Knox County Mills

 

There have been grist mills in Knoxville and its vicinity since Gen James White erected his tub mill near the town. After his son Moses White built a mill on First creek, near the crossing of Mabry Street ,John Craighead built a mill at the crossing of Main street, and about 1820, Rufus Morgan built one on the same creek.

In 1830 there were three grist mills in Knoxville ,all owned and operated by James and William Kennedy. James Scott had a grist mill about two miles up the creek.

In 1855 a large steam flouring mill was erected on the site of the Knoxville rolling mill by MN Williams, but it was soon afterward burned down. It was succeeded by the Knoxville City mills, located on Broad street and abandoned in 1880.

In 1858, FAR Scott and JC Deaderick, erected on First creek, what was for many years throughout this part of the South known as the Trio Mill, which has been since then in continuous operation and has for many years been as widely and well known for the many excellent brands of flour produced. The mill was remodeled in 1884, and fully equipped with the then latest roller process machinery. The most noted brands of flour manufactured at this mill are the Magnolia, Silver Leaf, Choice, Famous,and Little Valley Family. One of the specialties of this mill is water ground corn meal and other products used as feed, all of which are extensively sold throughout East Tennessee and surrounding states. From 1877 to 1893 this mill was conducted by Scott Dempster & Co, but in the year last named, Mr Dempster retired, and from that time to 1895, it was conducted by Scott Bros & Co, the firm consisting of James, David D, and FAR Scott. Since 1895, it has been conducted by JA Scott under the name of the Scott Mill Company.

McClannahan Mill, in operation during the Civil War, near Asylum street.

The Peters Bradley Mill company was incorporated in 1891, with a capital stock of $20,000 and the following officers, GW Peters, president and TJ Bradley secretary and treasurer. The business conducted by this company was started in 1867 by Mr Peters on First creek at the old Scott mill about one fourth of a mile above the location of the present mill which is on First creek just below Broad avenue, and Mr Peters continued to run it alone until 1879, when the business was removed to its present location and took into partnership with himself in 1885 Mr Bradley who remained in the business until 1894. The roller process was put into these mills in 1884, and they now have a capacity of seventy five barrels of flour per day, besides grinding meal and feed. Both water and steam power are used to an aggregate of sixty-horse power. Twelve hands are given employment and the company is one of the solid concerns of Knoxville.

The Lonsdale Mill Company was incorporated May 28 1890 the incorporators being WB Ragsdale, Leon Jourolmon, JF Ragsdale, and EL Ragsdale. The purpose for which this company was incorporated was the manufacture of flour and other mill products. The mill owned by this company is located two miles north of Knoxville on the Clinton pike and is a four story frame building above a basement well equipped with the latest roller machinery with a capacity of 200 barrels of flour every twenty-four hours. The proprietors of the mill at the present time are TS Webb, Jr and John Dempster. The main brands are Sunrise and White Rose.