HELT'S MILL
The two pictures below are very similar but in one water is flowing over the Dam and in the other you can see the actual Dam structure
Water-powered mills were the business center for pioneer communities and played an important role in the economic development of the state of Indiana. According to the 1840 census the state was dotted with 204 flouring mills, 846 gristmills, 1248 sash sawmills, and 54 oil mills, all powered by water wheels. (Statistics from Indiana Historical Society).
Helt's Mill is an example of how old landmarks changed names over the years. The original land owner and builder of the mill was Solomon Stout, a Quaker, who was also among the founders of Bartholomew County. Solomon Stout was a large land owner in Sand Creek Township, Bartholomew County, he built the mill on his land located on Big Sand Creek in about 1834, very close to where Bartholomew, Jackson and Jennings Counties come together. When Solomon Stout died his son Nathanial Stout became owner of the land and mill. Because the mill was within about fifty yards of the spot where the three counties met family members of those who ran it lived in all three counties.
I want to thank Larry Stout of Gowdy, Indiana for looking up more background on Solomon Stout who originally owned the mill. Larry has a book on the Stout family and he found the following information. He is Larry Stout's 5th cousin, 4 times removed.
His grandfather was Peter "The Quaker" Stout, the great-grandson of Richard and Penelope Stout, the first generation of Stouts in America.
His parents were Charles (1742-1822) and Mary Noblett (1746-1811) of NC (Charles born in Lancaster Co., PA)
Here's what the Stout books says about Solomon:
SOLOMON STOUT 1787-1856
m. 4/13/1807 w Mary Marshall 1789-1810 Cane Creek MM, NC
m. 2/10/1814 w Ruth Atkinson 1794-1823 Bartholomew co. IN
m. 3/29/1824 w Lurany Moon Bartholomew co. IN
m. 8/20/1835 w Penelope Cray Bartholomew co. IN
m. 7/12/1845 w (Mrs.) Clarissa Swingle 1814-Jennings co. IN
born 10 Jan 1787 in Hillsborough Dist., Orange co. NC
1815 > Lick Creek, IN
1821 > Sand Creek Twp., Bartholomew co. IN Built mill on Sand Creek which operated till washed away in 1913 floods.
1832 sold mill and moved to Miami co. IN where he died 18 Nov 1865.
Bible records:
(then it listes 17 children)
Son Nathan(iel) 1821-1905 m. 12/26/1846 Sophia Swingle (1824-1907) b. 29 Sep 1821 Bartholomew Co. two chldren: John Wallace 1848-1933 Solomon, a school teacher
The beginning of the mill included a dam across Sand Creek, made of logs and driftwood, with dirt and rocks as filler. Boards were placed across the top of the dam and holes were drilled into the slate bottom of Sand Creek with rods added to keep the logs in place. The mill itself was a water-driven gristmill with a horizontal water wheel. It was a very large building for its time, consisting of four stories supported by stone pillars so it extended out over the mill pond. The stories were built one at a time, with new timbers placed as each story was added. The corn sheller was on the fourth floor. It was a burr mill, the grinding method was stone burr's the grain was placed on the large one on the bottom and a smaller one turned by water power ground it. A sash saw mill was put in under the grain mill. In about 1881 after Solomon's son Nathaniel had taken over the mill he installed a purifier, so they could make fancier brands of flour. Nathaniel owned both the mill and the farm adjacent to it.
In 1854 at the age of nineteen Christopher Helt left his native Germany for America, and by 1856 was living in the neighborhood of Stout's mill. He married Rachel Bikley near Oak Grove in in 1860 and they started their family. By 1881 Christopher & Rachel Helt had 8 living children and he was looking for a farm, during this same time frame Nathaniel "Nathan" Stout was wanting to sell the mill and surrounging farm. After considerable negotiating, (Christopher was a farmer not a miller so mainly wanted the farm), Stout's Mill became Helt's Mill.
During the ownership of both the Stout family and the Helt family, because of the way the mill was built, high water had caused problems for both families. The dam that maintained the mill pond frequently needed repair. Chris Helt hired a miller by the name of Martin Bowman to operate the mill. In March of 1897 a severe flood caused by very heavy rain damaged the grist mill and carried away the saw mill. The mill continued in operation until February of 1912 when the combination of a blizzard followed by very heavy rain caused ice jams to break up and pound against the stone pillars holding up the old mill. Local people helped to remove the grain remaining in the mill as the building crumbled around them. On February 12th 1912, the mill finally colapsed and fell into the pond. Although the mill no longer existed the pond and the area around it became a favorite picnic, reunion, camping and fishing site. The Helt home burned and the road that ran by it was straightened. The name of the road was even changed from County Line Road to 600 East.
This history of Helt's mill is taken from a much longer and more complete one published in the book Jennings County 1816-1999, this book and a CD of it are available at the Jennings County Historical Society
Obituary for Christopher Helt
Seymour Daily Tribune - January 3, 1921, Page 3
Christopher On October 2, 1860, he was united in marriage to Rachel Bikley near Oak Grove. To this union were born twelve children, three dying in infancy. Living are Charles, William, George, John, Frank, Louis and Harmon, all near the old home, and Hannah and Alice, at home. Since the death of his wife, March 17, 1916, he remained at the old homestead where home was kept by himself and his two daughters.
He leaves besides his children one brother, Harmon of Concordia, Mo., twenty-six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, other relatives and a host of friends.
In 1882, Mr. Helt bought and moved to the home where he died, and for several years operated the flouring mill known far and wide as Helt's Mill. About sixty-five years of his life was spent in the immediate neighborhood of his home where by honesty and a simple upright life he drew to himself a large circle of friends, and through his energy and hard work he made for himself and his family a joyful and comfortable home. Although during the few years he did not enjoy good health, much of his time was spent out on the farm and next to nature, and while not being permitted the pleasure of attending the Evangelical Lutheran church of which he was a devoted member, he spent much of his time in the study of the Bible to brighten the path to the home beyond.
His home was always open to friend and stranger, a cordial welcome and hospitality was extended to all who crossed his threshold and only those who have enjoyed that privilege can realize its full meaning.
The community has lost an honored and respected citizen; the fireside has another vacant chair and the children, a father, will miss their coming and going.
The funeral was conducted from the Christian church at Reddington this morning at 10 o'clock, by the Rev. J. H. Dellart, of Courtland. Burial in the Redding (Reddington) cemetery. Find A Grave Link
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