On the farm presently owned by Greg Rose of Robertson County, there once was a small town called Mitchell's Mill. This farm is located on the waters of Johnson Creek in Robertson County. Before Robertson County was formed out of Mason, Nicholas, Bracken, and Harrison Counties in 1867, Mitchell's Mill was located in Nicholas County. The only thing remaining there now is a tombstone of William H. Mitchell. Mitchell's Mill was a booming little town around 1850-1870. It consisted of many homes and businesses.

Besides William H. Mitchell and his family, there were many other families in the area. According to the Census records there were approximately twelve households in the area with several people living in each house. It seems as if the most prominent families in the area were the Mitchell's and the Massey's. Both of these families owned large tracts of land as well as businesses.

In 1828, William Massey bought a house and 600 acres of land including a tanyard of 50 vats. Massey conducted the tanyard for many years after he bought the plant. In 1922, the house burned to the ground; it was known to be the oldest house in Robertson County.

In April 1846, William H. Mitchell bought two tracts of land. The first tract was thirty-six and a half acres, which included a Mill, at the time known as Ball's Mill, and later became known as Mitchell's Mill. According to the deed books in Nicholas County the Mill went through many different names before it became "Mitchell's Mill".

The second tract William purchased was one hundred and fifty acres. In November of that same year he sold the same two tracts of land to his father, John Mitchell, for one dollar. It seemed as if John Mitchell was setting up the town. Four years after he bought the land from his son he started selling lots. As the lots were sold, houses were built and businesses were started.

In 1850, Jacob Westfall and Frank Suters bought land from Mitchell where they later opened a furniture factory. Westfall was a wagon maker and Suters was a cabinetmaker. According to the 1850 Census, Westfall and Suters lived in John Mitchell's home. Also living in the Mitchell home were Walter Wheatly, a laborer, John Mitchell's wife, Mary, and their eight children, including William.

Some other businesses at the Mitchell's Mill area, besides the furniture factory, included Massey's tanyard, a hotel conducted by a man named Hughes, a grist mill ran by a man named Frederick who lived in the mill, a woolen mill and carding factory, a sawmill, a shoemaker's shop, and possibly many other industries and mercantile stores. The gristmill supplied flour and meal for many people, not only in the community, but also far away. According to Greg Rose, present owner of the farm, there was also a button factory in the area. Rose says every time he plows the fields, he plows up lots of shells used to make the buttons. He also says he hauls away several foundation blocks from the fields every year.

In addition to these businesses, there were also taverns in the area. The court order books in Nicholas and Robertson Counties show tavern licenses were granted in the Mitchell's Mill area from 1851 through 1874 to many different people including a Mitchell. The first name of the Mitchell was not given; however, he was operating a tavern license with a man by the name of Samuel Rogers in 1851. This was the first tavern in the area. Rogers not only ran a tavern but also ran a distillery. He was issued a distillery license in 1869, after Robertson County was formed. Rogers was assigned as principal and was to pay tri-monthly bonds to his securities, Benjamin Mullikin and William Massey. Today, Robertson County is a dry county.

There was also a Masonic Lodge in the Mitchell's Mill area. William Mitchell was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 245, which was located at Mitchell's Mill until 1880, when the Lodge closed. This Masonic Lodge was the first formal organization of Masons in Robertson County. It began around 1851-1852 before Robertson County was formed.

The businesses in the Mitchell's Mill area apparently got their power from the currents of Johnson Creek. They transacted many thousands of dollars each year. It seems as though the town disintegrated around 1880. There were not any tavern licenses issued after 1874. The Masonic Lodge closed in 1880. There are not any records of anything else at Mitchell's Mill. Although the town no longer exists, it is still on the Robertson County maps as "Mitchell's Mill."

mitchell's mill is locate on the right hand side down by the coved bridge