 when William Hauenstein, Sr. purchased a saw and grist mill near the mouth of Gum Creek above Tuscumbia. The building above, which was near the Osage River, served Anchor Milling Company for over 60 of their 100 years in Tuscumbia.

Anchor Milling Lumber/Office/Mill in Tuscumbia

The Anchor Rolling Mill c/1940s

Brays Mill at Brays

Bray's Mill was built between 1862 and 1864. Thomas Bray financed its construction - hence, its title.

This mill served the small settlement of Brays, as well as other neighboring communities, such as Iberia.

This particular photo [on left] was taken in 1969 by Jim Martin. Today, the Mill is renovated and converted into a private residential home.

Thomas D. Garner & Sons Roller Mill in Iberia

In the early 20th century, circa 1903-05, the town of Iberia was rocked by a mighty explosion. Thomas D. Garner and Son Roller Mills were destroyed when the boiler, in a low-water stage, exploded and a great deal of damage occurred. Luckily the workers were given warning in ample time to evacuate the building and no one was injured.

Olean Milling Company in Olean

In 1881, Almon and Joseph Gattermeier came to Olean and with two brothers-in-law [Edwin and Bernhardt Zwanzig], took charge of the flouring mill just north of the town.

2) A 'new' mill (pictured on right) was built near Olean in 1896 by Joseph Gattermeier and Joseph Goodman.

Twenty years later a tornado destroyed this mill.

The senior Mr. Gattermeier is shown at the center of the picture. The youths pictured are his eldest sons, Ben and Henry.

1) The mill was originally known as the Buckeye Mill (pictured on left).

They remodeled the frame building, put in new Buhrs, and in the summer of 1887, changed to the roller system, fitting in two double sets of 15-inch rollers. This first class mill was operated until it was destroyed by fire in 1895.

Mr. Gattermeier then organized the Olean Milling Company (pictured below) and rebuilt in Olean, across from the railroad depot. Mr. Gattermeier was an industrious, energetic and hardworking man, who established a great business which continued under the able management of his sons. On December 13, 1928, he died at his home in Olean, having attained a miller's dream.

Ulman Milling Company near Ulman

The Ulman Milling Co. (pictured on left) was located at the south end of town, which was last operated by Lou McCommons and Rufus Crismon. It ran day and night supplying flour and meal to its customers. The milling company was sold to the Missouri State Penitentiary and was transported to Jefferson City across the Osage River at Tuscumbia which at the time was spanned by a wooden "swinging bridge".

The last load which was the steam boiler, broke through the bridge with the back tires. They had to jack the tires back onto the bridge and one of the prison trustees who was assisting with the moving, volunteered to drive the load the remainder of the way across the bridge. For this his sentence was decreased by a number of years, enough to make him a free man.

Wright's Carding Mill near Tuscumbia

The old grist mill and carding machine was built and operated by James Lawrence Wright circa 1895. Wright started operations here and was very successful for several years. Autumn of 1905, there came a big rise in the creek; it damaged the old water mill by washing out a big hole under the wheel and a lot of drift and debris between the mill and spring. This was known as the "pumpkin rise" and was remembered by that name for years. There were pumpkins scattered everywhere. You could see them on top of drifts and along the edge of where the high water had been. The next year Lee Wright engaged Tom Harrison, and the mill was run by steam for a year by Tom's thrashing steam engine, but was closed down completely in 1906. A few years later the old water mill was razed.

(On the left): Wright water mill located on the Little Saline Creek

(On the right): Visitors are Billie Harrison and his Sunday school class from the Christian Church at Tuscumbia. Seated (L-R): (maiden names) Gardia Swanson, Gretchen Bacon, Anna McBride, Anna Clark, Hortense Swanson, Lura Clark and Maude Clark. Standing behind: Ethyl Moles and Billie Harrison. Over on right: Lee Wright and son, Charley. Photo taken in the year 1903.