MADISON HISTORY: The mill on Mill Creek

MADISON – I recently became curious about the namesake of Mill Creek and Mill Road and received word of others having the same interest. I hope today to provide something of an answer.

Census documents starting around 1880 indicate a grist mill operated on what is now known as Mill Creek.

According to the 1880 census, the mill was owned by William S. Russell. Evidently, the mill may have passed on to his son, William A. Russell. In the 1900 census, William A. is recorded as a miller.

The mill stood on the east side of Mill Creek and north side of Mill Road.

Unfortunately, in 1897, the mill was the site of a tragic accident. The February 24 edition of the local newspaper, the Weekly Mercury, tells the story of 13 year old Joe Lanier who was caught by his overcaught in Russell mill’s belting while playing nearby.

“The little fellow was conscious but seemed not to be aware of his awful condition. “I am not hurt,” he smilingly remarked as he was being placed in a position of comparative comfort,” reported Weekly Mercury. “Both feet were beaten off at the ankles and an arm and thigh are terribly crushed. The boy is dying.”

The Weekly Mercury confirmed the boy died the day after the accident.

At this time, it is unclear how long the mill remained in operation or what became of its millstone, but remnants of the stone foundation still stand today and can be seen along Mill Creek Greenway today.

Though the mill no longer exists, the name has stuck for Mill Creek and Mill Road.